23/07/2025
We have to say something about this announcement, published by the KIDS on their Facebook several weeks ago.
Slovenly and THE KIDS have worked together a lot over the last 10 years. We were lucky enough to have them headline our WE'RE LOUD FESTs in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Mexico, and in 2023, the USA.
For them to be allowed to perform in the USA in 2023, we navigated a tedious and expensive visa process that we also found quite disrespectful to the band. We had to prove that they were internationally renowned by providing recent media coverage (a link to their discography should be more than sufficient). And they had to travel to Brussels for more than one in-person interview at the US Embassy.
Artists from the USA who travel to play smaller venues in Europe are welcomed with open arms -- without any visa whatsoever. In the UK, work visas are required to perform, but the process is simple and the cost is a fraction of what is charged in the USA.
In 2025, the KIDS were invited to play Mosswood Meltdown, so we helped get our friends who organize that great party in Oakland get the process going to renew the visas for the band. The fees increased since 2023 -- in 2025, together with legal fees, they are approaching $4K. Despite having paid this amount eight months in advance, we hadn't received any response from the . We could have paid $2800 more for "Premium" processing, which supposedly guarantees a timely response, but there would still be no guarantee of visa approval.
At this point, and in the current climate, the KIDS -- understandably -- decided to cancel. Amidst all the reports of valid visa holders being harassed by immigration, deportations of green card holders, and other such crap that one wouldn't expect to be happening in "the land of the free", it seemed likely the authorities would give them a hard time over songs like "Fascist Cops" and "Do You Love the N***s".
So, to be clear: this exceptional and unacceptable situation already existed before Trump 2.0 - but now, under his influence, the USCIS is "Making America Safe Again", and that apparently includes keeping 60-year old punk rockers from playing a few shows -- and also keeping their visa application money.
Yet another thing to write your "representative" to complain about.
Thanks to Mosswood Meltdown, Ivy Agency, TV Eye, On the Streets Again, Damon at The Earl, Hostile City Oi! Counsil, and Covey Law for your hard work, and to all the fans and everyone else for your understanding. Hopefully we'll be able to welcome the KIDS back to our country in 2029. They'll be playing rock'n'roll until they die!
The KIDS Belgium punk
