Elton John‘s gig in Auckland, New Zealand was cancelled just minutes before stage time on Friday night (January 27) as huge floods hit the city.
READ MORE: Elton John: “I’m not interested in the past – not even Elton John’s past”
The country’s largest city experienced an entire summer’s worth of rainfall in one night, with properties flooded, the city’s airport closed after terminal buildings filled with rainfall, and many left without power.
40,000 fans had gathered at the Mt Smart Stadium on Friday for a show on the singer’s ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour, but were informed of the cancellation at 7.15pm local time, just 15 minutes before John was due on stage.
A fan in attendance told Sky News: “I’m furious. It was raining heavily on the way to the stadium and I kept checking for announcements but nothing came, despite puddles being up to my ankles.
“After the gig was called off, hundreds of people queued in the downpours for the shuttle buses and I saw some people chant for Elton in the hope he’d come on – but it was like a literal river there.”
No plans for a rescheduled gig have yet been shared.
Auckland, due to unsafe weather conditions, tonight’s @eltonofficial concert for Friday 27 January will not be proceeding. The team is assessing things and will keep everyone across with further updates here. Thank you for your understanding.
— Frontier Touring (@frontiertouring) January 27, 2023
It seems Elton John and New Zealand just weren’t meant to be, with a third concert being canned in three years. Heavy rain forced the concert to be called off, just as the Rocketman was set to to take the stage.
https://t.co/ICnaL1jIKY pic.twitter.com/MKs25v3OKV
— 1News (@1NewsNZ) January 27, 2023
There’s wet, then there’s Mt Smart Elton John wet #Auckland pic.twitter.com/MGW3VrQRp2
— Ingrid Grenar (@ingridgrenar) January 27, 2023
About to see Elton John. Fortunately under cover as Auckland is under a deluge!#EltonJohn pic.twitter.com/zuHzMAQdql
— BicycleRider (@BevanMcCabe) January 27, 2023
Elton John Auckland concert cancelled. Floods of people exit the flooded Mt. Smart Stadium. pic.twitter.com/DLqhZgyYcH
— Jesse Wood (@jrhwood) January 27, 2023
Goodbye Yellowbrick Tour! @eltonofficial has cancelled his first night concert in @Auckland_NZ due to the extreme weather and flooding. Playing at Mt Smart is cursed for Elton!! Thinking of you @Adele who continued to play throughout the downpour pic.twitter.com/JyCLhezKK6
— Jason Dawson (@WebTaniwha) January 27, 2023
Scenes from #EltonJohn in Auckland, New Zealand pic.twitter.com/b9UpuOvss1
— Jessica Moloney (@JessicaMoloney) January 27, 2023
Unbelievable scenes heading home from the canceled Elton John concert in Auckland! Cars partially submerged, motorways closed, big branches down on the Harbour Bridge and major on-ramp, flooded streets and homes. Thankfully emergency services are out in force #AucklandWeather pic.twitter.com/JXQ8az0mtL
— Aimee (@MissAimeeJean) January 27, 2023
Waited 3 years for this @eltonofficial rescheduled gig to be cancelled 20mins before thanks to flooding & torrential rain in Auckland. It’s going to be a shit fight to get home. This whole thing has been a shit show thanks to @AklTransport . Should have been canceled hours ago! pic.twitter.com/le1CQeefV6
— Caz (@C4zzaline) January 27, 2023
Scenes from making our way home from Elton John concert tonight #Auckland #AucklandWeather pic.twitter.com/E3QAWBq91Y
— Odile Berry (@odilenz) January 27, 2023
Moving fowards, the ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour will come to Somerset in the summer as Elton John was recently confirmed as the first Glastonbury Festival 2023 headliner. It will serve as the final UK show of his last ever tour.
You can find the final UK and Ireland dates for his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour below and purchase any remaining tickets here.
APRIL 2023
Sunday 02 – The O2, London
Tuesday 04 – The O2, London
Wednesday 05 – The O2, London
Saturday 08 – The O2, London
Sunday 09 – The O2, London
Wednesday 12 – The O2, London
Thursday 13 – The O2, London
Sunday 16 – The O2, London
Monday 17 – The O2, London
Wednesday 19 – Resorts World Arena, Birmingham
Saturday 22 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
Sunday 23 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
MAY 2023
Tuesday 30 – The O2, London – NEW SHOW
Wednesday 31 – AO Arena, Manchester
JUNE 2023
Friday 02 – AO Arena, Manchester
Saturday 03 – AO Arena, Manchester
Tuesday 06 – First Direct Arena, Leeds
Thursday 08 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Saturday 10 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Sunday 11 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Tuesday 13 – P&J Live, Aberdeen
Thursday 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen
Saturday 17 – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
Sunday 18 – The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
Sunday 25 – Glastonbury Festival
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