What is the gray area, which bands are merely apolitical, and which are too open to right-wing ideologies? It's not an easy topic, and these days one has to think more often about which festivals one can still perform at with a clear conscience. The Spirit From The Streets certainly does not belong to that category. Alongside many good bands, there are also some unkosher groups like Krawallbrüder and Berliner Weisse performing at its fifth edition.
Earlier this month, Fahnenflucht canceled their participation in the festival. Until now, it seemed they were a commendable exception. However, Oxo 86 has now also thrown in the towel, and there is no official statement regarding the reasons yet. It remains to be seen whether more bands will reconsider their commitments.
We have discussed this extensively and ultimately came to the conclusion to stay away from the Spirit of the Streets Festival 2011, and hereby cancel! There is certainly not one single reason or one specific band that prevents us from playing at the Spirit this year. It is rather the overall composition and a whole development that we can no longer support. The tough-guy attitude, a questionable societal image, or a partly dubious relationship with the nation are just as little representative for us as an image of self-congratulation.
If bands did not want a right-leaning or even staunchly right-wing segment of their concert audience, they could express this unequivocally. However, this is usually avoided for economic reasons. "Whether the guy in front of the merchandise stand is wearing a Blood & Honour patch or not, as long as I sell my band shirt." What matters is only the bottom line. Moreover, five-figure fees for an hour of electric guitar are quite extravagant. Only the intended recipients will feel addressed by our criticism anyway. We hope to see all the others at a future opportunity.
To all fans, visitors, and associates of the Spirit of the Street Festival 2011, for whom a performance by FAHNENFLUCHT would have meant something and whom we now disappoint with our cancellation, we apologize at this point.
August 9, 2011 / FAHNENFLUCHT
