Caliphate 3/4, Mushkaa, Camels... FIB hit by new cancellations due to its links to KKR

After singer Judeline announced her participation in the FIB boycott campaign due to her relationship with the KKR investment fund, sources from Superstruct (the KKR-owned company that is one of the festival's partners) told this newspaper that they didn't expect more artists to follow suit. But since then, four new artists have dropped out.

The first to follow was Residente , asserting that he could not participate "even for a second" in anything that had to do with the financing, "even indirectly," of "genocide and the systematic violation of human rights," referring to KKR's financial interests in both arms companies linked to Israel and real estate projects in illegally occupied territories in Palestine. Thus, the Puerto Rican artist canceled his performances at both the FIB and Morriña Fest, also in which Superstruct and, by extension, KKR participated.

Earlier this week, the band Califato ¾ announced it was joining this boycott campaign, also canceling its appearance at FIB. A month ago at the Festival Interstellar, Califato 3/4's vocalist, Manuel Chaparro, already announced his position from the stage of another festival in which Superstruct participated and therefore associated with KKR, Interstellar Sevilla, where they did perform because they hadn't had time to make a decision, given the controversy erupted just a few days before. "They've made us accomplices without knowing it. Being here doesn't mean keeping quiet, it means fighting. No to the genocidaires. Long live a free Palestine. Long live genocidaire Israel."

Yesterday, Tuesday, singer Mushkaa joined this wave of cancellations, announcing that she would not be performing at FIB for the same reasons. In a message on her Instagram account, the singer recalled that she found herself in a similar situation a month ago with her performance at Sónar (which suffered more than thirty cancellations for this reason), and that she now regrets not having done the same there.

"At the time, I thought that boycotting wasn't the only way to be an activist and that perhaps we could change certain things from within. Today, I feel I made a mistake, and my opinion is that boycotting is the only tool for real change against genocide. I don't want to be complicit with the investment funds that turn culture into a business to subsidize the genocide against Palestine. Free Palestine forever," says the artist, who is Bad Gyal's sister.

In another message posted on Instagram, this time via video, the Madrid-based band Camellos also announced that they will not be performing at the festival. "We have finally decided not to attend FIB. The reasons, if you do a little research, you'll understand are quite costly. Furthermore, Camellos has always had a fairly firm stance on the Palestinian cause."

Regarding the announcement of their decision just days before the event, Camellos stated: "Better late than never. We're a band with fairly slow internal processes. We have a very real democracy and very complicated personal lives, which add to the complexity of having a band in Spain these days. We wish the festival staff the best, and we'll see you at the next ones. We don't think there's much more to clarify. For us, from the river to the sea, as you know."

Singer Samantha Hudson is another Spanish artist who pulled out of the festival a month ago, when the controversy erupted. Among the Spanish bands still on the FIB lineup, which takes place this coming weekend, are Shinova, La Casa Azul, Miss Caffeina, La Habitación Roja, Love Of Lesbian, Ginebras, León Benavente, and Viva Suecia. Also on the lineup are major international acts such as Thirty Seconds To Mars, The Black Keys, Foster The People, Bloc Party, and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso.

In light of these changes to this year's FIB program, FACUA-Consumers in Action has warned ticket holders that the modification of the lineup, following the refusal of several groups and solo artists to participate, entitles them to a refund. The organization indicates that companies cannot refuse to refund money, as the modification of the lineup of artists, as well as the dates and location, is considered a substantial change to the agreed conditions.