Elton John’s farewell tour skips Canada due to ‘COVID-19 restrictions’

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Elton John’s ongoing Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is skipping Canada next month.

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The Grammy winner announced the news in a post on his website citing “current COVID-19 restrictions.”

John was due to play Montreal’s Bell Centre on March 9 and 10 and Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on March 12 and 13 — dates that had already been rescheduled from this month.

“It is with great regret that this show has been cancelled due to current COVID-19 restrictions,” a notice on John’s website read. Refunds for the Montreal and Toronto shows are now available at point of purchase.

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Currently in Ontario, large sports arenas and concert venues are only allowed a maximum 500 people. Capacity limits increase to 50% on Feb. 22. Venues can sell all seats starting on March 14.

The Tiny Dancer singer still has a stadium show booked at Toronto’s Rogers Centre on Sept. 7. He’ll also return north of the border to play Vancouver’s BC Place on Oct. 21.

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John’s farewell trek began in 2018 and will wrap next year.

Announcing the final dates last year on his website, John said, “I’m going to go out in the biggest possible way, performing at my very best, with the most spectacular production I’ve ever had, playing in places that have meant so much to me throughout my career. This has been an incredible tour so far, full of the most amazing highs, and I look forward to making more wonderful memories with you at these final shows.”

The Rocket Man star is just the latest artist impacted by COVID-19 restrictions in Ontario.

City and Colour cancelled a series of comeback shows at Toronto’s Massey Hall earlier this month, while Billie Eilish postponed a Feb. 16 date at Scotiabank Arena. Dua Lipa’s upcoming Montreal and Toronto concerts were rescheduled for July 25 and 27.

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But other upcoming Toronto shows — including Kacey Musgraves (Feb. 25), John Mayer (Feb. 27) and Tame Impala (March 9) — are still available for sale on Ticketmaster’s site.

John’s ongoing tour has been beset by delays, including a COVID-19 diagnosis that forced the singer to postpone two shows in Dallas last month.

The chart-topping icon only recently returned to touring after the coronavirus pandemic forced him off the road.

Speaking at a recent gig in New Orleans, John told the crowd: “Wow, we haven’t played a show since the 6th of March 2020. This is a new experience for us, I’ve never had this amount of time off in my life … playing music, well at least since I was 17 years of age.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com

Article content

Elton John’s ongoing Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is skipping Canada next month.

Article content

The Grammy winner announced the news in a post on his website citing “current COVID-19 restrictions.”

John was due to play Montreal’s Bell Centre on March 9 and 10 and Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on March 12 and 13 — dates that had already been rescheduled from this month.

“It is with great regret that this show has been cancelled due to current COVID-19 restrictions,” a notice on John’s website read. Refunds for the Montreal and Toronto shows are now available at point of purchase.

Article content

Currently in Ontario, large sports arenas and concert venues are only allowed a maximum 500 people. Capacity limits increase to 50% on Feb. 22. Venues can sell all seats starting on March 14.

The Tiny Dancer singer still has a stadium show booked at Toronto’s Rogers Centre on Sept. 7. He’ll also return north of the border to play Vancouver’s BC Place on Oct. 21.

Article content

John’s farewell trek began in 2018 and will wrap next year.

Announcing the final dates last year on his website, John said, “I’m going to go out in the biggest possible way, performing at my very best, with the most spectacular production I’ve ever had, playing in places that have meant so much to me throughout my career. This has been an incredible tour so far, full of the most amazing highs, and I look forward to making more wonderful memories with you at these final shows.”

The Rocket Man star is just the latest artist impacted by COVID-19 restrictions in Ontario.

City and Colour cancelled a series of comeback shows at Toronto’s Massey Hall earlier this month, while Billie Eilish postponed a Feb. 16 date at Scotiabank Arena. Dua Lipa’s upcoming Montreal and Toronto concerts were rescheduled for July 25 and 27.

Article content

But other upcoming Toronto shows — including Kacey Musgraves (Feb. 25), John Mayer (Feb. 27) and Tame Impala (March 9) — are still available for sale on Ticketmaster’s site.

John’s ongoing tour has been beset by delays, including a COVID-19 diagnosis that forced the singer to postpone two shows in Dallas last month.

The chart-topping icon only recently returned to touring after the coronavirus pandemic forced him off the road.

Speaking at a recent gig in New Orleans, John told the crowd: “Wow, we haven’t played a show since the 6th of March 2020. This is a new experience for us, I’ve never had this amount of time off in my life … playing music, well at least since I was 17 years of age.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com