Big Thief share statement explaining decision to announce Israel shows

nme.com:

Big Thief have announced two gigs in Tel Aviv, Israel for next month, explaining the decision in a statement.The band, who released new double album ‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You’ back in February, will play a pair of shows in bassist Max Oleartchick’s hometown on July 6 and 7.Taking to Instagram to explain, they said: “We are excited to announce two shows in Max’s hometown, Tel Aviv, Israel on July 6th and 7th.“Accompanying this announcement, we would again like to clarify our motivations and intentions for playing in Tel Aviv, Israel, with as much transparency as possible.”They added: “Over the last seven years we’ve traveled constantly around 3 of our members’ home country, the United States, meeting each other’s families and childhood friends and sharing in the joys and sorrows of a complicated, beautiful and tumultuous home.

We have grown so close. It is important for us to share our homes, families and friends with each other in order to gain a deeper understanding of one another and the people and places that have made us who we are.

It is important for us to go where we have family to share space and play for them. It is foundational. It is in that spirit that we made our decision to play in Israel.“We are well aware of the cultural aspect of the BDS movement and the desperate reality of the Palestinian people.

In terms of where we fit into the boycott, we don’t claim to know where the moral high ground lies and we want to remain open to other people’s perspectives and to love beyond disagreement.