Lewis Capaldi is a popular Scottish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in 2019 with his chart-topping single “Someone You Loved”. He recently announced a major arena tour across the UK and Europe for 2023, with tickets going on sale last month through ticket retailers like Ticketmaster. However, many fans have been left disappointed after Capaldi was forced to cancel several shows due to vocal issues requiring surgery. This has led some ticket holders to inquire about refunds from Ticketmaster and other retailers.
What shows has Lewis Capaldi cancelled?
Capaldi has unfortunately had to cancel seven UK shows that were scheduled for January and February 2023. The cancelled shows are:
January 21, 2023 | First Direct Arena, Leeds |
January 23, 2023 | Utilita Arena, Newcastle |
January 24, 2023 | Emirates Arena, Glasgow |
January 26, 2023 | Resorts World Arena, Birmingham |
January 27, 2023 | AO Arena, Manchester |
January 30, 2023 | Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham |
February 1, 2023 | The O2, London |
The remainder of his 2023 UK and European tour dates are still scheduled to go ahead as planned starting in March. However, some fans with tickets to the cancelled January and February shows are understandably disappointed and are seeking refunds.
Why were the shows cancelled?
Capaldi was forced to cancel the seven shows in January and February on doctor’s orders. In a social media post, he explained that he had been diagnosed with vocal cord damage and would need to undergo immediate surgery followed by complete vocal rest.
The gruelling nature of touring and performing every night had taken a toll on Capaldi’s vocal health. While deeply apologetic to his fans, he made the difficult decision to cancel shows to prevent long-term damage to his voice. Capaldi stressed that he takes vocal health very seriously as it is critical to his career as a singer.
Are Ticketmaster offering refunds for the cancelled shows?
For fans with tickets booked through Ticketmaster for the seven cancelled shows, refunds are indeed being offered. Ticketmaster has posted instructions for obtaining refunds on its website and sent emails to customers with tickets informing them of the process.
There are two main refund options:
1. Full refund – This provides a full refund of the ticket price and fees paid. The refund will be processed back to the original payment method used to purchase the tickets.
2. Refund as event credit – This provides a credit for the full ticket amount as Ticketmaster event vouchers. These credits can be used to purchase tickets for any future events on Ticketmaster.
Customers have until a deadline in mid-February 2023 to request their preferred refund option. Ticketmaster states refunds will be processed within 30 days of the deadline.
How do I get a Ticketmaster refund for the cancelled shows?
Here are the steps for Ticketmaster customers to get refunds for Lewis Capaldi’s cancelled shows:
1. Login to your Ticketmaster account online or via the app.
2. Go to the ‘My Tickets’ section.
3. Find the cancelled Lewis Capaldi show under ‘Upcoming Events’.
4. Select ‘View Event Details’.
5. Choose between a full refund to your original payment method or a credit for future Ticketmaster events.
6. Confirm your refund/credit selection.
7. Wait for your refund to be processed within 30 days after the mid-February deadline.
If you have difficulty obtaining a refund online, you can contact Ticketmaster customer support for assistance via their website, phone, or social media channels.
I purchased tickets re-sold through a secondary ticket site, am I eligible for a refund?
If you purchased Lewis Capaldi tickets through a secondary ticket resale platform like Viagogo, Stubhub, SeatGeek etc., then the process for refunds can be different and more complex. These re-sellers have their own policies regarding refunds for cancelled events.
In many cases, they will allow refunds for the original amount paid by the buyer. However, it depends on their terms and conditions. We recommend you directly contact the resale site you purchased from as soon as possible to inquire about your options.
Be aware that some secondary sites have very high fees or mark-ups over the original face value price of the tickets. In those cases, the refund may only cover what you paid the reseller, not the overall cost of the tickets. Always carefully check the fine print when buying tickets from unofficial re-sellers.
Can I get a refund for other costs like travel or accommodation?
If you incurred additional costs related to the Lewis Capaldi shows such as travel, hotels, or other expenses, then recouping those funds can be more difficult.
Ticketmaster’s refunds cover only the ticket price and their own fees. They are not liable for any other costs associated with attending their events.
You can try contacting your travel and accommodation providers directly to inquire about refunds or changes to your bookings. However, they are not obligated to offer reimbursement in these situations.
It depends on the terms and conditions under which you made the bookings and whether they offer any flexibilities, cancellation policies, or refund protections. You may only get partial refunds after paying cancellation fees.
If you purchased any travel insurance or protection policies, check whether they cover cancellations under these circumstances. Making claims could help recover some costs, depending on your policy.
Can I get a refund if I just don’t want to attend the rescheduled dates?
If the Lewis Capaldi shows you had tickets for get rescheduled rather than fully cancelled, your refund options are more limited.
In most cases, Ticketmaster and other retailers consider postponed events that are given new dates as still going ahead. Therefore, standard refund policies no longer apply.
They expect customers to hold onto tickets and attend the new rescheduled date instead. However, you can try contacting their customer service teams to discuss your situation.
If you simply cannot or do not wish to attend the new concert time, you may potentially get an exception or credit of some form. But there is no guarantee as it is at the retailer’s discretion.
You will have a stronger case if you highlight reasons like pre-existing travel plans or inability to take off work again for a rescheduled date. Showing real logistical barriers to attending the new date can help in requesting a refund, but nothing is assured.
Conclusion
Lewis Capaldi’s unfortunate vocal injury and need for surgery has led to several of his 2023 tour dates being cancelled on doctor’s orders. For customers with tickets booked via Ticketmaster, refunds are available in the form of complete ticket price reimbursement or future event credits.
Contacting Ticketmaster directly is the best way for affected customers to start the refund process. Just make sure to initiate your refund request before the February 2023 deadline.
If you purchased tickets through secondary resellers, you will need to deal directly with their distinct refund policies instead. Recouping any additional costs like travel or hotels will be unlikely, unless you have applicable cancellation insurance.
While the situation is hugely disappointing for fans who were excited to see Capaldi perform, getting their money back on tickets provides some relief. We can only hope Capaldi makes a full recovery and returns to touring in good vocal health later in 2023.