The current spate of wildfires in Canada has led to several musicians, including Creed, Black Keys, John Mellencamp, and Sebastian Bach, postponing shows in the U.S.
Health alerts have been issued in numerous American areas due to smoke spreading from over 800 blazes north of the U.S. border.
With 30 new fires identified in the past 24 hours, hazard warnings have been issued in Chicago, Grand Rapids, Pittsburgh, and Toledo in Ohio, while residents of New York were also advised to stay indoors.
Artists Who Have Canceled or Postponed Shows Due to Wildfire Smoke
Creed were set to perform in Shakopee, Minn., but moved the date to Sept. 5, explaining that the decision was made “given the environmental conditions and the challenges they create for the band, crew, venue, staff, and attendees.”
Bach was forced to cancel his Thursday night show at Wisconsin’s Waukesha County Expo Center. “This really stinks! We were super stoked to play tonight but due to the hazardous air quality index level of 644, in the interest of the safety of our fans, crew, and ourselves, we unfortunately will not be able to perform an outside show for 90 minutes in these conditions,” he explained on social media.
“We don’t want anybody to jeopardize their health in any way. We are looking into rescheduling the show and coming back to rock with you, Waukesha! We gotta get a handle on the weather on this planet before it’s too late.”
The Black Keys called off their planned outdoor appearance in Chicago “upon advisement from the city… and for the safety of our fans.”
They’ve replaced the performance with two indoor shows on Oct. 20 and 21.
Mellencamp’s concert in Clarkston, Mich., was canceled, with ticketholders provided refund information. He confirmed that the decision was due to “poor air quality” and added: “We were looking forward to seeing you tonight!”
When Will The Air Quality Improve?
The wildfire emergency has caused the evacuation of six communities in Canada to date and activated protective protocols in many areas. Authorities estimate that continued hot weather and low rainfall mean conditions may worsen until the weekend, with hopes of improvement in air quality from Monday (Jul. 20) onward.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement saying: “We’re in a very serious health situation right now; it is very unhealthy to be outdoors.”
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