Lewis Capaldi has spoken out for the first time since his Glastonbury set, and has issued a heartfelt statement.
The Scottish singer-songwriter has also confirmed a break from touring “for the foreseeable future”.
The 26-year-old took to the world famous Pyramid Stage at the UK’s biggest music festival this past weekend in a primetime Saturday slot, and entertained the masses with all the hits from his two chart-topping albums – but began to struggle with his vocals, anxiety, and Tourette’s syndrome as the set went on.
He had a noticeable cough and was visibly affected by tics throughout the latter end of his set, and by the time the final song came around, he could barely perform or get his words out.
In what is sure to go on and be one of the most heartwarming moments in Glastonbury history, the crowds took over from Lewis when couldn’t sing and filled in the gaps by belting out his smash-hit song, ‘Someone You Loved’, word for word.
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The performance has already gone viral on social media, and been watched by millions worldwide.
Glastonbury was the first time the charismatic singer had performed live in three weeks, after choosing to cancel a handful of his shows due to the last few months being “full on both mentally and physically” and admitting that he was “struggling to get to grips with it all”.
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After apologising several times, and closing out his set by thanking the festival‘s organisers for having him, Lewis hinted that he may have to take some more time off.
And now, the singer has broken his silence and spoken out for the first time since Glastonbury with a heartfelt statement confirming an indefinite break from touring and cancelling all live shows “for the foreseeable future”.
Taking to social media to confirm the indefinite tour break this morning, Lewis said all the support and messages he’d received following his Glastonbury performance “means the world” to him.
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Lewis Capaldi at Glastonbury 2023 / Credit: BBC
But he went on to add: “The fact that this probably won’t come as a surprise probably doesn’t make it any easier to write, but I’m very sorry to let you know I’m going to be taking a break from touring for the foreseeable future.
“I used to be able to enjoy every second of shows like this and I’d hoped three weeks away would sort me out.
“But the truth is I’m still learning to adjust to the impact of my Tourette’s and on Saturday it became obvious that I need to spend much more time getting my mental and physical health in order, so I can keep doing everything I love for a long time to come.”
The cancelled tour dates includes a massive outdoor show at Manchester‘s Wythenshawe Park that was scheduled to take place on Saturday 25 August.
It also includes headline slots at Reading and Leeds Festival over the August bank holiday weekend.
Featured Image – BBC
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Heaton Park cafe launches huge Oasis ticket giveaway with VERY silly stunt
Daisy Jackson
A much-loved local space which is on the very doorstep of the Oasis reunion shows is launching a huge ticket giveaway.
Heaton Park Cafes, which operates the beautiful Lakeside Cafe, The Stables Cafe, and the boating lake at the park, have got a pair of Oasis tickets to give away to fans for free.
The lovely spot has announced the news this week with a pretty eye-catching stunt – popping Liam and Noel Gallagher onto a couple of swan pedalos.
Alright fine, it’s not actually Liam and Noel, rather a pair of very warm staff members in parkas and face masks, but it’s had a pretty eye-catching effect anyway.
The faux Gallagher brothers kept pretty tight-lipped on how to actually win tickets, but fret not, we’ve got all the info you need.
Heaton Park Cafes has got a pair of tickets to one of the massive Oasis summer reunion gigs to give away to one lucky customer.
The two tickets are for the final night of their hometown run, Sunday 20 July.
‘Noel’ with sandwiches at Heaton Park CafesNoel and Liam on an iconic swan boatThe swan boats have been renamed after Oasis songsHeaton Park Cafes’ Lakeside CafeHeaton Park Cafes are hosting an Oasis tickets giveaway
And to be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is spend a bit of your hard-earned cash at this fabulous business.
Every time you spend £10 in the cafe, you’ll be given the chance to enter yourself into the prize draw.
And you’ll also be given an opportunity to enter the ticket draw if you rent out one of the boating lake’s iconic swan-shaped boats, row boats or electric boats (if you book online HERE you’ll be sent a link to enter, or if you rent a walk-in boat you’ll be able to enter on the spot).
To give you a taste of the treats you could get at the cafe – stacked sandwiches like a classic BLT; hearty breakfasts including Full Englishes and loaded breakfast sandwiches; and a full menu of ‘ultimate’ toasties.
They also have a few Oasis-inspired summer specials, like a refreshing strawberry lemonade.
The Lakeside Cafe is popular for a post-Parkrun coffee and cake, a delicious milkshake in the sunshine, or a full lunch after a dog walk (there’s even a dog menu), with stunning views across the boating lake.
You have until 16 July to be entered into the prize draw for Oasis tickets – head to The Lakeside Cafe, The Stables Cafe, or the boating lake in Heaton Park to win.
DJ at centre of Parklife cancellations speaks out over ‘unsafe’ crowds
Daisy Jackson
A rising DJ whose set was cancelled due to ‘safety concerns’ at Parklife festival has now spoken out on his side of events.
Josh Baker is a popular Manchester-born DJ who was set to perform on the brand-new Matinee stage on the Sunday night of the local music festival.
He had the second-highest billing of the day, followed by Chris Stussy as headliner of that particular stage.
But despite being booked onto one of the festival’s smaller stages, Josh Baker’s popularity quickly saw the space becoming overcrowded.
Videos shared on TikTok show fans clambering over the safety barriers that Parklife security had installed as a queue system, desperate to get inside for Josh’s set.
The young talent has now spoken out again about the incident, saying he could see from his vantage point it ‘quickly became unsafe’.
Josh Baker said that ‘the organisers made the right call’ despite the show ‘meaning a lot’ to him.
He detailed that he has been going to Parklife since the age of 16, and playing such a big slot in the festival ‘felt like a proper full-circle moment’.
He added that he’s been looking into doing free follow-up shows, but has been unable to find a venue that would hold ‘anywhere near the amount of people who were trying to get in to see me play’.
Josh wrote on Instagram: “I’m honestly so sorry to everyone who didn’t get to see the set. It was completely out of my hands, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. Just know I’ve felt every bit of frustration with you.”
He then said he’s planning ‘something ridiculous’ for his Creamfields appearance to make it up to fans.
Josh Baker said in his full statement on Parklife: “I’ve taken a few days to process what happened at Parklife last weekend, and I wanted to share a few words.
“This one was always going to mean a lot. Growing up in Manchester, I’ve been going to Parklife since I was 16, so to be booked for such a big slot felt like a proper full-circle moment. But just as I stepped on stage, the music had to be cut. When I came on there were too many people trying to get into the arena and it quickly became unsafe, and therefore the stage had to be closed for the rest of the day.
“It’s gutting, but I want to be clear – the organisers made the right call. Safety has to come before everything. After seeing a few of the videos from the crowd, I’m just relieved the situation did not escalate and everyone remained safe.
“Still, it’s hard to explain how much it hurt not being able to play. I know so many of you were excited for that set and it honestly blew me away seeing that many people turning up.
“Over the last few days, I’ve been trying to figure out how to make it right. I looked into doing a free follow-up show in Manchester, but the reality is, there are no suitable or possible venues which would hold anywhere near the amount of people who were trying to get in to see me play.
“The last thing I’d want is to announce something and end up disappointing even more people who couldn’t get tickets. After a lot of conversations and digging behind the scenes, we’ve had to accept that there’s no realistic way to do something that feels fair right now.
“I’m honestly so sorry to everyone who didn’t get to see the set. It was completely out of my hands, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. Just know I’ve felt every bit of frustration with you.
“I really hope to see loads of you at Creamfields because I’m already planning something ridiculous to try and make this up to you in some way.”
Emily Sergeant -
27th June 2023 
