Poppy’s planned performance at Upheaval Festival in Grand Rapids, Mich., did not unfold as expected on Friday night, July 17, after wildfire smoke pushed air quality to dangerous levels. The singer had been scheduled to play ahead of Gojira, but the conditions around showtime led to a change in the set.
Instead of appearing onstage, Poppy’s band performed without her and delivered an instrumental version of the set while wearing respirator masks under their usual stage masks. Poppy later explained the situation on Instagram Stories, saying the air quality index had climbed above 350 around the time of the performance and that she was unable to breathe in those conditions. She also noted that the set was instrumental only and thanked fans who stayed through the difficult environment.
According to the report, readings above 300 on the U.S. Air Quality Index are considered hazardous, the most severe category, and AirNow describes that range as a health emergency in which everyone may be affected. Upheaval organizers had told attendees before the gates opened that the festival would continue while officials monitored the situation, adding that safety remained the top priority. They also said the available information suggested the air could improve as the day went on.
The smoke-related disruption came during a statewide air quality alert in Michigan, with officials citing elevated fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke. It was also the second time this festival season that Poppy’s live plans were interrupted by severe conditions; in May, her Welcome to Rockville set in Daytona Beach, Fla., was cut short almost immediately after severe weather and lightning protocols were triggered. The setback arrives as Poppy continues a strong stretch on the rock charts, following the release of her seventh studio album, Empty Hands, in January.
Source: billboard.com
