Bands Have Started Pulling Out Of That Controversial ANU Bar Gig
Things are going from bad to worse for Canberra promoters Greenroom.
Two bands who were due to play ANU Bar’s last ever gig – which has been the focus of controversy for the last 24 hours, after promoters were called out for booking an all-male line-up – have announced they’re withdrawing from the event.
Headliners Regurgitator and Canberra four-piece Slow Turismo have both pulled out of the ANU Bar Finale show after Greenroom, the promoters behind the event, hit back at Facebook users who asked why the line-up didn’t feature any female or gender non-binary artists.
Regurgitator have announced in the on Facebook that they “will no longer be performing at the event,” while Slow Turismo told Music Junkee that they felt they could no longer be part of the bill.
“We are incredibly saddened by what has occurred over last twenty-four hours,” explain Slow Turismo. “The ANU finale show that we agreed to play has become something entirely different. In light of everything, we feel Slow Turismo cannot be part of an event that does not represent the future of Australian music.”
The controversial ANU Bar show was due to take place in Canberra this June, right before the long-serving bar is demolished. Regurgitator were set to be joined on the bill by 10 all-male Canberra bands – a programming decision Greenroom defended. “I’m not changing the line-up,” the promoters wrote in a comment on Facebook. “The bands where [sic] chosen for a reason, not for what’s between their members legs.” Read the full statement below.
Music Junkee has contacted Greenroom promoters for comment.