Latest news with #Sixthman
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Soulshine at Sea 3 Is Cancelled After Artist Exodus
Soulshine at Sea 3 won't set sail as planned. The concert cruise was slated to begin its voyage Nov. 4-8, 2025, headlined by Michael Franti & Spearhead and tracing a path from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico. More from Billboard Fans Choose Conan Gray's 'Wishbone' as This Week's Favorite New Music Hailey Bieber Pokes Fun at Candid Moment Between Justin and Kendall Jenner Ronnie Rondell Jr., Stuntman Set on Fire for Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' Cover, Dies at 88 Produced by Sixthman, and billed as Soulshine at Sea 3 With Michael Franti, the event was officially sold-out back in mid-December 2024. However, the show entered stormy waters in recent days when performers including Dispatch, Maggie Rose, Hirie, and Liz Vice pulled out. Sixthman has returned its plans to dock. 'In light of recent events, the Soulshine at Sea with Michael Franti event scheduled for November 4-8, 2025, is cancelled,' reads a statement posted to the official Soulshine at Sea's website, noting that plans for a separate event are underway. The artist exodus was fueled by allegations of abuse by an unnamed artist on the lineup. Maggie Rose shared a post on her Instagram stories: 'I've made the decision to no longer perform at Soulshine at Sea. There were some allegations made by a peer of mine about another artist on the lineup and I want to stand in solidarity with her. I hope you understand my decision and I appreciate your support.' Another, from Dispatch reads: 'We've decided we will no longer be performing at Soulshine at Sea. We have been made aware of deeply concerning public allegations involving another artist on the lineup and have chosen to withdraw from the event. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.' Hirie and Lice Vice also pulled out, citing similar reasons. Earlier, musician Victoria Canal accused a 'very powerful, decades older' man in the music industry of grooming and sexually abusing her when she was 19. 'This is something I've never spoken about publicly, and have been holding for 8 years now – it has plagued my body, spirit, and mind, in subliminal and overt ways, for my entire 20s,' Canal wrote Aug. 11 on her Instagram account. She declined to mention his name or any specifics 'because I can't risk the financial loss or emotional terror a lawsuit would bring.' This 'experience, which lasted a little over a year, has had a years-lasting effect on my intimate life,' she writes. As the accusations and subsequent cancellation spread on social media, Franti attempted to clear the air with a statement on an extramarital affair, a 'regrettable mistake,' as he puts it. 'I come here most humbly to share my story with you,' he writes in a social post. '7 years ago I had a romantic relationship outside my marriage. It was with an artist who was touring with me. I broke my wedding vows, I broke my wife's trust, I broke her heart and for that I am deeply sorry for the pain my actions have caused.' Franti's wife found out about, and 'to save my marriage, we ended the relationship,' he continues. The unidentified artist continued to tour with Franti in what he depicts as a professional relationship, and after the tour ended, continued to perform with him at 'several shows.' Meanwhile, organisers of Soulshine at Sea are 'actively working to announce a new event that will sail November 4-8, 2025'. Additional details will be shared today, Aug. 18. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Soulshine cruise canceled amid abuse claims against Michael Franti — artists pull out as promoter promises refunds & replacement
The Soulshine at Sea cruise, a four-day music festival voyage planned for November, has been canceled following abuse allegations against its headliner, Michael Franti. The Oakland-born musician, who disputes the claims, has acknowledged a past relationship but described it as consensual. Cruise canceled after artist withdrawals Festival promoter Sixthman announced the cancellation on August 17, after several scheduled acts, including ALO, Dispatch, Maggie Rose, Liz Vice, and Tank and the Bangas, withdrew. The company cited 'deeply concerning allegations' as the reason for the decision and confirmed refunds or credits would be offered to ticket holders. Sixthman also said a replacement event for November would be announced. Michael Franti denies Victoria Canal's sexual abuse allegations after Soulshine cruise is cancelled Allegations raised by Victoria Canal The controversy began when singer-songwriter Victoria Canal shared an Instagram post on August 11 describing a year-long abusive relationship with an older, powerful man in the music industry. At the time of the alleged events, Canal was 19. She wrote that she was groomed, manipulated, and isolated, and said she had been touched and photographed without consent. According to her post, she was led to believe speaking out would end her career before it began. Canal described the man as appearing 'loving, charismatic, and principled' publicly but controlling in private. While she did not name Franti, she previously credited him with discovering her on Instagram in 2018, when she was 19, and later inviting her on tour. Franti issues response Following the cancellation of the cruise, Franti released a statement acknowledging a romantic relationship outside his marriage but denying Canal's description of it. 'I'm aware of the recent posts this artist made about our relationship, and while I support her need to express herself publicly, the relationship was completely consensual, based on mutual feelings and attraction,' he said. 'I vehemently dispute any version of the story that says otherwise.' Franti also stated: 'I will, however, take full accountability for not better recognizing the power imbalance — as she was younger than me, and I was the headliner on tour. For those reasons alone, I never should have allowed the relationship to become romantic.' Community reaction In response to the developments, Canal reposted statements of support from the artists who withdrew from the cruise. Sixthman confirmed it is working to finalize an alternative event for November.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Michael Franti's Soulshine at Sea 3 Cruise canceled following allegations against the singer
