Poppy’s Upheaval Competition look didn’t go forward as deliberate Friday night time (July 17), after wildfire smoke created hazardous air high quality circumstances on the Grand Rapids, Mich., occasion.
The singer was scheduled to carry out forward of Gojira on the rock and metallic competition, however her band in the end performed with out her, delivering an instrumental set whereas sporting respirator masks beneath their normal stage masks.
Poppy later addressed her absence on Instagram Tales, explaining that circumstances across the time of her efficiency had change into unsafe.
“As a consequence of ‘hazardous’ AQI reaching 350+ round our set time I used to be unable to affix my band on stage,” she wrote. “I used to be unable to breathe in these circumstances.”
“You may’ve observed our set was instrumental solely,” she continued. “For individuals who braved the circumstances — I applaud you.”
Beneath the U.S. Air High quality Index, readings above 300 are categorized as hazardous, essentially the most extreme class on the dimensions. AirNow, the EPA’s air high quality useful resource, describes that vary as a “well being warning of emergency circumstances,” with everybody extra more likely to be affected.
Upheaval organizers had instructed attendees earlier than doorways opened that the competition would proceed whereas officers continued monitoring the air high quality state of affairs.
“Your security is our primary concern,” the competition stated in a pre-event climate replace, encouraging followers to tempo themselves and look out for each other. Organizers additionally stated on the time that obtainable data urged air high quality would enhance all through the day.
Michigan was beneath a statewide air high quality alert on Friday and Saturday attributable to elevated ranges of nice particulate matter from wildfire smoke. The West Michigan Clear Air Coalition forecast hazardous circumstances in components of the state and really unhealthy circumstances throughout the Decrease Peninsula on Friday.
The Upheaval interruption marks the second time this competition season that extreme circumstances have disrupted considered one of Poppy’s units. In Might, her efficiency at Welcome to Rockville in Daytona Seashore, Fla., was minimize quick lower than a minute in after extreme climate and lightning protocols have been activated.
Poppy’s newest dwell interruption comes amid a robust run on Billboard’s rock charts. “Finish of You,” her collaboration with Evanescence’s Amy Lee and Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Scorching Onerous Rock Songs chart dated Sept. 20, 2025.
The monitor later made historical past on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, the place Poppy, Lee and LaPlante turned the primary three ladies or women-led acts to high the rating collectively.
Poppy launched her seventh studio album, Empty Arms, in January by way of Sumerian Information. The album adopted 2024’s Unfavourable Areas and continued her latest run by way of heavy, industrial and various sounds, with manufacturing from Jordan Fish and Stephen Harrison.
