Crystal Castles Dropped From Feminist SXSW Showcase After Alice Glass Opposes The Booking

A newly revived Crystal Castles have been dropped from a gig at this year’s South By South-West after the booking was publicly opposed by former frontwoman Alice Glass.

Crystal Castles founder Ethan Kath is now flanked by new vocalist Edith Frances and the pair were due to headline SXSW showcase 79 Cents, a party which showcases female artists and is named after the gender wage difference in the US.

Glass, however, issued a statement to The Verge following the booking saying, “As someone who knew Ethan Kath on a personal and professional level, it is my opinion that he is not an appropriate artist to be performing at a feminism-centric event.”

Glass and Kath have engaged in very public disputes since Glass left the band in 2014. Kath suggested that Glass’ contributions to the band were minimal and while Glass hasn’t explicitly accused Kath of abuse she noted that she was “mistreated and manipulated”. She also donated digital proceeds from her 2015 solo single Stillbirth to a charity that benefits survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and incest.

Recently Glass took to Facebook to write, “I have absolutely NOTHING to do with crystal castles future albums or performances. and I do not want my imagery used in association with them.”

“I left that band not because I wanted to but because I needed to.”

While event organiser and Tumblr’s head of music Nate Auerbach initially defended the decision to book Crystal Castles saying they, “don’t get involved in the politics of the things,” the event has since decided it is not appropriate.

“We don’t know the facts around comments made about a member of the band, and we’re not going to engage in an investigation around it,” event organisers said in a statement (via NME).

“We’re hosting this event to highlight gender disparity issues, something that Tumblr and our community cares deeply about, and we don’t want the band’s presence to distract from this important mission.”

The event will go ahead with a lineup that includes Jhene Aiko, Little Simz and Empress Of.

Listen: Crystal Castles – Decide