The Soulshine at Sea 3 music cruise, headlined by singer Michael Franti, has been canceled after several performers — including Dispatch, Maggie Rose, HIRIE, and Liz Vice — pulled out of the lineup, Rolling Stone reported. Festival promoter Sixthman announced on Sunday that the event, originally scheduled for November 4–8, 2025, would not move forward. 'In light of recent events, the Soulshine at Sea with Michael Franti event scheduled for November 4-8, 2025, is cancelled. We are actively working to announce a new event that will sail November 4-8, 2025. Additional details will be shared tomorrow, Monday, August 18,' Sixthman said in a statement. The promoter also assured booked guests that they would be offered full refunds or future Sixthman credits, with more details to follow. Who is Michael Franti? Michael Franti (born April 21, 1966) is a singer, songwriter, and activist best known as the frontman of Michael Franti & Spearhead. He began his career in the 1980s with experimental groups The Beatnigs and The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy before forming Spearhead in the '90s. Some of the band's notable albums include Stay Human (2001) and All Rebel Rockers (2008). Allegations from Victoria Canal Earlier this month, singer-songwriter Victoria Canal alleged in an Instagram post that she had been sexually abused and groomed by an unnamed 'very powerful' man in the music industry when she was 19. 'This is something I've never spoken about publicly, and have been holding for 8 years now – it has plagued my body, spirit, and mind, in subliminal and overt ways, for my entire 20s,' Canal wrote on August 11. She claimed the man, much older than her, had 'plucked me out of the internet, and college, and invited me on my first professional opportunity.' While she chose not to identify him — citing fear of financial loss or legal action — online speculation pointed toward Michael Franti, who had invited her to collaborate in Nashville in 2018. Michael Franti Responds On Sunday, amid intensifying scrutiny, Michael Franti issued a statement acknowledging a 'relationship' with an unnamed artist outside of his marriage. 'I'm aware of the recent posts this artist made about our relationship, and while I support her need to express herself publicly, the relationship was completely consensual, based on mutual feelings and attraction,' Franti wrote. 'I vehemently dispute any version of the story that says otherwise.' "Get the latest updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who is Michael Franti? Soulshine at Sea 3 music cruise canceled amid allegations against the singer
The Soulshine at Sea 3 music cruise, headlined by singer Michael Franti, has been canceled after several artists, including Dispatch, Maggie Rose, HIRIE, and Liz Vice, pulled out of the lineup, Rolling Stone reported. Michael Franti is the frontman of Michael Franti & Spearhead.(Instagram/ Michael Franti) Festival promoter Sixthman announced on Sunday that the event, scheduled to take place November 4–8, 2025, would no longer move forward. 'In light of recent events, the Soulshine at Sea with Michael Franti event scheduled for November 4-8, 2025, is cancelled. We are actively working to announce a new event that will sail November 4-8, 2025. Additional details will be shared tomorrow, Monday, August 18,' Sixthman said in a statement. 'As we communicated on Friday to booked guests, all guests will be offered options regarding their reservations, which include a full refund or future Sixthman credit. We appreciate your patience as we work behind the scenes to provide swift and clear information to our guests.' Who is Michael Franti? Michael Franti, born April 21, 1966, is a singer, songwriter, and activist best known as the frontman of Michael Franti & Spearhead. His music career began in the 1980s with the experimental groups The Beatnigs and The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, before forming Spearhead in the '90s. The band's notable albums include Stay Human (2001) and All Rebel Rockers (2008). Allegations from Victoria Canal Earlier this month, singer-songwriter Victoria Canal shared a post on Instagram alleging that she had been sexually abused and groomed by an unnamed 'very powerful' man in the music industry when she was 19. 'This is something I've never spoken about publicly, and have been holding for 8 years now – it has plagued my body, spirit, and mind, in subliminal and overt ways, for my entire 20s,' Canal wrote on August 11. She described being contacted by a much older man who 'plucked me out of the internet, and college, and invited me on my first professional opportunity.' Canal said she chose not to name the individual 'because I can't risk the financial loss or emotional terror a lawsuit would bring." Although Canal did not name Franti in her post, online speculation and fan comments pointed to him, noting that he had invited her to collaborate in Nashville in 2018 when she was 19. Also Read: Is Taylor Swift headlining Super Bowl LX? Singer's 'sourdough clues' fuel rumors Michael Franti issues statement Amid growing scrutiny, Michael Franti released a statement on Sunday, admitting to a 'relationship' with an unnamed artist outside of his marriage. 'I'm aware of the recent posts this artist made about our relationship, and while I support her need to express herself publicly, the relationship was completely consensual, based on mutual feelings and attraction," he wrote. 'I vehemently dispute any version of the story that says otherwise.'
