Divisive Sydney band Sticky Fingers have withdrawn from This That festival’s 2018 lineup, after the Newcastle event was criticised for booking the group on its latest roster, including by one of the other festival acts.
In a statement, Sticky Fingers say they are “disappointed” that they have decided to cancel their performance, but “decided that the perpetrated negativity from a small pocket of the music industry that has been aimed at us through this period needs to be quarantined so it doesn’t affect other innocent parties”.
“The band has been on tour overseas the past month, and it pains us to return home to fellow artists on the the line-up being bullied and dragged through the mud for no fault of their own. We are not comfortable with this,” they say.
“We are 100% behind making all our performances a safe and enjoyable space for everyone, but we also feel like the lead up to the show should be safe and enjoyable. And while the response from fans has been overwhelmingly positive and excited, the way in which THIS THAT and the rest of the line-up have been spoken about by the media has been biased with negativity.
“Despite what people say, we care about our music community and don’t want THIS THAT or the other artists on the bill to be spoken about negatively or bullied simply by association.
“We have had to address allegations against the band multiple times now and there seems to be no means to an end. We have taken steps to positive change and continue to do so.
“Earlier this year we recorded an album entirely sober, and just two days ago completed a sold out world tour – all shows entirely sober. Along with this; there has been rehab and continued therapy.
“It is very apparent that the Australian music media and some people in the music industry do not care about any of this, let alone us being open about mental health issues with members in the band. There has been nothing in fact, other than one sided stories against us. Fabricated purely for the sakes of clicks & attention.
“We understand and support standing up for equality in all its forms, but if your way of doing this is to cause innocent parties to feel that their safety is not secure purely because they are on the same festival bill as us, then it’s time you thought about if this campaign against us is actually about making positive change in the world.
“We understand the trap we are caught in. We are used to it now, but the last thing we want is for other people to have to deal with this negativity, regardless of what impact that may have on our own career.”
Read the band’s statement in full, below.
In a statement of their own, This That organisers say they and Sticky Fingers decided, after “long discussions”, that the group will not be performing at This That in November.
“Sticky Fingers agreed with This That from the start that if their inclusion began to impact negatively on the other artists performing and our Newcastle and wider communities that it would be best if they refrain from performing. That’s the decision we have both taken today,” they say.
Festival organisers say their controversial decision to book Sticky Fingers “was not taken lightly”, and they “realised there would be debate about their suitability”.
“While looking at all these issues in totality we made the decision to include them while also monitoring sentiment from the time of the booking.
“This That’s top priority is the safety and well-being of both its artists and attendees and the festival team do not condone abuse of any kind.
“This That is proud of providing a positive platform for Australian and international artists to share the stage, we take our role in the community very seriously and to those who have been upset by the inclusion of Sticky Fingers, we’re truly sorry.”
Sticky Fingers have previously faced allegations of racism and violence. In May, bassist Paddy Cornwall threatened Indigenous musician Thelma Plum in a lengthy written tirade.
Organisers have offered anyone who purchased a This That ticket but no longer wishes to attend to claim a refund here before 5pm AEST Friday, 6th July.
This That is still scheduled to host performances by the likes of Amy Shark, Illy and The Rubens this November. Peep the full lineup right here.
Sticky Fingers Statement (02/07/18):
We are disappointed to announce that we have decided to withdraw from performing at THIS THAT festival this November. We would like to thank the event for having us on the bill along with such an impressive line-up, but we have decided that the perpetrated negativity from a small pocket of the music industry that has been aimed at us through this period needs to be quarantined so it doesn’t affect other innocent parties- be they the other artists on the bill, THIS THAT festival itself, or the fans who wanted to see us play.
The band has been on tour overseas the past month, and it pains us to return home to fellow artists on the the line-up being bullied and dragged through the mud for no fault of their own. We are not comfortable with this.
We are 100% behind making all our performances a safe and enjoyable space for everyone, but we also feel like the lead up to the show should be safe and enjoyable. And while the response from fans has been overwhelmingly positive and excited, the way in which THIS THAT and the rest of the line-up have been spoken about by the media has been biased with negativity. Despite what people say, we care about our music community and don’t want THIS THAT or the other artists on the bill to be spoken about negatively or bullied simply by association.
We have had to address allegations against the band multiple times now and there seems to be no means to an end. We have taken steps to positive change and continue to do so. Earlier this year we recorded an album entirely sober, and just two days ago completed a sold out world tour – all shows entirely sober. Along with this; there has been rehab and continued therapy.
