Pixies postpone Australian tour due to ‘current public health concerns’

Pixies have scrapped the final dates on their national tour due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

The American alternative rock legends were due to play the first of two consecutive nights tonight at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall, followed by dates in Sydney and Perth.

Those five shows will now be rescheduled to an unspecified, later date in 2020.

“We regret to announce that Pixies will be postponing their remaining Australian tour dates,” reads a statement from Live Nation, producer of the trek.

The message continues, “Out of caution for current public health concerns, Pixies are postponing the remaining Australian shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth. This was an extremely difficult decision, but the well-being of our fans is always our top priority.”

Sources say the band is now on a flight back to the United States.

Fans can hang onto their tickets pending confirmation of new tour dates, or score a full refund from the point of purchase.

Pixies’ Come On Pilgrim… It’s Surfer Rosa tour isn’t the only live music event in these parts to be affected by Coronavirus fears. Miley Cyrus called time on her appearance at a high-profile bushfire concert in Melbourne this weekend due to the global health crisis, causing the show to cancel.

And yesterday, Tasmania’s Dark Mofo 2020 was cancelled. The implications of COVID-19 and “subsequent travel, financial and logistical issues are beyond our control,” explained Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael.

Live Entertainment Australia says there’s no cause for alarm.

“Each promoter or event organiser will need to make a decision on their event and circumstances and we respect those decisions, although we will always start from the position of what the official health advice says,” notes LPA CEO Evelyn Richardson, in a statement issued Wednesday.

“It remains safe to attend a live performance, and I encourage all Australians to continue to make the most of our dynamic, diverse and vibrant live performance sector.”

Originating late 2019 in Wuhan, China, the Coronavirus, which can cause the COVID-19 respiratory illness, has infected at least 128 Australians, causing three deaths.

The World Health Organization has declared the global outbreak a pandemic.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.