Paloma Faith has announced the cancellation of her Southampton concert due to illness, just days before her scheduled performance at Glastonbury Festival. The singer, known for hits like “Lullaby,” “Only Love Can Hurt Like This,” and “Picking Up the Pieces,” shared the news on social media, expressing her disappointment and frustration.
In her posts on X and Instagram, Faith explained that she had been suffering from exhaustion and had caught various illnesses from her young children, which severely affected her vocal range. “I’m incredibly upset and disappointed to announce that I need to cancel my show tonight in Southampton,” she wrote. “After suffering from exhaustion and catching various illnesses from my kids, my voice has been severely affected and my range is compromised. I have sought advice from medical professionals, and they have advised that I need to rest my voice, which means I’ve had to cancel tonight’s show.”
Faith is slated to perform at Glastonbury Festival on the Pyramid Stage from 1:45-2:45 pm on Sunday, June 30. She also has several other shows lined up across the UK next week, including performances at the Eventim Apollo in London on Wednesday, July 3, the Utilita Arena in Cardiff on Thursday, July 4, the Godiva Festival in Coventry on Saturday, July 6, and Sounds Of The City in Leeds on Sunday, July 7. As of now, she has not canceled any of these upcoming shows.
The singer apologized to her fans who had purchased tickets for the Southampton Summer Sessions gig. “I’m so sorry to everyone who bought tickets,” she said. “I’ve loved being on the road and seeing all your gorgeous faces, and I’m gutted I won’t be dancing with you tonight.”
Faith, who has two daughters born in 2016 and 2021, split from her long-term boyfriend, French artist Leyman Lahcine, in 2022. She previously told The Independent that their relationship ended because of the pressures of parenthood, but she considered it worth it.
The Southampton concert was part of the Paloma Faith Tour 2024-2025, which began in Reading in April and has included 34 dates so far. Faith performed at the Forest Live 2024 concert in Surrey just a day before the cancellation. The tour follows the release of her sixth album, “The Glorification of Sadness,” on February 16, 2024, which was inspired by her breakup with Lahcine. Thirteen more shows are planned until August.
In addition to her music career, Faith recently released her memoir, “MILF: Motherhood, Identity, Love and F*ckery,” on June 6, 2024. The book quickly became a Sunday Times bestseller.
The announcement of the canceled show came just hours before Faith was due to take the stage. She emphasized that medical professionals had advised her to rest her voice to avoid long-term damage. “They have advised that I need to rest my voice,” she reiterated. “I’m so sorry to everyone who bought tickets. I’ve loved being on the road and seeing all your gorgeous faces, and I’m gutted I won’t be dancing with you tonight.”
Fans were quick to offer their support and well-wishes in the comments section of her social media posts. Messages included sentiments like “Hope you feel better soon, Paloma,” and “Your health care needs to be your priority.”
Faith’s upcoming performance at Glastonbury will mark her first appearance at the iconic festival in eight years. She expressed her excitement in an interview with The Sun, saying, “I feel so excited. I am almost going to combust. It is one of the absolute best memories of my career, playing at Glastonbury. I’m over-the-moon excited for it.”
This isn’t the first time Faith has had to cancel or reschedule shows due to health issues. In April, she postponed her Cardiff show for medical reasons, revealing that she had been diagnosed with laryngitis, a virus that prevents her from singing. She shared her devastation over the diagnosis and the need to reschedule the performance.
Despite the setbacks, Faith remains committed to her fans and her tour. She has been taking steps to recover, including vocal rest, steaming, gargling, and even receiving a steroid injection. “At the moment, it’s one day at a time,” she wrote on Instagram. “I don’t want to do anything more than I want to do these shows and know that when you do come, they will be the best show I can do for you.”
Faith’s loyal fans have shown their understanding and support, with many expressing their hopes for her quick recovery. “Please look after yourself, Paloma!! We are all rooting for a quick and easy recovery,” one fan wrote.
As Faith continues to focus on her health, her team is working on rescheduling the canceled shows. She assured fans that she would return to perform for them as soon as she is able, without causing long-term damage to her voice.
Source: BBC News, The Independent, The Sun
