This afternoon, Tone Deaf broke news that the Grammy winning Frank Ocean had cancelled his second of two sold out performances at Melbourne’s Festival Hall tonight.

Inside industry sources confirmed the cancellation to Tone Deaf ahead of an official statement from Live Nation Australia and New Zealand, just hours before the neo-RnB singer was to grace the stage at the Melbourne venue, the second of his four sold out Splendour In The Grass sideshows

Now a statement from Live Nation, Frank Ocean’s management, and Splendour organisers have confirmed that after seeking medical advice, Frank Ocean has cancelled all “remaining Australian dates will not go ahead due to illness,” including Sunday night headline Supertop performance at Splendour In The Grass.

The statement reads:

After last night’s concert in Melbourne at Festival Hall, it was necessary to seek medical advice due to vocal issues  Frank Ocean experienced during the show.
It has subsequently been confirmed that Frank has suffered a small tear to one of his vocal chords and has received medical advice that he must rest his voice.

This makes the completion of his remaining Australian dates impossible. Unfortunately due to Frank Ocean’s tight tour schedule it is not possible to schedule replacement dates, however we will be working to confirm a return to Australia as soon as is practical.

All ticket holders for the headline dates (listed at the bottom) may obtain a full refund from the point of purchase.

The promoters also issued full refund details – quoted at the bottom of this article – while concluding, “Frank Ocean, Live Nation and Niche Productions apologise for any disappointment.”

Splendour In The Grass also weighed in to comment on Frank Ocean’s condition and cancelling of the remainder of his Australian Tour. “With Splendour already in full swing this is devastating news for the event and will be for many of our patrons. We do want to remind everyone that over 70 of the best acts in the world right now are still here and ready to go including our previously billed mystery band, Alt-J.”

Splendour co-founders Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco added “We are totally gutted that Frank can’t make it and we know that many of our patrons will be just as disappointed as we are… Our sympathies go to Frank for his illness and also because he’s about to miss the best party of the year.” “We are totally gutted that Frank can’t make it and we know that many of our patrons will be just as disappointed as we are…” – Splendour In The Grass

The Frank Ocean headline Splendour sideshows were easily one of the hottest tickets in town, with tickets to Sydney and Melbourne headline shows sold out in mere minutes after going on sale.

Though the Grammy winning neo-RnB singer graced the stage of Melboourne’s Festival Hall last night in his first ever Australian concert, the
channelORANGE star was visibly struggling as the set wore on, telling the sold out audience that he was having health issues after a month’s touring.

Eight songs deep into the set at Festival Hall last night, Ocean – sat a rhodes organ to perform ‘Forrest Gump’ – told the audience “I’m sick… I don’t know if you care,” and as the concert wore on, he relied more on crowd sing-alongs to carry him through.

Despite his vocal performance being on point for most of the show, Ocean did leave the stage to retrieve a beverage at several points, complaining of the cold weather affecting his voice. After an hour’s worth of performing with his live band – situated behind a giant digital screen – Ocean finished with ‘Bad Religion’.

“I don’t wanna speak much tonight but I do wanna thank you guys,” said Ocean before wishing his farewells and swiftly departing the stage; the house lights came on almost instantaneously, putting an awkwardly abrupt finish to the concert without an encore.

Anticipation for 25-year-old Odd Future associate’s arrival to Australia has been at fever pitch ever since the singer cancelled his appearance for Future Music Festival last year so that he could focus on promoting his major-label debut, Channel Orange. Then in August 2012, the Odd Future associate cancelled a European Tour, as The Guardian reported, pulling the plug on festival appearances at Way Out West, Flow, Pukkelpop, V, Rock En Seine, Bestival and a nine-date Coldplay support slot with little explanation other than Ocean noting: “I like an asshole right now.”

Frank Ocean Splendour 2013 Sideshows

MELBOURNE  – FESTIVAL HALL, THURSDAY JULY 25 – SOLD OUT
MELBOURNE  – FESTIVAL HALL, FRIDAY JULY 26 – SOLD OUT
SYDNEY – HORDERN PAVILION, MONDAY JULY 29 – SOLD OUT
SYDNEY – HORDERN PAVILION, TUESDAY JULY 30

No longer appearing at Splendour in the Grass, Sunday July 28

REFUND DETAILS

For all tickets booked online or by phone, the credit card used in the booking will automatically be refunded. Please allow up to five days to receive your refund. If the original credit card you used for the purchase has been cancelled or no longer valid please contact place of purchase.

If you made your booking at an outlet please return to the original outlet where the booking was made with your ticket(s) and credit card used to purchase in hand to obtain your refund. Refunds will only be provided to the original purchaser on presentation of photo ID.

Further refund enquiries should be directed to Ticketek 132 849 for Sydney ticketholders and Ticketmaster 136 100 for Melbourne ticketholders, or alternatively visit www.facebook.com/livenationoznz

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