The first lady announced that the band, known for songs such as "Love Shack," "Rock Lobster" and "Roam," would not be performing as she previewed Wednesday's festivities.
"While we had initially planned for the legendary B-52s to perform their iconic dance and party music, we are now in a time when so many are facing sorrow and pain," she said.
Instead the band will attend the event as guests, according to the first lady who will host her fourth state dinner Wednesday night, and "the president's own Marine band and the Army and Air Force strolling strings will provide instrumental music for the dinner."
On Tuesday, the first lady provided a preview of the state dinner, which will feature elements of the "vibrant Australian spring and crisp American autumn."
"The moment guests walk into the pavilion tomorrow evening, they will be immersed in color," Carlos Elizondo, White House social secretary, told reporters, as he outlined the colorful fabrics, gold chandeliers and roses that will provide atmosphere for the state event.
The decor will honor the cultures of both the United States and Australia. The backdrop to the dinner space will include a canvas of flowers with American monarch butterflies and Australian Cairns birdwing butterflies. The table decor will also feature apples, pears, grapes and berries, which grow in both countries.
Katie Button, James Beard award-winner as well as chef and co-founder of Asheville, N.C., Curate, will be the guest chef for the dinner, which will be prepared by an all-female team.
The state dinner will feature "American ingredients and innovation," starting with farro and roasted beet salad and butternut squash soup. The main course will serve up sarsaparilla-braised short ribs and for dessert, guests will enjoy hazelnut and chocolate mousse cake.
"A perfectly delicious end to the meal and a festive entry to the upcoming holiday season," Button said, as she outlined her menu.
On Tuesday night, the first lady and President Joe Biden welcomed Prime Minister Albanese and Jodie Haydon to the White House where they sat down for a private dinner.
"We are excited to build our strong friendship and show them pieces of our country that make us proud," the first lady said. "Nurturing our partnerships and relationships with our allies is critically important, especially in these tumultuous times."
Australia PM begins White House visit with China, Ukraine on menu
Washington (AFP) Oct 24, 2023 -
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived at the White House on Tuesday for a lavish state visit and talks with President Joe Biden on China, Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The pomp-filled trip comes as Washington looks to reinforce its ties with longtime ally Australia as part of a broader strategy to counter Beijing in the Asia-Pacific region.
"The president's looking forward to the state visit, there is an awful lot on the plate with this important ally and partner in the region," US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
Kirby added that "we expect the situation in the Middle East to come up in the conversation."
The visit is also set to include announcements on technology cooperation -- including a US$3.2 billion Microsoft investment focused on artificial intelligence -- and on clean energy and "critical minerals" to secure supply chains, he said.
The two leaders will also discuss the landmark AUKUS security pact -- which also involves Britain, and would see Australia supplied with nuclear-powered, conventionally-armed submarines.
Albanese is meanwhile seeking to keep Biden focused on Australia's neighborhood while the Israel-Hamas and Ukraine conflicts rage on the other side of the world.
"It will be an important visit," Albanese said Sunday before leaving. "The alliance between Australia and the United States is central to Australia's foreign policy."
The official state visit begins on Wednesday with talks with Biden in the Oval Office and a joint press conference in the Rose Garden.
Albanese will then be honored with a state dinner on the South Lawn of the White House.
However a planned performance by iconic rock band the B-52s has been canceled due to the "sorrow and pain" of the Israel-Hamas conflict, First Lady Jill Biden said Tuesday.
- 'Important time' -
Biden invited Albanese after the US president was forced to cancel a scheduled visit to Australia in May at the last minute and return to Washington to work on a deal to avoid a catastrophic US default.
Washington has been boosting its ties with Australia in recent years.
"It's very important that we remain focused on the Indo Pacific region," the Australian premier told a news conference on Sunday, using the allies' term for the Asia-Pacific region.
While trying to counter China, both countries are also trying to stabilize relations with the world's second biggest economy.
Albanese announced on the eve of the trip that he would visit China in early November for talks with President Xi Jinping. Biden meanwhile may meet Xi at a summit in San Francisco between November 11 and 17.
But Ukraine and the Middle East are also set to come up, with both Washington and Canberra providing military aid for Kyiv's fight against the Russian invasion.
"We believe that there's no more important time than now to have this visit with the Australians," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Monday.
She said it was vital to "demonstrate our strength and partnership... as we are continuing to see the invasion that continues in Ukraine."
The political chaos in Washington, where the US Congress is paralyzed by feuding Republicans' inability to elect a new speaker, will also come up.
Albanese is due to visit Congress, and said he would be "very supportive" of the $106 billion security package that Biden is asking lawmakers to pass -- which includes Ukraine funding and money for the AUKUS pact.
Source: United Press International
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