Goldband will not be seen at Zwarte Cross next month. The Hague band has decided to cancel the performance “in good consultation” due to the controversial new festival owner KKR. Previously, Youp van ‘t Hek and Claw Boys Claw also decided not to come to Zwarte Cross.
Last year, it was announced that KKR had taken over the British parent company of major festivals such as Milkshake, Zwarte Cross, Mysteryland, and Awakenings. KKR would invest in weapons, fossil projects, and Israeli companies active in the occupied West Bank.
Goldband does not feel good about this. “Anyone who knows us a little or has ever seen a performance knows that we often speak out about injustice and specifically about the Palestinian cause and the genocide that is taking place there,” the group writes on Instagram.
“In addition, since the beginning of Goldband, we have consciously operated independently and try – sometimes visibly, sometimes invisibly – to have a positive impact and make choices that contribute to a better world.”
Boaz Kok, Karel Gerlach, and Milo Driessen say they regret their choice because it comes at the expense of Zwarte Cross “and all the people who work there.” “We truly believe that people work at Zwarte Cross who do this out of a shared passion for culture and that they share the same values with us. Values that are at odds with KKR’s investment policy.”
‘We do have a choice’
Goldband says it is bitter that organizations had no choice in the acquisition by KKR. “We do have that choice. Based on the knowledge we now have, we find it incompatible with our values to play this show. We as Goldband stand for a society in which human rights, solidarity, and equality are paramount.”
Goldband wants to send a signal by “refusing to be part of a music industry that directly or indirectly contributes to genocide, war, or inequality.” “We will always remain critical and make better choices where necessary, because like everyone else, we can always do better.”