Electronic music pioneers, New Order, have been forced to cancel a huge gig in Wales just days before their show in Greater Manchester based on ‘health and safety grounds’. The show, set to take place at Alexandra Head in Cardiff Bay, was due to feature support from The Charlatans and CMAT but organisers have today cancelled the gig due to the impact of Storm Lilian. A yellow weather warning has been issued as Storm Lilian is predicted to hit Greater Manchester on Friday (August 23) with 80mph winds and heavy rain ‘which may lead to disruption to travel and infrastructure’.
The decision was put down to “extreme weather” conditions. In a post on Instagram, organisers The Bay Series wrote: “Important information about tonight’s event. Unfortunately due to extreme weather including severe winds, tonight’s New Order show has been cancelled on health and safety grounds.” Addressing refunds for ticketholders, the post added: “We are sorry for the inconvenience caused and your refund will be automatically processed.” Organisers said they were ‘continu[ing] to monitor the weather’ but it is expected that the upcoming gigs from Becky Hill and Tiesto at the same location, scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday, are currently unaffected.
The electronic pioneers, known for hits including Blue Monday and Ceremony, had been due to perform in Cardiff this evening (August 22) before headlining a show at Wythenshawe Park on Saturday (August 24). It is believed that New Order’s gig at Wythenshawe Park on Saturday (August 24), alongside a show from Stockport locals Blossoms on Sunday (August 25) are still currently scheduled to go ahead.
Fan Reactions
While some fans took umbrage with the decision, most seemed to see the logic – particularly those on the ground in Cardiff. Journalist Sarah Thomas pointed out: “People whingeing about the New Order/Charlatans gig being cancelled tonight. If you’ve actually been outside in Cardiff today, you’ll know why. The UK is being hit by the tail end of Hurricane Ernesto, so yes, it is safety first – for the punters, but also the crew.”
The Background
Announced back in November, the mammoth headline date was set to be held at Cardiff Bay tonight. It would have featured support from The Charlatans, and marked New Order’s first UK performances since their run of dates last year. Now, The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess has shared an update with fans, explaining that the show has been axed just hours before it was due to begin.
“Unfortunately due to extreme weather including severe winds, tonight’s New Order show has been cancelled on health and safety grounds,” read the update originally shared by The Bay venue. “We are sorry for the inconvenience caused and your refund will be automatically processed, please allow 10 business days for the refund to appear in your account.”
Refunds and Future Plans
Event organisers have confirmed that all refunds will be automatically processed, and money should be back in people’s bank accounts within 10 days. When it was confirmed back in November last year, the Cardiff gig was announced alongside another New Order show set for Wythenshawe Park in Manchester on Saturday (August 24). At the time of writing, the all-day event at Manchester – which is set to see support from Johnny Marr and Róisín Murphy – is set to go ahead as planned.
A Look Back at New Order's Legacy
Electronic music pioneers, New Order's members are from Salford and Macclesfield and formed following the disbandment of Joy Division. They are noted as being one of the first bands to bridge the gap between post-punk and dancefloor. This year the band celebrated 40 years of their hit Blue Monday and announced reissued editions of their classic compilation Substance 1987, the band’s biggest selling album to date.
Over 2023, New Order celebrated the 40th anniversary of their seminal track ‘Blue Monday’, and announced reissued editions of their classic compilation ‘Substance 1987’ to mark the milestone – the band’s biggest-selling album to date. Around the same time, Sumner spoke to NME about his collaboration with Mella Dee ‘Riptide’, and opened up about what the future holds.
“It was all about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and I was just seeing that all of the time,” he said, recalling the political inspiration for the lyrics. “I’d been in a vacuum so I wrote it about politics, really, and the war. I wanted to write it about something that meant a lot to me.”
The Alexandra Head show was due to be the Manchester band's first Cardiff gig since 1983.
