Lewis Capaldi has announced that he’ll be taking a break from touring, effective immediately, after cutting his Glastonbury set short.
The Scottish singer-songwriter performed on the festival’s Pyramid Stage on Saturday afternoon (24 June).
During his set, he told the crowd that he was starting to lose his voice and was seen experiencing a series of tics as a result of Tourette’s syndrome.
Capaldi, 26, was seen struggling to sing his No 1 hit “Someone You Loved”, but was supported by the crowd who sang most of the song along with him. He’d previously cancelled engagements three weeks ahead of the festival to prepare for the performance.
On Tuesday (27 June), Capaldi shared a text post announcing his break from live shows, explaining that he was taking a rest to focus on getting his mental and physical health in order.
“I used to be able to enjoy every second of shows like this and I’d hoped three weeks away would sort me out,” he wrote.
“But the truth is I’m still learning to adjust to the impact of my Tourette’s and on Saturday it became obvious that I need to spend much more time getting my mental and physical health in order, so I can keep doing everything I love for a long time to come.”
Capaldi was diagnosed with Tourette’s, a neurological condition that causes a person to make involuntary sounds and movements, in 2022. His Netflix documentary Lewis Capaldi: How I’m Feeling Now, released in April, explored his diagnosis and the changes in his life since finding out he had the condition.
Capaldi’s statement continued: “I know I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to take some time out when others can’t and I’d like to thank my amazing family, friends, team, medical professionals all of you who’ve been so supportive every step of the way through the good times and even more so during this past year when I’ve needed it more than ever.
“I’m so incredibly sorry to everyone who had planned to come to a show before the end of the year but I need to feel well to perform at the standard you all deserve,” he added.
“Playing for you every night is all I’ve ever dreamed of so this has been the most difficult decision of my life. I’ll be back as soon as I possibly can.”
Lewis Capaldi— (Getty Images)
During his Pyramid Stage set, the “Before You Go” vocalist hinted that a break from touring would be in the near future, as his tics worsened mid-performance.
In his review of the set for The Independent, Mark Beaumont pointed out the emotional moment when the audience joined in for a rousing rendition of “Someone You Loved”.
According to him, the crowd’s support created “one of the most moving moments in recent Glastonbury memory”. You can read the review in full here.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
