Neil Young has cancelled his performance in Ukraine due to safety concerns over the ‘changing situation on the ground’.
The Harvest Moon hitmaker, 79 – who is headlining Glastonbury – announced that he would perform a concert for free n Ukraine before embarking on his Love Earth world tour with the Chrome Hearts, which kicks off in June.
‘We are currently in talks and will make the announcement here at [the Neil Young Archives],’ Young wrote on his official website, confirming the plan. ‘Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World.’
While a date was never set for the concert, Young has now announced it will not be going ahead.
‘Our concert in Ukraine is cancelled,’ he said.
‘We had a good venue, close to a shelter, but the changing situation on the ground was too much.
‘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.’
This comes after a disastrous meeting between Vlodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, which saw a shouting match erupt and the Ukrainian president storm out of The White House.
While negotiations are ongoing Sir Keir Starmer has warned that Putin will ‘certainly break’ peace plans ‘without anything behind’ them.
This comes after Putin unleashed his wrath on Zelensky’s hometown hours after Ukraine’s president agreed to a ceasefire that would pause all attacks in the sky and at sea for 30 days.
Neil has long voiced his support for Zelensky, and has been openly critical of Trump. In 2020 he filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the US President over using his song Rockin’ In The Free World during his campaign rallies.
Without his Ukraine concert, the Heart of Gold musician’s first gig of his tour will be on June 18 in Rättvik, Sweden. He will then travel through the UK, stopping at Glastonbury’s Worthy Farm for his headline slot on Saturday June 28.
Others filling the iconic Pyramid Stage headline slots include Olivia Rodrigo, The 1975 and Sir Rod Stewart, with Charli XCX playing on the Other Stage.
He will tour the UK – also headlining at BST Hyde Park on July 11 with help from Cat Stevens/Yusuf and Van Morrison – and Europe, before starting the North American leg in August.
His tour will end in Los Angeles on September 15.
Neil tours with his band the Chrome Hearts, made up of Spooner Oldham (Farfisa organ), Micah Nelson (guitar and vocal), Corey McCormick (bass and vocal), and Anthony LoGerfo (drums).
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