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Aussie band pulls out of Bluesfest due to "controversial lineup"


Melbourne-based band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard has announced that it will be withdrawing from this year's Bluesfest lineup, citing its opposition to misogyny, racism, transphobia, and violence.


The announcement comes in the wake of controversy surrounding the inclusion of Sydney-formed rock band Sticky Fingers in the festival's lineup.


In a statement released on social media on Monday, the six-piece rock band expressed its disappointment in Bluesfest's decision to feature Sticky Fingers as an act.


The band wrote, "Surprised and saddened to see Bluesfest commit to presenting content that is in complete opposition to these values. We are deeply disappointed to be in this position, but sometimes you need to be willing to make sacrifices to stand up for your values. This is, unfortunately, one of those moments."


Sticky Fingers' frontman Dylan Frost has been involved in several controversies in recent years, including being accused of threatening behavior towards Indigenous Australian singer and songwriter Thelma Plum in 2016.


In 2017, the band announced a hiatus, with Frost revealing that he had been diagnosed with bipolar schizophrenia and would be attending rehabilitation and therapy.


Bluesfest director Peter Noble recently defended Sticky Fingers' inclusion in an interview with Nine newspapers, saying that Frost had not been involved in any incidents for years while managing his condition.


Bluesfest has yet to comment on King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's announcement.


The festival is scheduled to take place from April 14 to April 18 in Byron Bay, New South Wales.


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