Full List of SXSW Musicians Greg Abbott Has Told Not To Come Back to Texas

Around 80 musicians and panelists have pulled out of the prestigious South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Texas and Governor Greg Abbott has told them not step foot in his state again.

They are leaving SXSW over its relationship with the U.S. Army and major defense companies.

More than 300,000 people attend the event every year, bringing an economic boon to Texas and this year has included panelists such as Meghan Markle and Selena Gomez. The 2024 festival is running from March 8 to 16 and is an internationally recognized event that showcases music, film and interactive media. It is often seen as an important launching pad for many who perform or speak there.

But due to the Army's sponsorship of the SXSW and the U.S. government's ongoing support of Israel in its military bombardment of Gaza, many artists are boycotting, including the entire Irish contingent.

A five-month has waged in the area since the military arm of Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack in Israel. It killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped more than 200. About 100 hostages are still in Hamas captivity, per Associated Press.

Israel subsequently launched its heaviest-ever airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 31,000 people and displace millions, per AP. International calls for a ceasefire are growing to allow humanitarian aid to access Palestinians who are facing famine and disease.

The U.S. Army is listed as a "Featured Partner" of SXSW along with and defense companies RTX, Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems.

Locally advocacy group Austin 4 Palestine pushed for a boycott of the festival over its partnership with the groups and if it did not "disinvite Raytheon, Collins Aerospace, and BAE Systems from the festival."

"The boycott of SXSW grows every day. No more war profiteers and warmongers in this city," the group wrote on Instagram, after reporting 80 artists and panelists had dropped out.

The entire official music contingent from Ireland, funded by the national government to attend, pulled out of SXSW on Tuesday.

Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap was one of the first to withdraw, saying on Sunday: "We cannot in good conscience attend an arts festival that has the U.S. Army as a 'super sponsor,'" and referred to the U.S. supply of arms to Israel.

"That the organizers of SXSW have taken the decision to mix the arts with the military and weapons companies is unforgivable, that they have done so as we witness a genocide facilitated by the U.S. military and its contractors is depraved," the group added in its post on X, formerly Twitter.

It also said withdrawing will have "a significant financial impact" on the group. "But it isn't an iota of hardship when compared to the unimaginable suffering being inflicted every minute, every day on the people of Gaza."

Other artists from Ireland who withdrew included Gavin James, Robert Grace, Chalk, Mick Flannery, Sprints, Soda Blonde, Cardinals, Gurriers and NewDad.

Music From Ireland, which organizes the showcase of Irish artists at SXSW, released a statement saying it "actively supports artists' right to freedom of expression, which is fundamental to their role as agents of change in society."

Aside from the entire Irish contingent boycotting the event, artists such as Squirrel Flower, Glare and Yaya Bey also dropped out.

But Abbott could not care less about their reasoning and told them "don't come back," in a post on social media.

SXSW issued a statement about the boycott saying it did not agree with Abbott. It added that its partnership with defense companies was important because the industry is a leader in "emerging technologies" and "has historically been a proving ground for many of the systems we rely on today."

The statement continued by saying, "we believe it's better to understand how their approach will impact our lives."

"The Army's sponsorship is part of our commitment to bring forward ideas that shape our world. In regard to Collins Aerospace, they participated this year as a sponsor of two SXSW Pitch categories, giving entrepreneurs visibility and funding for potentially game-changing work," SXSW said.

It also said in the same statement that it "fully respects the decision these artists made to exercise their right to free speech."

"Across the globe, we are witnessing unspeakable tragedies, the rise of repressive regimes, and the increasing spread of violent conflict. It's more crucial than ever that we come together to solve these greater humanitarian issues," SXSW said.

All the Musicians Who Have Left SXSW So Far:

• Eliza McLamb
• TC Superstar
• Shalom
• Mamalarky
• Lambrini Girls
• Proper
• Gel
• The Curls
• cumgirl8
• Horse Jumper of Love
• Abe Batshon
• Buffalo Nichols
• Buggin
• Scowl
• BODEGA
• The Armed
• TAGABOW
• Reyna Tropical
• Being Dead
• Proper
• Enola Gay
• Farmer's Wife
• Kneecap
• Gavin James
• Robert Grace
• Chalk
• Mick Flannery
• Sprints
• Soda Blonde
• Cardinals
• Gurriers
• NewDad
• Farmer's Wife
• Mei Semones
• MEDUSA
• TC Superstar
• Omni
• Trauma Ray
• Mamalarky
• Subsonic Eye
• Birthday Girl
• Groa
• Winona Forever
• Little Marzan
• Tetchy
• Discovery Zone
• Friend
• Lady Apple Tree
• Allegra Krieger
• Jess Cornelius
• Lip Critic
• Godcaster
• Lucía Beyond
• May Rio
• Greg Freeman
• babybaby_explores
• The New Eves
• Ben Aqua
• Bloomsday
• Strange Joy
• Madison Baker
• Luge
• This is Lorelei
• Conchúr White
• Fantasy of a Broken Heart
• Tomato Flower
• Merce Lemon
• Gold Dime
• Vera Ellen
• Vilagerrr
• Font
• Fust
• Kolb
• Frances Chang
• Sarah Morrison