The two musicians were due to perform early next month in the Hawke's Bay region, an area hardest-hit by the severe weather event
Lorde and Sting have postponed and cancelled their respective upcoming shows in New Zealand following the destruction caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.
The Category 3 cyclone hit the northern region of New Zealand’s North Island on February 12, before gradually tracking down the east coast and leaving widespread devastation in its wake. Two days later, New Zealand declared a state of emergency – only the third in its history.
At the time of writing, the death toll of Cyclone Gabrielle stands at 11, with more than 5,000 people remaining uncontactable across New Zealand. Recovery efforts are currently underway across the country, with the worst of the cyclone subsiding on February 16.
Lorde announced the postponement of her upcoming shows in Hawke’s Bay – the hardest-hit area where 9,000 people have been displaced and 62,000 households went without power. “In line with advice from police, the venue and our promoter, I think the right thing to do is postpone our Hawke’s Bay shows,” the singer wrote on social media yesterday (February 20).
From March 1, Lorde was due to perform two back-to-back shows at Black Barn Vineyards in Havelock North, located within Hawke’s Bay. “I would love to be there with you right now, but I can also read the room,” the singer wrote to fans. “Taking precious resources away from those who need them right now is not it.”
Lorde insisted that the postponement of the shows – which formed part of her broader New Zealand tour in support of her 2021 album ‘Solar Power’ – is “not a cancellation at this stage”. She assured ticket holders that she’s “working on something, and you’ll hear from me soon”.
Sting, meanwhile, was yesterday forced to cancel his imminent show at The Mission Estate Winery within Hawke’s Bay’s wine region, out of “respect to those affected by the devastating impact of Cyclone Gabrielle”, concert organisers wrote in a press statement. The former Police frontman was due to perform at the venue on March 4, as part of his ‘My Songs’ tour throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Ticket holders were promised an automatic refund, while Sting and Live Nation pledged a donation to “the Hawke’s Bay Foundation’s Cyclone Relief Fund,” promoters said. Sting’s earlier show in Christchurch on March 1 is unaffected and will proceed as planned.
Muse Go Full Throttle on Apocalyptic Anthem ‘Unravelling’ — Their First New Song Since 2022
Muse have never been a band for half-measures. Their new single, “Unravelling,” dropped online with the kind of cinematic scope and operatic urgency that feels
Jacoby Shaddix Says Warped Tour Gave Papa Roach ‘Our Big Break’
In the annals of rock music lore, few summer institutions held more sway than Warped Tour. It was sweaty, chaotic, and gloriously DIY—a punk rock
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Frontman to Trump Voters: ‘I Don’t Want You at My Shows’
Ronnie Winter, the piercing-eyed frontman of The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, has never been one to mince words. This week, he dropped a social-media bombshell—Trump voters
Buckcherry’s Josh Todd Remembers Woodstock ’99: ‘We Got Out Early’
For Josh Todd, the frontman of Buckcherry, playing Woodstock ’99 was the kind of surreal rock ‘n’ roll rite of passage you don’t forget—especially when
Kurt Deimer Releases Music Video for ‘Only Time Will Tell’ Featuring Phil X
There’s something stirring in Kurt Deimer’s new music video for “Only Time Will Tell”—a moody, contemplative slow-burn that lingers like a midnight drive through regret.
Watch: John C. Reilly Is Jack White’s ‘Archbishop Harold Holmes’ in New Video
Jack White has recruited one of Hollywood’s most beloved character actors for his latest music video. John C. Reilly – known for films like Step