Los Angeles Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Little Steven's Underground Garage Cruise proves you can rock the boat
Imagine you're on a cruise ship for a four-day excursion to the Bahamas. You've got your swimsuit, an adult beverage, and you're ready to relax. As you make your way to the pool deck, you're hit with the sound of distorted guitars and in-your-face vocals as legendary L.A. punk band X rips through 'Johnny Hit and Run Paulene.' That was the scene on Little Steven's Underground Garage Cruise, which set sail from Miami on May 9-13 on board Norwegian Cruise Lines' Norwegian Gem, and the 1,800 or so passengers were in punk rock heaven. The lineup featured an array of SoCal-based bands, including Social Distortion, L7, Rocket From the Crypt, the Lords of Altamont and the Dollyrots. They were joined by dozens of other performers across the rock 'n' roll spectrum, from the hard-stomping Fleshtones to the incorrigible Supersuckers, to Tommy Stinson's Bash & Pop, to the ageless Linda Gail Lewis — younger sister of music icon Jerry Lee Lewis. As John Doe of X said, 'bands you never thought you'd see on a boat.' The festival-at-sea concept isn't new. Sixthman, the company that ran the cruise, has been organizing festivals since 2001 and offers more than 25 curated cruise experiences. Upcoming sailings include Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Alaska, Chef's Making Waves Boston, Rock the Bells Cruise and Headbangers Boat. In many ways, the first Little Steven's Underground Garage Cruise is an offshoot of Sixthman's Outlaw Country Cruise, which completed its ninth sailing earlier this year. It was a somewhat somber celebration because both its architect, SiriusXM's Jeremy Tepper, and its ambassador, Mojo Nixon, died suddenly in 2024. That cruise drew an eclectic mix of performers such as Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams and Dave Alvin, who share musical DNA with many of the artists on the Underground Garage Cruise and vice versa. For example, Alvin's former band the Blasters played alongside X during L.A.'s first wave of punk, and Social Distortion's Mike Ness was often in the front row watching them play. 'Jeremy and Mojo were incredibly close,' Alvin said. 'They were like soulmates in a weird way. Cultural, artistic soulmates.' One surprise guest on the Outlaw Country Cruise was Jello Biafra, who released the album 'Prairie Home Invasion' with Mojo Nixon in 1994. He played with Nixon's backing band the Toadliquors during an emotional tribute to his late friend. 'It's hard,' Biafra said, 'because there is a little bit of a pall over this whole event, because Mojo isn't here, and everybody's got their memories bubbling up. I have plenty of that.' Many of the performers, including some who'd never taken a cruise before, had reservations about what the Underground Garage Cruise would be like. 'I thought there was going to be a lot of crazy drunkenness,' said Donita Sparks of L7. 'I was thinking it was a booze cruise, but I haven't seen a whole lot of that. I haven't seen a single fight. I've seen people laughing and hugging and rocking out to the music. I've just seen a lot of joyousness.' John Reis, vocalist and guitarist of Rocket From the Crypt, was concerned about seasickness and feeling 'trapped' but neither proved to be an issue, and he found it easy to 'succumb to the vibe.' 'We don't take certain things all that seriously,' Reis said of Rocket From the Crypt, 'and festivals can be very regimented. There's often a lot of stress involved, mainly with the people putting on the shows. The cruise isn't like that at all. It's way more casual.' Even Ness of Social Distortion was seemingly won over by the cruising lifestyle. 'Ease into the day, do what you want. No traffic, no hassles,' Ness said from the stage. Punks of a certain age are all too familiar with the phenomenon of looking forward to a show but, once it's time to actually leave the house, losing all enthusiasm to drive across town, find parking and wait for opening bands to wrap up their sets. On the Underground Garage Cruise, all shows are a short walk away and run from an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. No openers. No encores. Although some shows overlap, unlike most festivals, the bands play several times throughout the course of the cruise. So if you missed a band's performance on the spacious pool deck, you could catch them later at the 850-seat Stardust Theater or one of the more intimate lounges that provide a clublike setting. That means you can choose where and when you want to see the band — even early in the afternoon. 