Lily Allen moves US tour to smaller venues, cancels Montreal show
The British singer has shifted most of her upcoming US arena dates to theaters, a late-stage adjustment that signals potential softness in ticket demand for major live music tours.
Lily Allen is moving the bulk of her upcoming US tour dates from large arenas to smaller theaters. While her September 3 show at Madison Square Garden in New York City will proceed as planned, Allen announced on Monday that dates in Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver have been downgraded. Her Montreal show at the Bell Centre was canceled entirely.
The adjusted itinerary swaps major arenas like the United Center in Chicago and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles for venues like the Chicago Theatre and the TD Pavilion. Allen also added a new date at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. Scheduled shows in Boston, Toronto, Detroit, Minneapolis and Red Rocks will go on as planned in their original theater or amphitheater settings.
Allen did not provide a reason for the shift, but moving from arenas to theaters typically indicates that ticket sales did not justify the larger settings. For the live music industry, which relies on high-capacity venues to absorb rising touring costs, such late-stage adjustments underscore the unpredictability of consumer spending on live entertainment. The downsizing is particularly notable given that Allen successfully played arenas across the UK over the past month, including a date at London’s O2 Arena last week.
Before this US leg, Allen toured the West End Girl production primarily in theaters and concert halls across the UK, Europe and the US. Ticket holders for the impacted US arena shows will receive refunds within five to seven business days. They will be automatically entered into a pre-sale for the new theater dates, with general ticket sales opening on July 24.
The tour supports Allen’s fifth album, West End Girl, which arrived late last year to widespread critical and commercial acclaim. The record details her separation from ex-husband David Harbour.
