Arctic Monkeys have cancelled their Tuesday night concert in Dublin after frontman Alex Turner was diagnosed with acute laryngitis.
The band’s show at Marlay Park is the penultimate on their UK and Ireland tour that saw them play three nights at London’s Emirates Stadium last week.
Fans were treated to a guest performance from Miles Kane at the final date and wouldn’t have guessed there was anything wrong from hearing the 21-song set.
The news comes as Arctic Monkeys prepare to headline Glastonbury Festival on Friday, before they finish the UK with a date at Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park on June 25.
— Arctic Monkeys (@ArcticMonkeys) June 19, 2023
A statement on Twitter read: “Alex is suffering from acute laryngitis, and following medical advice has been ordered to rest.
“Alex and the band apologise for the huge disappointment this will inevitably cause to all their Irish fans.”
All Dublin ticket holders will be refunded. It has not been announced if the band will reschedule as part of their world tour supporting seventh album The Car.
What is acute laryngitis?
Laryngitis, according to the NHS, is when the voice box or vocal cords in the throat become irritated or swollen.
“It comes on suddenly and gets worse during the first three days,” guidance states.
Symptoms include a hoarse voice or losing your voice, a cough that does not go away, always needing to clear your throat, and a sore throat.
In children, it can also present as a high temperature, loss of appetite, and difficulty breathing.
Is laryngitis contagious?
Some types of the illness can be more infectious than others. Viral laryngitis is brought on by a virus, such as the common cold, and is the least infectious of the three types.
Bacterial laryngitis is also contagious and caused by an overgrowth of infectious bacteria, while fungal laryngitis is also transferable.
However, laryngitis can be caused by voice strain, smoking, acid reflux, and allergies.
How long does laryngitis last?
According to the National Institutes of Health, the first three to seven days are the worst.
Assuming Turner was diagnosed on Monday, fans can have their fingers crossed that the worst stage of the illness will have passed by Friday, when the Monkeys are due to headline the Pyramid Stage.
It usually passes after two weeks but, if it lasts for longer than three weeks, it can be called chronic laryngitis.
How to recover from laryngitis
Talking minimally and quietly is recommended, as is drinking a lot and gargling warm, salty water. Smoking, alcohol, and caffeine are not recommended. Laryngitis usually goes away by itself.
