Sam Fender has cancelled the remaining dates on his 2024 tour to avoid “lasting damage” to his vocal cord.
The British singer-songwriter was scheduled to conclude this year’s UK tour in Glasgow on Tuesday and Newcastle on Friday.
Fender said he had been suffering with the flu “for a few days now” but “regardless of how compromised my voice was I did everything I could to get it in working order last night to put on the best show possible”.
It was later discovered the North Shields star had “haemorrhaged my right vocal cord, I’m absolutely heartbroken”.
— Sam Fender (@samfendermusic) December 17, 2024
The 30-year-old said he had seen specialist ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors who were advising extended rest until the injury heals, or risk long-term damage.
“I’ve had two separate ENT doctors say if I perform tonight I’m risking lasting damage to my voice and I have been advised to be on vocal rest and not use my voice for a prolonged length of time until it heals,” Fender wrote.
“I’ve done everything by the book this tour living like a monk, it’s so unlucky.”
Fender, who previously cancelled dates at the end of his 2019 tour when he had laryngitis, apologised to fans who were on their way to the Glasgow gig.
“This has been the best tour so far and all I want to do is get up and sing again for you all tonight,” he said.
“We’re trying to figure out a way to reschedule for you all, more news soon.”
Fender is expected to kick off the US leg of his tour in February, before performing across Europe in the spring.
In June, he is set to return to London for his UK stadium tour, alongside three sold-out nights at St James’ Park in Newcastle.
Fender released his debut solo album Hypersonic Missiles in September 2019, followed by Seventeen Going Under in October 2021.
His third studio album titled People Watching is set for release on February 21 next year.
