Paces Calls Out Sticky Fingers After Being Booked On Same Festival Bill
"I need to address this..."
Yesterday, Brisbane festival Holy Green announced their lineup, featuring Sticky Fingers as headliner — and this morning, fellow festival act Paces has expressed concern about playing the same festival as the band, stating they were unaware the band were booked until the line-up was made public.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Paces — real name Mikey Perry — has addressed questions from fans about playing a festival with a “problematic headliner”. In the post, he says he wants to distance himself from the band, but that cancelling a booking would affect his family, as it’s his “only real source of income.”
He also directly speaks to his LGBTIQ and female fanbase, saying that he is trying “to be the change” he believes in across the industry, from booking more female-identifying supports, and to fostering a safe space at his gigs. In addition, he says he will donate $1000 of his Holy Green pay towards an anti-abuse charity, and is currently seeking suggestions for charities.
Amid allegations of racial and sexist abuse against lead singer Dylan Frost and an interview on triple j’s Hack in which the band defended Frost by saying ‘boys will be boys’ (not to mention Frost’s altercation at a Sydney pub with a trans model this May, and a threatening post by bassist Paddy Cornwall against musician Thelma Plum), booking Sticky Fingers has become a divisive act in the industry. In a statement, Frost has previously admitted his behaviour has made people “feel unsafe”, but denied allegations of violence or sexist or racial abuse.
Earlier this year, This That festival removed the band from their lineup after criticism, and in September, the band quietly announced a national tour via an email sent directly to fans.
Music Junkee has contacted Holy Green for comment.