This past weekend, Coldplay wrapped up two massive stadium shows in Perth – their first performance in Western Australia in over 14 years.
It was believed to be the only shows Down Under the British pop-rock titans would do but now they’ve confirmed they’ll return to Australia this next time next year for an East Coast leg of the Music Of The Spheres tour.
Chris Martin and his amazing technicolour bandmates will play Marvel Stadium in Melbourne over two nights in October, 2024, then head up Sydney’s Accor Stadium for two nights before jetting off to Auckland.
If you haven’t seen Coldplay since their early days, back when they were British indie rock darlings circa early 2000s, then you might be surprised at the kind of stadium size spectaculars they now produce.
Their latest tour has an intergalactic theme, and their two Perth shows featured vivid graphical displays, multiple stages, mid-set acoustic renditions, fireworks, and enough confetti to have you sparing a thought for the cleaners.
The set-list drew liberally from the band’s ninth album, Music For The Spheres, but they also cherrypicked all their biggest and most recognisable hits: ‘Clocks’, ‘Yellow’, ‘Viva La Vida’, ‘Fix You’, and Avicii collab ‘A Sky Full Of Stars’.
Having sold 7 million tickets since kicking off this tour, back in March 2022, Coldplay have shifted more tickets than any other live act in 2022.
The Perth shows were a huge win for Tourism WA, with Premier Mark McGowan describing the rush for tickets as “mind-boggling,” telling Perth Now in May:
“I had no idea how popular they were but it turns out it’s going to be great for tourism, great for hospitality, great for people coming into WA which is exactly what we wanted.”
Supporting those dates were two homegrown favourites, Amy Shark and Thelma Plum, but for their upcoming 2024 dates Coldplay will be joined by two different acts.
Fresh from releasing her debut album Heaven Knows, PinkPantheress — the chart-topping Brit who mixes pop with vintage jungle and drum n bass, is the first support act.
Also performing will be Emmanuel Kelly, a former X Factor contestant with an inspirational backstory. He was born in an Iraqi war zone without hands or feet as a result of chemical warfare, then adopted by an Australian. We’ll let Christ Martin explain further in the video below…
English pop Star cancels Australian tour, including Coldplay stadium shows
In short:
UK pop star PinkPantheress has cancelled all upcoming concerts for 2024 “to focus on [her] physical health and overall wellbeing”.
She was due to play Melbourne’s Festival Hall, Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, and eight stadium shows in support of Coldplay this October and November.
What’s next?:
The ABC has approached promoters Live Nation for info on obtaining refunds and a potential replacement for the Coldplay shows. No information on either has been confirmed yet.
English pop star PinkPantheress has cancelled all upcoming concerts for the rest of the year, including her Australian tour scheduled for October.
“It is with the heaviest heart that sadly have to announce that I will not be able to continue with the rest of my live shows this year in order to focus on my physical health and overall wellbeing,” she wrote on Instagram overnight.
“It appears I have reached a wall which I am struggling to penetrate through.”
PinkPantheress, real name Victoria Beverley Walker, was due to play shows at Melbourne’s Festival Hall and Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion in late October and early November. The 23-year-old UK star was also set to support Coldplay at their eight stadium shows in Melbourne and Sydney while in Australia.
“I’m sad to disappoint anyone and can only hope we will be in each other’s company once I return to health,” she wrote.
The singer initially rose to prominence after a string of her short, nostalgic-sounding songs went viral on TikTok early in 2021.
She achieved enormous chart success in late 2022 with her song Boy’s a Liar, which peaked at number two on the Australian singles charts. She released a remix, Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2 featuring New York rapper Ice Spice, in February 2023, which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
While the artist did not elaborate on any specific issues around her wellbeing, she has previously spoken about being plagued by severe tinnitus.
“I can’t hear a lot of high stuff,” she told Louis Theroux on his podcast earlier this year. “I can make out [what people are trying to say], it just sounds like bass. It sounds like somebody took your voice and removed all the high end and it was just bass,” she said.
PinkPantheress had been supporting pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo at stadiums across America on her GUTS tour last month. She initially pulled out of the performance in Oklahoma City last weekend but has now cancelled all upcoming commitments.
On top of the shows with Rodrigo and her Australian commitments, the artist has cancelled appearances at London’s Field Day, Japan’s Summer Sonic, Miami’s III Points and more.
ABC News has contacted promoters Live Nation for information on ticket refunds and possible replacement for the Coldplay shows. No information has been forthcoming as yet.
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