Lorde's Huge Australian and New Zealand Tour Has Been Postponed Until 2023

"Touring internationally through a COVID outbreak has a ton of unforeseen moving parts, and I’d much rather play for you when we’re all confident it will go smoothly."
Ben Hansen and Sarah Ward
November 12, 2021

Lorde is back — but she won't be back doing live gigs for a bit longer. After five years away from music, the New Zealand pop sensation returned this year with a third studio album, with Solar Power releasing back August. Back in June, she also announced a massive 2022 tour of Australia and New Zealand; however, those shows have now been delayed until 2023.

The tour has been postponed due to New Zealand's current COVID-19 outbreak and the uncertainty surrounding what'll be permitted next February and March, which is when Lorde's gigs were originally set to take place.

"I am beyond devastated to be postponing these shows. Starting the tour in New Zealand was always really important to me, and would have been a huge high," Lorde said in a statement.

"I fought this decision for a long time, but the truth is that touring internationally through a COVID outbreak has a ton of unforeseen moving parts, and I'd much rather play for you when we're all confident it will go smoothly. I want to apologise wholeheartedly to the fans. I'm so gutted to let you down, but so grateful for your understanding."

The Come Up Show

When it kicks off in 2023, the tour will now run from Tuesday, February 21 through till Saturday, March 18. Australians are scoring eight dates across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, while New Zealanders can choose from seven shows.

The Australian and New Zealand tour will begin at Days Bay at Lower Hutt on Tuesday, February 21 and Wednesday, February 22. From there the 'Royals' singer will make her way around New Zealand throughout late February and early March, and arrive in Australia on Tuesday, March 7 for two shows at the Brisbane Riverstage. Australia's east coast will be treated to two more shows each at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl and the ICC's Aware Super Theatre in Sydney, before the tour wraps up with a couple of gigs at Perth's Belvoir Amphitheatre.

The last time either country was treated to Lorde's live set was her headline set at Splendour in the Grass 2018, a full circle moment for the singer as she returned to the stage of one of her first ever performances as a last-minute replacement for Frank Ocean back in 2013. A year prior, in 2017, Lorde also toured some of Australia's largest and most iconic outdoor venues including the Sydney Opera House Forecourt.

Existing tickets will remain valid for the new dates, while tickets to newly announced gigs in Lower Hutt, Brisbane and Perth start pre-sales on Wednesday, November 17 ahead of general ticket sales on Friday, November 19.

LORDE 'SOLAR POWER' 2023 TOUR DATES

Tuesday, February 21 – Days Bay, Lower Hutt
Wednesday, February 22 – Days Bay, Lower Hutt — new show
Saturday, February 25 – Electric Avenue, Christchurch
Monday, February 27 – Neudorf Vineyards, Upper Moutere
Wednesday, March 1 – Black Barn Vineyards, Havelock North
Friday, March 3 – TSB Bowl of Brooklands, New Plymouth
Saturday, March 4 – Outer Fields Western Springs, Auckland

Tuesday, March 7 – Riverstage, Brisbane — new show
Wednesday, March 8 – Riverstage, Brisbane
Friday, March 10 – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
Saturday, March 11 – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
Monday, March 13 – Aware Super Theatre, Sydney
Tuesday, March 14 – Aware Super Theatre, Sydney
Friday, March 17 – Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth — new show
Saturday, March 18 – Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth

Lorde's Solar Power Tour will now take place between Tuesday, February 21–Saturday, March 18, 2023. Head to the Frontier website for all info on tickets.

Top image: Liliane Callegari via Wikimedia Commons.

Published on November 12, 2021 by Ben Hansen
Tap and select Add to Home Screen to access Concrete Playground easily next time. x