While Israel’s war on Gaza rages on, with no ceasefire or merciful end in sight, it can be difficult to pay attention to other world events.
The 2024 Olympics, for example, are currently being held in Paris. Russian and Belarusian athletes are banned from competing under their own flags at the Games, though Israel, which has been accused by United Nations officials of conducting a genocide, is participating in the competition. In the Olympics football, when Israel were hammered 4-2 by Paraguay, progressive American news and analysis platform The Nation noted, “Israel wins just by being allowed to compete.”
“The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline,” American author David Foster Wallace once remarked, “and being able truly to care about other people.”
Some of Auckland’s best music artists know this, and are magnifying their voices this weekend in support of Palestine, looking towards the crisis in Gaza.
Artists for Palestine will take place this Sunday, August 11th, at BIG FAN, the first of many similar events hoping to raise as much money (and awareness) as possible.
“76 years + 10 months of brutal occupation,” the event’s official description reads. “We’re watching a genocide live-streamed, while our government – and the world – sit idly by, and refuse even basic aid to the families. Art is intrinsically political, and music is one of the most powerful ways to make our voices heard. We, the musical artists of Aotearoa, are taking a stand today. If our government won’t provide aid, we will raise the money ourselves.”
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Fresh from announcing her debut album SAFAR, Persian-Kiwi multi-hyphenate CHAII will perform at Artists for Palestine, as will Jordyn with a Why (watch her INTROS episode here).
Joining those headliners on the bill are up-and-coming artists Swizl Jager, Idol Essence, TAMiii, and day13n, backed by their bands and DJs PLASTiC, The Man Shamz, and SKIIMASQ.
Away from music, there will also be two special guest speakers at the event: Chlöe Swarbrick, co-leader of the Green Party and fierce advocate for Palestinian people’s rights, and Avigail Allan, a local peace activist, filmmaker, and co-founder of Dayenu: New Zealand Jews Against Occupation.
Tickets to the event are available now via Under The Radar, with all proceeds going to UNRWA to support a free Palestine.
Artists for Palestine
Tickets available via undertheradar.co.nz
Sunday, August 11th
BIG FAN, Auckland
Lineup
Jordyn with a Why
CHAII
Swizl Jager x PLASTiC
Idol Essence x The Man Shamz
TAMiii & day13n x SKIIMASQ
