Nor'easter Forces Cancellation of New York Festivals and Ed Sheeran Shows

A nor'easter bearing down on New England has forced the cancellation of two New York music festivals and a pair of Ed Sheeran concerts in Massachusetts scheduled for the weekend.

Organisers of the Global Citizen and All Things Go festivals called off their New York performances as the storm approached. Global Citizen, which has already raised close to $210 million this year for its antipoverty work, had been set to be headlined by Ms. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, her former Fugees bandmate. The All Things Go lineup in New York had been due to feature Zara Larsson, Lola Young, Brandi Carlile, Carly Rae Jepsen and other artists.

In Massachusetts, Sheeran's shows on Friday and Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough — roughly 22 miles (37 kilometres) southwest of Boston — were also cancelled, with refunds to be issued. Promoter Messina Touring said in a statement that the decision followed consultation with local officials and was taken with the safety of fans, staff and everyone involved in the shows as the top priority.

The cancellations add to a run of disruptions for Sheeran's Loop Tour. Macklemore was removed from the lineup after making pro-Palestinian remarks onstage at a Sept. 5 show in New Jersey, and supporting acts withdrew in solidarity. Speaking at a concert in Philadelphia on Saturday, Sheeran said he wanted his music and shows to stand for unity and humanity rather than politics, while describing the attacks in Israel of Oct. 7, 2023, as horrific and the situation in Gaza as catastrophic and unjustifiable.

The National Weather Service warned that the storm would bring strong winds, coastal flooding and heavy rain to much of the East Coast. Gusts were forecast to reach 60 to 65 mph (97 to 105 kph) on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket on Friday night, and about 50 to 55 mph (80 to 89 kph) around Boston.