Ekko Astral announced on March 4 that their second album, The Beltway Is Burning, will be postponed and that the Washington, D.C., punk group will no longer appear at this spring’s Liberation Weekend II. The decision comes as the band finishes a brief March tour but steps back from further dates amid a public dispute that has already cost them their label relationship.
The band said it will honor scheduled West Coast support dates with mclusky and play at Idaho’s Treefort Fest later this month, then pause other shows to regroup and give the album more time and attention. Organizers of Liberation Weekend II—set for April 24–26—confirm the festival will go ahead; Ekko Astral urged fans to still attend, stressing the event’s charitable focus on trans rights and care.
Last month Topshelf Records announced it would no longer release the group’s album; on February 23 lead singer Jael Holzman said Ekko Astral plans to release the record independently on April 22. Topshelf told Pitchfork its decision followed a dispute involving Holzman and former drummer Miri Tyler. Tyler had publicly said she intended to leave the band in January, citing the strain touring had on her mental health.
Legal filings have added a new layer to the story. Holzman filed a peace order against Tyler on February 6 in Montgomery County District Court, alleging online threats; the order, which restricts direct contact, remains active through August 13. The Washington City Paper later published an account in which Tyler denied threatening anyone and explored the rift between the two musicians. Ekko Astral responded to that reporting, saying it contained inaccuracies and omissions and blaming the coverage for online harassment that contributed to their split from Topshelf. The City Paper has stood by its reporting.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January | Miri Tyler announces plans to leave Ekko Astral, citing touring-related mental-health strain. |
| Feb 6 | Jael Holzman files a peace order against Tyler in Montgomery County District Court. |
| Feb 23 | Holzman says the band will self-release The Beltway Is Burning on April 22. |
| Late February | Topshelf Records announces it will not release the band’s album. |
| Mar 4 | Ekko Astral postpones the album and withdraws from Liberation Weekend II; commits to finishing March tour dates. |
| Apr 24–26 | Liberation Weekend II proceeds as scheduled with a lineup including Laura Jane Grace, Illuminati Hotties and Pool Kids. |
The developments matter beyond one band’s schedule. For fans and the local music community, the immediate consequences are practical: the album release is delayed, planned shows are canceled, and a high-profile festival appearance will no longer feature Ekko Astral. The episode also highlights how interpersonal disputes and online coverage can ripple into label decisions and festival programming.
- For ticket-holders: Liberation Weekend II remains on; organizers and volunteer teams are managing the lineup.
- For album followers: The band says they will self-release the record later this spring, but no new release date has been announced beyond the previously stated April 22 plan.
- For the scene: The dispute has prompted public debate about reporting accuracy, online harassment, and how institutions respond to internal band conflicts.
In a brief public message, Holzman and bandmate Liam Hughes said they need time to “recalibrate” and that delaying the album will allow them to give it the attention it deserves; they also reiterated support for the festival’s broader cause and encouraged people to attend. Liberation Weekend II organizers report the event will continue with the confirmed lineup and fundraising aims for trans care and mutual aid.
As the situation evolves—particularly if there are updates to the label relationship, legal filings, or a revised release schedule—fans and industry observers will be watching how the band’s retreat from the public schedule affects both the album rollout and the local music community.
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