After withdrawing from the line-up this afternoon, Regurgitator have now issued a powerful statement on why they won’t be playing Canberra’s controversial ANU Bar Finale in June.

The Brisbane band announced earlier today they would no longer be performing at the event, which has been the focus of controversy ever since promoters were called out for booking an all-male line-up. As Regurgitator see it, it’s the way organisers responded to the backlash – not the line-up itself – that was the big problem.

“Based on the subsequent responses from the organisers to criticism about the heavy gender bias of the lineup and how this has aggravated rather than managed to accommodate the concerns posed online by people in Canberra, we have had to cancel our upcoming involvement in this ANU Bar Finale lineup,” they explained in a statement provided to Music Junkee.

Greenroom, the promoters behind the show, fanned flames when they hit back at the punters who asked why the line-up didn’t feature any female or gender non-binary artists. “The bands where [sic] chosen for a reason, not for what’s between their members legs,” Greenroom said in a statement. “I’m not changing the line-up.”

Regurgitator see things differently: “Music is not about gender but we can not ignore gender in regard to the ongoing practices of music as an industry. We have friends who identify as non-binary or non-gender specific along with many from the LGBTQI+ community. We very much support mixed demographic scenarios where possible covering diversity in gender, sexuality, race etc… we are aware of how important this is.”

Canberra band Slow Turismo have also withdrawn from the bill.

Regurgitator’s Full Statement

“Given our position on matters of gender equality, social justice and equal opportunity for all, we have decided we can not be involved with the upcoming ANU FINALE event. Based on the subsequent responses from the organisers to criticism about the heavy gender bias of the lineup and how this has aggravated rather than managed to accommodate the concerns posed online by people in Canberra we have had to cancel our upcoming involvement in this ANU BAR finale lineup. Apologies to any inconvenienced by this decision.

“Music is not about gender but we can not ignore gender in regard to the ongoing practices of music as an industry.

“Not excusing ourselves, but not knowing the majority of the bands selected we had no idea of the heavy gender bias of the lineup. We have friends who identify as non-binary or non-gender specific along with many from the LGBTQI+ community. We very much support mixed demographic scenarios where possible covering diversity in gender, sexuality, race etc. Like most we are not without our own flaws in managing such concerns but we are aware of how important this is, so this matter very much concerns us as a group.

“Being presented under the auspices of the ANU we also feel the lineup has a need to reflect the typical charter of a university in regard to diversity and inclusiveness. In stating these issues and the comments made online from the organisers we have decided to withdraw from this event as their public position runs against all we support.

“Given the state of society, environment and climate we hope upcoming generations across the world take time and effort to consider the realities of injustice right across the board and manifest more inclusive attitudes and overall awareness to make a stand against archaic and non-progressive approaches that we are currently laden with, and in turn to help make the world a better place for all.”