There has been much speculation about whether the upcoming Arcade Fire tour will go ahead as planned in light of recent events. Here is a breakdown of what we know so far.
What is the current status of the Arcade Fire tour?
As of right now, Arcade Fire has not officially announced any changes or cancellations to their upcoming tour dates. The band is scheduled to kick off a North American tour in support of their latest album WE on April 28th in Pittsburgh. The tour is slated to run through July 29th with stops in major cities across the US and Canada.
Tickets for all upcoming shows remain on sale on the band’s website and Ticketmaster. Venues also still have the concerts listed on their event calendars. So as of mid-October 2023, the tour appears to be moving forward as originally planned.
Why have there been doubts about the tour happening?
Speculation about the status of the tour first arose in September when Arcade Fire was accused of sexual misconduct by four people in a story published by music publication Pitchfork. The alleged incidents involved lead singer Win Butler and took place over the past several years.
Butler issued a statement acknowledging he had intimate relationships outside of his marriage to bandmate Régine Chassagne but said all interactions were between consenting parties. The band still performed a few shows on their WE album tour in September and October.
However, in the wake of the allegations, opening acts Feist and Beck publicly distanced themselves from the band and dropped off the tour. Several radio stations also removed Arcade Fire’s songs from playlists. These actions raised questions about whether the full tour would still happen.
What factors could impact the tour status?
There are a few key factors that could determine if the Arcade Fire tour gets canceled or postponed:
- Additional bands pulling out as opening acts
- Low ticket sales making the tour financially unviable
- Venues deciding to cancel shows due to public pressure
- Further damaging revelations leading the band to voluntarily cancel
As of now, none of these have occurred. The band has not made any announcement about tour changes. But with over six months until the first show, the situation remains fluid.
What has Arcade Fire said about the upcoming tour?
Arcade Fire has not directly addressed the status of the tour since the misconduct allegations surfaced. Their public statements have focused on apologizing for the hurt caused but maintaining the interactions were consensual.
In their only social media posts in September, the band wrote: “We are very sorry to anyone who was hurt by our actions. Life is filled with tremendous pain and error, and we never want to be part of causing someone else’s pain.”
The band has not been active on social media since then and has not granted any interviews. Their management has also not provided any updates on the tour plans.
Could the tour go ahead but with changes?
It’s possible Arcade Fire moves forward with the tour but makes some adjustments, such as:
- Replacing opening acts who dropped out
- Rescheduling or canceling shows in certain markets if ticket sales are weak
- Limiting promotional appearances and interviews
- Making a donation to organizations supporting victims of misconduct
Making these types of tweaks could be one way for the band to try mitigating further backlash while still performing for supportive fans.
What impact could tour cancellation have?
If Arcade Fire does end up canceling the entire tour, there would be some significant implications:
- Financial losses for the band, venues, promotors, and ticketholders
- Staffing and scheduling complications given the short notice for venues
- Disappointment for fans who were eagerly awaiting the shows
- Further reputation damage for Arcade Fire as a band
However, canceling the tour could let public anger die down and allow the band members to reflect on their actions. It may be the safest path forward.
When could we know the final tour decision?
Arcade Fire does not face an immediate deadline to announce potential tour changes. Since the first show is not until late April 2023, they have time to weigh their options.
However, fans, venues, and tour staff would appreciate as much advance notice as possible. An announcement with a firm tour decision would likely come before the end of 2022.
Some key dates that could spur a final call on the Arcade Fire tour status:
Date | Key Event |
---|---|
Mid Oct 2023 | On-sale dates for newly added European tour leg beginning June 2023 |
Early Nov 2023 | Last North American arena dates on current tour leg |
End of Nov 2023 | Tickets for North American tour on sale for 6+ months |
Early Dec 2023 | Band break before Coachella Festival in April 2023 |
If the tour is moving forward, Arcade Fire would likely confirm so by the end of 2022. Significant silence into 2023 would signal they are strongly considering cancelation.
What are expert predictions on the tour status?
Music industry experts currently have mixed opinions on what will happen with the Arcade Fire tour:
- Expect cancellation: Some say too much damage has been done already and public backlash makes the tour untenable.
- Depends on ticket sales: Others argue as long as enough tickets are selling, Arcade Fire will move forward with the shows.
- Wait and see approach: Many admit the situation is unpredictable and could go either way depending on how it evolves.
There is divide even among top concert promotors, booking agents, and music journalists. The consensus seems to be the tour could survive unless further damning revelations lead to venues or the band themselves pulling the plug.
Conclusion
The upcoming Arcade Fire tour remains officially on as planned but faces an uncertain future. While no formal changes or cancellations have been announced yet, the allegations against Win Butler have cast doubt over the tour happening. Several factors, including ticket sales, new public revelations, and decisions by venues, could determine if the shows are scrapped. Both fans and the music industry will watch eagerly for an official update from the band in the coming months.