'The Far Right Ain't The New Punk': Dropkick Murphys Bail on Major Festival After Political Bombshell

A major punk rock festival series has been thrown into turmoil after one of its headlining acts, the Celtic punk icons Dropkick Murphys, abruptly pulled the plug on all future appearances. The reason? A bombshell revelation that the festival's founder is a financial supporter of former President Donald Trump.

The Boston-based band, celebrated for their blue-collar anthems and the 2005 smash hit “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” had just completed a performance at the Punk in the Park festival in Denver. However, they announced Wednesday that it would be their last, citing an irreconcilable clash of values.

In a direct and unapologetic video statement posted to Instagram, the band made their position crystal clear. "Punk Rock and Donald Trump just don't belong together," the post declared. "So upon finding out that Brew Ha Ha promotions donated to the Trump campaign we will not be playing any more Punk in the Park shows."

The video captured frontman Ken Casey addressing a crowd, powerfully stating, "The far right ain't the new punk." The declaration drew a line in the sand, separating the band’s long-held political ethos from the festival's management.

Brew Ha Ha promotions, the organizer behind Punk in the Park, is owned by Cameron Collins. In the wake of the band's exit, Collins released his own statement addressing the controversy. He explained his political contribution as a difficult choice within a restrictive political landscape.

"We live in a two-party system, and unfortunately, you must choose based on a few important issues that resonate with you," Collins stated, defending his donation as a decision based on key policy promises that were important to him. He argued his personal political choices should not overshadow the festival's mission to celebrate punk music and culture.

This public feud highlights a deep ideological rift that has sent shockwaves through the punk community. For Dropkick Murphys, the association was untenable, forcing an immediate and high-profile departure. The incident leaves the future of the festival and its relationship with other artists in question, proving that in the world of punk rock, politics and principles are anything but background noise.