Lightning strikes twice for Ed Sheeran as thunderstorm forces singer to cancel another Hong Kong gig following 2017 no-show
- Singer cancelled tour two years ago after injuring his arms in cycling accident
- ‘So sorry people have come out, waited in the rain, just for no show,’ Sheeran posted on social media
Ed Sheeran’s fans were left waiting in the rain as the singer’s second outdoor concert at Hong Kong Disneyland was called off at short notice on Thursday night because of a thunderstorm.
The Thinking Out Loud star had been expected to perform in front 20,000 people for the second of two major concerts at the theme park’s Fantasy Road Outdoor Venue, an exposed site with little shelter, but a thunderstorm, high winds and lashing rain saw the event cancelled.
Fans started arriving at the venue after gates opened at 4pm, with rainfall beginning around 6pm.
Show promoter AEG announced about 8pm that support act, One OK Rock, would not be performing “due to the current weather”, but “the rest of the show will continue as soon as possible”.
Sheeran posted a message on Instagram at 8pm, saying: “Sorry about the delay. It’s out of hands, we have to wait for the lightning to pass for safety reasons. Apologies again.”
He added the crew had been ready for the show to start.
Organisers distributed free plastic ponchos, though attendees were left stood in the exposed site with little shelter from the elements.
The first thunderstorm warning of the day was issued at 5.05pm by the Hong Kong Observatory and at 7pm was extended to 9.30pm.
An Amber rain warning also came into force during the evening signalling 30 millimetres of rain per hour while in effect. Hongkongers were also instructed to expect gusts of wind of up to 70 kilometres per hour. Storm data from the Observatory showed that between 5pm and 11pm nearly 500 strokes of lightning were recorded in the Lantau region.