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AKARTA: Northern Irish rock band Relish reluctantly pulled out of the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival, which kicked off on Friday, because of unresolved issues surrounding their contracts, health and safety.

'€œThe band literally bent over backward to try and get out to their longtime fans in Indonesia, but the organizers were requiring compromises that were beyond reasonable,'€ the band said on its official website on late Thursday. '€œOur agent has worked diligently on this for months only to be disappointed at the very last minute.'€

The band, composed of brothers Ken (vocals and guitar) and Carl (drums, keyboards and vocals) Papenfus, expressed regret that the Twitter accounts of Java Jazz and its airline sponsor erroneously cofirmed their safe arrival in Jakarta. '€œRelish'€™s main concerns right now are that their trusted fans have bought tickets to see them and are still being led to believe that not only are the band still playing but that they are even in the country.'€

As of Friday, Relish is still included on the confirmed lineup list on the Java Jazz website.