Ekko Astral Postpones Album Release and Liberation Weekend II Performance
Washington, D.C. Punk band Ekko Astral has postponed the release of their second album, The Beltway Is Burning, and will no longer perform at this year’s Liberation Weekend, the festival they co-founded. The announcement was made on March 4, 2026.
Album Release and Performance Delay
In a statement, Ekko Astral members Jael Holzman and Liam Hughes explained the need for time to “recalibrate.” They stated, “We wanted to move by our original schedule, but we’ve realized we would benefit from more time and bandwidth to give Beltway, our pride and joy, the moment it deserves.” The band will fulfill their immediate touring commitments, supporting Mclusky on the West Coast and performing at Treefort Fest in March, including debuting new songs from the album. However, all subsequent performances have been postponed.
Label Dispute and Independent Release
The postponement follows a recent decision by Topshelf Records to drop Ekko Astral and cancel the album’s release, initially scheduled for April 22, 2026. Punknews.org reported that Topshelf Records cited a dispute between Holzman and former drummer Miri Tyler as the reason for the label’s decision. Despite being dropped by Topshelf, Holzman confirmed to Pitchfork on February 23, 2026, that the band intends to release the album independently on the original date.
Peace Order and Allegations
The dispute stems from a peace order filed by Holzman against Tyler on February 6, 2026, alleging threats made on social media. Paste Magazine detailed that the order, effective until August 13, 2026, prohibits Tyler from contacting Holzman. Tyler had previously announced her departure from the band in January, citing mental health concerns related to touring. The Washington City Paper reported on the situation, a report Ekko Astral contested, claiming “inaccuracies and omissions” and attributing the fallout with Topshelf Records to the resulting “misinformed online harassment.”
Liberation Weekend II to Proceed
Ekko Astral encouraged fans to still attend Liberation Weekend II, scheduled for April 24-26, emphasizing that the festival “has always been bigger than this band.” The festival lineup includes Laura Jane Grace, Illuminati Hotties, and Pool Kids. They urged supporters to share the event and highlighted its importance in supporting “trans rights, trans care, and trans art.”
Ekko Astral’s Full Statement:
Hello friends,
At the end of March, we will be supporting mclusky on the West Coast, and playing Treefort Fest.
On that run, you can appear forward to never-performed songs from our upcoming record, ‘the beltway is burning’. We hope to see you all there.
After these immediate commitments, Ekko Astral needs time to recalibrate.
We wanted to move by our original schedule, but we’ve realized we would benefit from more time and bandwidth to give Beltway, our pride and joy, the moment it deserves. We are postponing the album and all other performances.
To our fans, we’re sorry for this delay. We appreciate all the support you’ve shown for this band.