Sticky Fingers Are No Longer Performing At Bluesfest

Bluesfest has today announced that controversial rock band Sticky Fingers will no longer be performing at the 2023 festival.

The news arrives a week after King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Sampa The Great withdrew from the festival due to Sticky Fingers' inclusion on the bill.

“We are sad to announce that Bluesfest has decided that Sticky Fingers is to step off the Bluesfest 2023 line-up,” reads a statement from the festival.

“Bluesfest cannot, sadly, continue to support Sticky Fingers by having them play our 2023 edition, and we apologise to those artists, sponsors and any others we involved in this matter through our mistaken belief that forgiveness and redemption are the rock on which our society is built.

“The narrative that they continue to deserve to be cancelled, as well as anyone who publicly supports them, is difficult to accept, wherein a portion of society and media passes eternal judgment toward those, in this case, a diagnosed mentally ill person whom we feel doesn’t deserve the continued public scrutiny he’s being given.  

“We thank everyone who has contacted us and advised their support in this matter, especially those suffering from a mental illness who feel they cannot have their illness supported in a manner whereby they feel included in society.  

“Sticky Fingers has done so many good deeds that have never been reported, including building and funding recording studios and music education programs in disadvantaged regional communities.

“We will now move on, put this behind us and continue to plan and present our best-ever edition of Bluesfest... proudly.”

At the time of their cancellation last Monday, King Gizzard stated: "As a band and as human beings, we stand against misogyny, racism, transphobia and violence.

"Surprised and saddened to see Bluesfest commit to presenting content that is in complete opposition to these values.

Two days later, Sampa The Great's representatives stated that she had been requesting her removal from the line-up before being announced on the bill.

In response, festival director Peter Noble said: “I hoped it didn't need to be said, but unfortunately, it does. We at Bluesfest stand for something: inclusivity.

“We want to support artists who are achieving greatness, which often involves overcoming incredible hurdles. Please take the time to educate yourself with the facts regarding Sticky Fingers." 

The announcement of Sticky Fingers' inclusion on Bluesfest drew social media attention due to the band's well-documented history of alleged altercations, internal band fights and struggles with alcohol addiction and mental health issues.