British singer Sam Fender has announced news that he will be canceling the remaining dates on his 2022 US tour -- his scheduled opening slots for Florence + the Machine, and his appearance at Las Vegas’ Life Is Beautiful festival -- to focus on his mental health.
Soothe your mind and body with the sounds of Audacy’s I’m Listening Mental Health Mix
The "Seventeen Going Under," songwriter revealed his thoughts on the matter via a post on his social channels, telling fans he's canceling all upcoming U.S. dates, as well as scheduled U.K. record store appearances, as it seems to him to be "completely hypocritical... to advocate discussion on mental health and write songs about it if I don’t take the time to look after my own mental health."
Fender continues, "I’ve neglected myself for over a year now and haven’t dealt with things that have deeply affected me. It’s impossible to do this work on myself while on the road, and it’s exhausting feigning happiness and wellness for the sake of business. My friends and colleagues have been worried about me for a while and it’s not going to get better unless I take time to do so.”
Sam adds, "I am eternally overwhelmed by the love and support of our fans and hate to let you down, but the state of my wellbeing is starting to affect everything I do, including my performances [and] I refuse to go out there and not give it my all EVERY time, as you all deserve nothing less."
Looking optimistically to the future, Fender ends by saying he plans to “come back stronger,” and shared his excitement to travel down under for Australian shows in the late fall, as well as his "f***ing unbelievable" sold-out hometown U.K. shows at St. James Park in 2023.
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Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-273-8255.
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Returning to the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles for its ninth year, the 2022 edition of Audacy's star-studded We Can Survive concert is set to take place on Saturday, October 22 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles -- featuring performances from Alanis Morrisette, Halsey, Weezer, OneRepublic, Garbage, and more -- in our continued mission to support I’m Listening and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), because talk has the power to save lives. Click for ticket details.