It is very apparent that the Australian music media and some people in the music industry do not care about any of this, let alone us being open about mental health issues with members in the band. There has been nothing in fact, other than one sided stories against us. Fabricated purely for the sakes of clicks & attention.
We understand and support standing up for equality in all its forms, but if your way of doing this is to cause innocent parties to feel that their safety is not secure purely because they are on the same festival bill as us, then it’s time you thought about if this campaign against us is actually about making positive change in the world.
We understand the trap we are caught in. We are used to it now, but the last thing we want is for other people to have to deal with this negativity, regardless of what impact that may have on our own career.
We hope everyone will still go to THIS THAT and have a tip top time. The line-up is great.
However if you’re as disappointed as we are, and you bought tickets just to see us – you can get a full refund here: https://goo.gl/forms/VpMJhXbod9ATyXmk1
Don’t worry Newy, we’ll see you sooner than you think.
This That Statement (02/07/18):
AFTER LONG DISCUSSIONS, THIS THAT AND STICKY FINGERS HAVE DECIDED THE BAND WILL NO LONGER BE PERFORMING AT THIS THAT ON SATURDAY 3RD NOVEMBER.
STICKY FINGERS AGREED WITH THIS THAT FROM THE START THAT IF THEIR INCLUSION BEGAN TO IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON THE OTHER ARTISTS PERFORMING AND OUR NEWCASTLE AND WIDER COMMUNITIES THAT IT WOULD BE BEST IF THEY REFRAIN FROM PERFORMING. THAT’S THE DECISION WE HAVE BOTH TAKEN TODAY.
OUR DECISION TO INCLUDE STICKY FINGERS ON THE 2018 LINE-UP WAS NOT TAKEN LIGHTLY AS THERE WERE MANY SERIOUS AND COMPLEX ISSUES TO CONSIDER FROM SEVERAL PERSPECTIVES, AND WE REALISED THERE WOULD BE DEBATE ABOUT THEIR SUITABILITY TO BE INCLUDED.
WHILE LOOKING AT ALL THESE ISSUES IN TOTALITY WE MADE THE DECISION TO INCLUDE THEM WHILE ALSO MONITORING SENTIMENT FROM THE TIME OF THE BOOKING.
THIS THAT’S TOP PRIORITY IS THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF BOTH ITS ARTISTS AND ATTENDEES AND THE FESTIVAL TEAM DO NOT CONDONE ABUSE OF ANY KIND.
THIS THAT IS PROUD OF PROVIDING A POSITIVE PLATFORM FOR AUSTRALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS TO SHARE THE STAGE, WE TAKE OUR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY VERY SERIOUSLY AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN UPSET BY THE INCLUSION OF STICKY FINGERS, WE’RE TRULY SORRY.
AGAIN THIS YEAR WE WILL HAVE VARIOUS STRATEGIES IN PLACE TO ENSURE EVERYONE IS SAFE AND WELCOME AT THIS THAT. WE WILL BE CONTINUING AND EVOLVING OUR CROWD CARE, HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AT THE FESTIVAL. WE ALSO CONTINUE OUR INTEGRATED PLANNING WORK WITH CROWD CARE SERVICES, POLICE, SECURITY AND REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES WHO WILL – LIKE ALWAYS – HAVE A STRONG PRESENCE AT THE EVENT.
WE ARE FOR TOTAL INCLUSIVENESS AND SAFETY AND ARE VERY PROUD OF THE FESTIVAL’S RECORD IN REGARDS TO THE WELFARE AND SAFETY OF OUR ATTENDEES.
ANYONE WHO HAS BOUGHT A TICKET ON THE BASIS OF SEEING STICKY FINGERS – WE REALISE YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED AND WE APOLOGISE. IF ANYONE WISHES TO RECEIVE A FULL REFUND, THEY CAN DO SO BY FILLING IN THEIR DETAILS ON
THIS FORM BEFORE 5PM AEST FRIDAY JULY 6.
WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE THIS YEAR’S CURRENT LINEUP OF ARTISTS COMING TO NEWCASTLE ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 3 INCLUDING RL GRIME, ILLY, AMY SHARK, THE RUBENS, GOLDLINK AND SAFIA. WE ARE AIMING TO ANNOUNCE A REPLACEMENT FOR STICKY FINGERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ALONGSIDE OUR FINAL ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT.
IF ANYONE EXPERIENCING ABUSE NEEDS ASSISTANCE, 1800 RESPECT – THE NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE COUNSELLING SERVICE — CAN BE REACHED ON 1800 737 732, WHILE LIFELINE CAN BE REACHED ON 13 11 14.
