Janelle Monáe and Kimbra tour cancelled

Janelle Monáe has pulled the plug on her co-headline tour with Kimbra.

After cancelling her first date in Perth and citing a tight touring schedule, the award-winning singer, actress and producer cancelled her first Melbourne date on Saturday just minutes before taking the stage. Kimbra later invited attendees to the pair’s second Melbourne show next Monday (May 26).

Monae was booked to perform Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Monday but promoter Live Nation was forced to postpone the show and last night announced the cancellation of her final two dates in Brisbane and Melbourne, with no plans to reschedule.

The statement from Live Nation reads:

“Due to Janelle Monáe’s continuing illness it has been confirmed that the remainder of The Golden Electric Tour has been cancelled and there will be no rescheduled performances.”

Unfortunately this isn’t the first time Monáe’s Australian fans have experienced a drawback, in 2011 she was on the bill for the now defunct Good Vibrations Festival, due to the festival’s conflicting date with the Grammy Awards she cancelled her agreement with Jam Music and was replaced by Aloe Blacc. Interestingly, Kimbra was already a huge champion of Monáe at that stage and offered to fly her band to Sydney for free to perform alongside her at a planned sideshow at The Ivy nightclub. The following year in 2012 the Atlanta native was announced as support for Prince’s 2012 tour, however the slot during her visit for Vivid LIVE didn’t come to fruition due to Prince’s lengthy performances – as Prince is wont (and welcome) to do.

Live Nation is working with ticketing outlets to process refunds automatically.