Manitoba Punk Legends Propagandhi Cancel All U.S. Tour Dates Citing "Circumstances Beyond Our Control"

Manitoba punk band Propagandhi have cancelled all upcoming American tour dates.

The celebrated band are touring new album At Peace, and were slated to play in Portland, Oregon; Denver, Colorado; Worchester, Massachusetts; and Gainesville, Florida.

They didn't provide details for reasons behind the cancellation, citing "circumstances beyond our control." But it's no secret that touring the U.S. has become significantly more difficult for Canadian artists under the current American administration.

The band, who are well known for the left-wing and anti-oppressive politics, still have dates scheduled across Europe and three Canadian dates in Quebec and B.C. at the end of June.

Artists are no longer able to apply for Visas if their legal ID doesn't match assigned sex at birth, barring many trans and gender non-confirming musicians from being able to tour. Singer-songwriter Bells Larsen had to cancel a planned American tour supporting his new album, Blurring Time.

Artist T. Thomason also pulled out of an American music festival, and country singer Robert Adam has decided not to tour in the U.S., both citing safety concerns for queer and trans artists.

Other barriers to touring the U.S. include extended wait times for permit processing and fears about possible detention, following stories about Canadians getting turned away at the border or detained by U.S. officials.

The Canadian Press reports that indie rock artist Young Friend also cancelled his U.S. dates due to American threats toward Canada and the ongoing trade war. The story notes that nearly a dozen musicians declined to be interviewed, revealing a sense of fear amongst artists about public statements that could negatively affect Visa approvals.

The Canadian Independent Music Association cancelled its usual presence at SXSW in March, citing uncertainty over tariffs. CIMA also recently held a virtual town hall for Canadian artists performing in the U.S., providing information on what artists can expect at the border in the current climate.

Find Propagandhi's upcoming tour dates and tickets here.