'We've been doing this a long time,' Eddie Spaghetti of the Supersuckers told the crowd at the band's 1:15 p.m. gig. 'But never this early,' quipped bandmate 'Metal' Marty Chandler. Performers participated in events offstage as well: autograph signings, a wine tasting with the Dictators, a poker tournament with the Slim Jim Phantom Trio and interview sessions that will eventually make their way to the Little Steven's Underground Garage channel on SiriusXM. An interview with Mike Ness ended with a surprise short set by Social Distortion, accompanied by keyboardist Ben Alleman on the accordion. There are, of course, drawbacks to the cruise experience. If you're not having a good time at a festival, you can always leave and go home. Obviously, you can't do that on a cruise ship. There are also larger concerns with the cruise industry itself, from the impact these behemoth ships have on the environment to the low wages paid to foreign workers, who do the bulk of the cooking and cleaning. John Doe said he was conflicted about the gig. 'As you grow up, you do things for love or money, right? This is for money. But I love the band X.' Then there's the elephant in the room: the perception that cruises aren't for kids; they're for elderly people. A lot of these old punks are, well, old. And if you were in the pit with bands like X, Social Distortion and L7 when they were first making waves, then so are you. That's not necessarily a bad thing. 'Rock 'n' roll is like jazz now,' said Eddie Spaghetti. 'Essentially, it's become a niche art form for older people because most kids don't like rock 'n' roll anymore.' As fans age, their bodies may break down but their passion for the music of their youth remains the same. But a lot of music fans, this writer included, deal with disability, health and/or mobility issues that can put a damper on the typical festival experience. Sixthman, however, excelled at making sure every passenger felt welcome. For instance, all of the venues on the Underground Garage Cruise had an abundance of ADA seating, with staff designated to assist those who requested it. One staff member I spoke with told me she scans the crowds during the shows and looks for people who might benefit from extra assistance. That kind of personal attention goes a long way toward explaining why fans, performers and staff members alike think of these cruises as a community. There's a camaraderie on these trips that you won't find at your typical festival. The people you meet at the show aren't just festivalgoers; they're your neighbors and sometimes your breakfast companions. The intimidating-looking punk rocker covered in tattoos is a lot more approachable when eating pancakes with his partner at the buffet. This camaraderie isn't what leads most fans to sail on a music cruise, but it's one of the reasons they return year after year. During the Outlaw Country Cruise in February, passengers assembled for a group photo for those who'd sailed on all nine Outlaw Country Cruises. That camaraderie is important to the musicians too. Everyone I talked to raved about the shows they'd seen. Jonny Two Bags of Social Distortion told me that when he received the schedule, he highlighted the bands he wanted to see — just like any fan. He was especially excited to see Bash & Pop, who he'd played with in the early '90s. Donita Sparks of L7 had fond memories of playing with the Supersuckers in the early '90s. 'We used to sleep on the Supersuckers' floor in Seattle,' Sparks said, 'and we would have a dance party every night.' That excitement for what L7's Jennifer Finch called 'the buffet of bands' is infectious. It's also why Little Steven's Underground Garage Cruise will sail again next April, to Cozumel, Mexico. 'We're all alive,' Sparks said. 'We're here and we're still rocking.' Jim Ruland is the L.A. Times bestselling author of 'Corporate Rock Sucks: The Rise & Fall of SST Records' and of the novel 'Make It Stop.'
