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Courtesy Punk in the Park<\/p>\n
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Punk in the Park<\/a> is taking an unexpected year off, as the traveling rock festival announced the cancellation <\/a>of all 2026 events over the weekend, alluding to the continued fallout over the organizer\u2019s recently exposed political leanings, particularly financially supporting Trump\u2019s second presidential campaign, as the main reason for the decision.<\/p>\n \u201cThese shows were something we truly believed in, and we know how much they meant to many of you,\u201d starts the social media statement posted on February 27. \u201cUnfortunately, the current climate surrounding the events has created challenges that make it impossible for us to move forward in a way that delivers the experience our fans, artists and partners deserve.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is incredibly disappointing for everyone involved. Our has always been to bring people together through music, community and shared passion,\u201d it continues. \u201cAnd it\u2019s painful when circumstances prevent that from happening.\u201d<\/p>\n Boulder-born punk legend Jello Biafra <\/a>added to the fray leading up to the announcement, criticizing the decision of Dead Kennedys<\/a>, his former band, to still play the Pittsburgh and Vallejo, California, dates this year after the revelation that Cameron Collins, owner of the event\u2019s parent company Brew Ha Ha Productions, had supported Trump \u2014 even though the band said it wouldn\u2019t team up with Punk in the Park after the event.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re taking the money $$$, and THEN pulling out? The real Dead Kennedys would never have let this happen in the first place,\u201d Biafra, who served as vocalist and face of the band from 1979 to 1986, said in a statement to Stereogum<\/a> on February 24. \u201cOne more sordid reason I don\u2019t ever want to play with them again.\u201d<\/p>\n Dead Kennedys explained its reasoning in a since-deleted February 24 Instagram post.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve become aware that the owner of Brew Ha Ha Productions, the company behind Punk In The Park, made financial contributions in support of the Trump administration,\u201d the band wrote, as reported by Stereogum.<\/p>\n \u201cOur first reaction was to cancel our upcoming appearances,\u201d it continued. \u201cHowever, we do not feel it would be fair to our supporters who have already purchased tickets & made plans to attend these shows. Dead Kennedys have always stood firmly against authoritarianism, racism, and fascism. That has not changed. After these scheduled appearances, we will not be participating in future Punk In The Park events.\u201d<\/p>\n But now no one has to worry about being guilty by association. In addition to shows in Pittsburgh and Vallejo, Orlando is the other 2026 date being axed; all 2026 ticketholders are being fully refunded. <\/p>\n The fest\u2019s right-wing connection came to light shortly before last summer\u2019s Denver date, when it was discovered that Collins donated $250 <\/a>to Trump\u2019s 2024 run on May 30, 2024, according to FEC records<\/a> summarized by OpenSecret. An additional $104.10 was earmarked for the Trump National Committee JFC, Inc. on August 2, 2024, while $524.29 more went to other Republican causes \u2013 WinRed and Never Surrender, Inc. \u2013 during the year, as shown by public individual contributions listed for Collins and Brew Ha Ha Productions on the FEC website.<\/p>\n At the time, a local petition called for a boycott of the Denver date, while bands Destiny Bond and Time X Heist dropped off the lineup<\/a>. Then, headliner Dropkick Murphys really dropped the mic<\/a> during its July 20 set at the National Western Stockyards, vowing to never make another Punk in the Park appearance. Though the fest regularly stops in Colorado, there were no publicly announced plans for another visit in 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s make this one special because this will be the final Punk in the Park performance ever for the Dropkick Murphys, so let\u2019s make it a good one, shall we?\u201d outspoken vocalist Ken Casey <\/a>said.<\/p>\n \u201cAmerica\u2019s a free country, allegedly; you\u2019re free to vote and do as you wish,\u201d he added. \u201cBut if you\u2019re American and you\u2019re coming under the punk-rock banner and you\u2019re voting for that fuckin\u2019 guy and supporting the shit that they\u2019re doing, you\u2019ve twisted your mind into knots. The far right ain\u2019t the new punk. You heard it here first.\u201d<\/p>\n