UPDATE: Ryan is now out of prison and today’s Starfucker shows will go ahead as planned.
Starfucker (STRFKR) the popular young band from Portland, Oregon, have unfortunately been forced to cancel appearances at this year’s SXSW due to band member Ryan Biornstad’s arrest. The arrest was made in Austin as Biornstad was unloading his equipment, to prepare for the band’s gig. Eyewitnesses were completely baffled by the event and the reactions have been well documented in tweets, the main ones can be read on Oregon Music News.
Reportedly the official charges are “standing in the street” and “resisting arrest.” The band has caught the incident on film and claim that it proves there was no resistance to arrest. People reporting on the situation are blaming the policeman for being overly stressed and acting “agro.”
Starfucker were forced to cancel two shows yesterday and Biornstad has been kept overnight at the station, with no definite news as to whether he will be released today in time to play Starfucker’s remaining scheduled appearances. Let’s hope that he makes it out in time; SXSW is supposed to be fun for everyone and an opportunity for young bands to find new audiences. It would be unfair for any band to miss this chance due to one pissed off policeman.
