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Photo © Chris Noltekuhlmann, www.cnphotography.deAnti-Flag have raised funds directly from two recent shows in Hamburg and Berlin to benefit Pussy Riot.
On July 31st Anti-Flag held a benefit show in Berlin, Germany, at Cassiopeia with bands Radio Havanna and Smile and Burn. The show sold out within days of being announced. In addition to donating proceeds, the band along with participants from the crowd penned letters and words of encouragement that will be sent to Pussy Riot. In a symbolic show of unity and solidarity, Anti-Flag and the crowd at Cassiopeia donned balaclava masks, a trademark of Pussy Riot.
The venue, Cassiopeia, also generously pledged to donate a portion of the nights income to Pussy Riot.
Days before, on July 29th Anti-Flag played Knust in Hamburg, Germany, and donated two euros from every ticket sold, as well as collected additional donations at the door.
While raising funds is central, the band’s aims are also to advance awareness of Pussy Riot’s struggle and to defend free speech.
On June 20th, 2012, Anti-Flag released their cover of Pussy Riot's 'Virgin Mary, redeem us of Putin' in order to raise awareness.
The Song is available via http://soundcloud.com/antiflag/punkprayer
Three members of Pussy Riot -Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich - were detained by the Russian authorities for performing their protest song 'Virgin Mary, redeem us of Putin' in Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral on 21 February 2012. The three have been charged with "hooliganism" under Article 213 of the Russian Criminal Code. They are currently on trial and if found guilty, they could be jailed for up to seven years.
Anti-Flag condemns the Russian authorities abuse of power and calls for the immediate release of Pussy Riot.
For more information please visit www.freepussyriot.org
Anti-Flag released “The General Strike” LP in March of this year and are currently on tour in Europe. The band will co-headline the Lockup stage at Reading/Leeds festivals in the UK later this month.
Anti-Flag Upcoming Tour Dates:
August 9 – Budapest, Hungary – Sziget Fesitval
August 10 – Dornbirn, Austria – Conrad Sohm
August 11 – Bildein, Austria – Picture on Festival
August 12 – Zofingen, Switzerland – Heitere Open Air Festival
August 14 – Milano, Italy – Carroponte w/ Yellowcard
August 15 – Tolmin, Slovenia – Punk Rock Holiday
August 16 – Trutnov, Czech Rep – Trutnov Festival
August 17 – Koblenz, Germany – Spack! Festival
August 19 – Bruges, Belgium – Factor
August 20 – Den Bosch, Netherlands – W2
August 22 – Chiemsee, Germany – Chiemsee Rocks
August 24 – Reading, UK – Reading Festival
August 25 – Leeds, UK – Leeds Festival
September 1 – Lavaltrie, Quebec – Pouzza Pelouzza
September 2 – Chicoutimi, Quebec – DAMP Fest
Anti-Flag will join Billy Talent on their upcoming “Dead Silence” Tour dates in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
September 29 – Dresdan, Germany – Messehalle
September 30 – Stuttgart, Germany – Schleyerhalle
October 2 – Munich, Germany – Zenith
October 3 – Vienna, Austria – Stadhalle
October 5 – Winterhur, Switzerland – Eishalle Deutweg
October 6 – Hohenems, Austria – Even Center
October 7 – Frankfurt, Germany – Festhalle
October 9 – Dusseldorf, Germany – Mitsubishi Electric Halle
October 10 – Muenster, Germany – Halle Muensterland
October 11 – Hamburg, Germany
October 13 – Berlin, Germany – Max Schmeling-Halle
October 14 – Saarbruken, Germnay – E-Werk
