Ekko Astral delays release of new album, pulls out of Liberation Weekend II
After a tumultuous winter, Ekko Astral is taking a step back to “recalibrate.” The DC punk band had exciting plans in January, with the lineup announcement for their trans rights music festival Liberation Weekend. In February, they unveiled their upcoming second album, the beltway is burning. However, their journey took a turn when band leader Jael Holzman filed a peace order against departing drummer Miri Tyler, garnering attention from local media outlets.
Subsequently, Topshelf Records decided to drop Ekko Astral and canceled the release of their new album. Undeterred, the band now intends to self-release the album. The remaining members of Ekko Astral addressed the situation by releasing a statement to provide their perspective and refute certain elements of coverage by Washington City Paper regarding the legal actions.
In a recent announcement, Ekko Astral shared that they are postponing the release of the beltway is burning, canceling their performance at Liberation Weekend, and reducing their involvement in the festival by delegating responsibilities to an expanding team of volunteers. Prior to taking a step back, the band plans to fulfill their touring commitments by opening for Mclusky on the West Coast and performing at Boise’s Treefort Music Festival. Despite their absence from Liberation Weekend, Ekko Astral encourages fans to attend, emphasizing that the festival’s significance transcends the band itself.
The band’s message to fans expressed gratitude for their continued support and outlined their decision to delay the album release to ensure that the beltway is burning receives the attention it deserves. While fans may be disappointed by the delay, Ekko Astral remains committed to returning stronger than ever. Liberation Weekend II is still set to proceed with a dedicated team of volunteers overseeing the festivities, underscoring the importance of supporting trans rights, care, and art.
Ekko Astral’s absence from Liberation Weekend II should not diminish the event’s significance. Fans are urged to share the festival with friends and family to celebrate the talented artists involved and show solidarity for trans rights and art. Even as Ekko Astral takes a temporary hiatus, they assure fans that they will return in due course. Despite the recent challenges, the band remains optimistic about the future and is looking forward to connecting with supporters once again.