Lorde has announced her upcoming 2022 Solar Power Tour across Australia & New Zealand has been postponed for a full year, to February-March 2023.
In a statement today, organisers have cited the “continuing uncertainty around the current NZ outbreak, and unknown implementation dates of the new traffic light system” as the cause of the postponement to ensure the tour can proceed without risk of last-minute lockdowns.
Explaining further, promoters would need both countries’ borders to be fully open to both citizens and non-citizens, as the majority of Lorde’s touring band and crew are non-citizens and would currently all require travel exemptions. They have also stated that they would need assurance that there would be limited or no quarantine in place.
While it’s feasible that those measures could be in place by 2022, they cannot at this stage be guaranteed.
“I am beyond devastated to be postponing these shows,” Lorde shared in a statement. “Starting the tour in New Zealand was always really important to me, and would have been a huge high. I fought this decision for a long time, but the truth is that touring internationally through a COVID outbreak has a ton of unforeseen moving parts, and I’d much rather play for you when we’re all confident it will go smoothly.
“I want to apologise wholeheartedly to the fans. I’m so gutted to let you down, but so grateful for your understanding. We’ll rage next year.”
In a hint of a silver lining, the postponement has led to additional shows at previously sold-out venues in Lower Hutt, Days Bay (NZ) on Wednesday 22 February, Brisbane, Riverstage on Tuesday 7 March and Perth, Belvoir Ampitheatre on Friday 17 March.
Head here for updated dates and ticketing information.
