Music news has been set ablaze overnight with the sudden reveal that Frank Ocean is coming out of his cave to perform at several international music festivals across 2017.
So far, the Blonde artist has been confirmed to perform at Hangout in Alabama (May 19 – 21), Sasquatch! in Washington (May 26-28), NorthSide in Denmark (June 9) and Lovebox in the UK (July 14-15), with more to be announced, including a rumoured headline appearance at new festival Panorama, organised by Coachella promoters Goldenvoice.
It’s extremely unlikely that Frank Ocean will visit Australia during his comeback shows. The one and only time he’s ever performed in Australia was in 2013, when he performed one of five shows – including a headline slot at Splendour in the Grass – before cancelling the remainder of the tour. He was eventually replaced by pre-Pure Heroine, pre-Grammy winning Lorde at Splendour. His remaining sideshow dates were never rescheduled.
But before we all start booking flights to the lands of Trump and Brexit (#fuckyou2016), don’t get too excited. Frank Ocean, the world’s most beloved recluse, is no stranger to cancelling shows and entire tours. As well as the aforementioned Australian cancellation, he cancelled festival and tour dates in Canada after Splendour. Just last year he pulled out of FYF Fest at the eleventh hour (and was replaced by Kanye West). Back in 2012 he finished a Norway concert early and then cancelled an entire European tour, including opening slots for Coldplay and several festival appearances. All the way back in 2011, before even releasing Channel Orange, he cancelled a New York show after performing a soundcheck at the venue.
Honestly? It would be more surprising if he actually did show up.
Frank Ocean – ‘Nikes’ from DoBeDo Productions on Vimeo.
Image: Rolling Stone