Neil Younger mentioned a few weeks in the past that he would play a free live performance in Ukraine, with a date and venue TBA. However now that present has been referred to as off.
“Our live performance in Ukraine is canceled,” Younger mentioned in an announcement on his archives web site. “We had a great venue, near a shelter, however the altering scenario on the bottom was an excessive amount of. I couldn’t in good conscience take my crew and devices into that space. My apologies to all. Ukraine is a good nation with a great chief. Slava Ukraini.”
The information got here as a fragile restricted ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia was in place. However it was damaged Friday morning, a day after Younger’s announcement. The international locations have been at warfare since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
The Ukraine present was deliberate because the opener of Younger’s Love Earth tour, which as an alternative will open on June 18 in Rättvik, Sweden, as initially introduced. The 24-show trek along with his band The Chrome Hearts, supporting their new album Talkin’ to the Timber, will roll by Europe earlier than hitting North America. The final present is about for September 15 on the Hollywood Bowl.
Famously vociferous and politically energetic throughout his almost 60-year profession, Canada native Younger just lately has sparred with Donald Trump a number of instances over the use of his songs at rallies, boycotted Spotify over the streaming service’s ties to Joe Rogan and initially refused to carry out at Glastonbury over what he referred to as the BBC’s “company management” over the favored UK music competition. However Younger modified his thoughts early this 12 months, citing “an error within the info obtained,” and will play the competition with The Chrome Hearts in June.
