United Vibrations Barred from Performing at SXSW

Seems that Trump’s executive order limiting entry to the country has hit a British jazz band who were on their way to perform at the South By South West (SXSW) music conference in Texas.

United Vibrations, who had one of the standout albums last year with ‘The Myth Of the Golden Ratio’ were travelling as part of a large group of musicians backed by the Arts Council and British Underground. As they were part of a showcase and not being paid, they should have been allowed to travel on an ESTA, however these were revoked when they tried to get into the country. The band is primarily comprised of brothers Ahmad, Kareem, and Yussef Dayes. It seems like none of the other bands in the party were affected in this way.

Thousands have been negatively affected by Trump’s executive order “Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States” (sic) amidst a disturbing rise in intolerance, paranoia and fear mongering. The fact it has affected a band who are performing at the festival this year, obviously strikes a chord in this instance, but as the band told me earlier, “Borders are being locked down everywhere. it’s not just us, in fact our situation is fine, we have food and a roof. I worry about the millions who have been suffering far worse at the hands of the same discriminatory system.”

SXSW had themselves preempted problems with the order and there was some controversy over a deportation contract clause which has now been cleared up, with the festival stating, “In this political climate, especially as it relates to immigration, we recognize the heightened importance of standing together against injustice.”