Neil Young cancels free Ukraine gig over safety concerns
Neil Young’s upcoming gig in Ukraine has been cancelled due to growing safety concerns.
On March 3rd, it was announced that Young would play his first-ever show in Ukraine, a free concert on an undecided date. But it has now been announced via Young’s website that the show will no longer be booked because of safety concerns.
In a statement on his website, Young said: “Our concert in Ukraine is cancelled. We had a good venue, close to a shelter, but the changing situation on the ground was too much.”
He continued: “I could not in good conscience take my crew and instruments into that area. My apologies to all. Ukraine is a great country with a good leader. Slava Ukraini.”
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Young has made several public statements in support of Ukraine as well as publicly criticising US President Donald Trump. Young’s cancellation comes just under a month after a fiery clash between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In 2020, Young filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Trump over his usage of his song ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’, along with a string of public letters condemning Trump’s use of his music. Soon after, he gave permission to Kamala Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz, to use the song in his Vice Presidential election campaign.
The remainder of Young’s scheduled shows are set to take place, including a Saturday night headline slot at Glastonbury Festival, as well as a headline slot at BST Hyde Park the following month.
As part of his ‘Love Earth’ world tour with the Chrome Hearts, Young will play a string of dates across the UK, Europe and the US this summer. Young has rumoured that new music with the Chrome Hearts will be released alongside the tour, with a view to it being published in April: “It is in mastering now to make the vinyl, CD and digital copies,” Neil Young wrote.
He added: “I am very happy and relieved to have this done in the short time it took. The album art has been completed and handed in with Jenice Heo. I am working on the lyric sheets now, hoping to hand-write the words and get them in, in time…”
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.