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A SXSW Showcase Will Feature Artists from Countries Targeted by Trump’s Immigration Ban

SXSW has announced a new showcase called “Contrabanned: #MUSICUNITES @ SXSW,” which will feature only artists from the seven countries affected by Donald Trump’s recent, currently stymied ban on immigrants from predominantly Muslim nations:  Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, and Libya.  Described as “a call to action,” the show is a collaboration between music company and non-profit globalFEST, Public Radio International’s news program “The World,”  music PR firm rock paper scissors, and Tamizdat, a non-profit that helps coordinate artists’ visas.

The website for the showcase states that artists from “Iran, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan” have been confirmed to play, but that they cannot announce the lineup officially until a Kickstarter quota has been met to handle the costs of getting them to the festival. The three prospective acts listed on the Kickstarter are Mamak Khadem (Iran/US) Ash Koosha (Iran/UK), and Faarrow (Somalia/US).

Donate to the project, which is aiming to reach $15,000 by March 8, here. The showcase is scheduled for March 17 at The Palm Door in Austin.

https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/197369166&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true

https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/273552671&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true

[Pitchfork]