Fans of Welsh band Catfish and the Bottlemen were left shocked and disappointed this evening as MCD announced that the band had cancelled their RDS gig 15 minutes before doors were due to open.
A statement issued by MCD on X at 6.45pm, said: “We regret to inform you that tonight’s Catfish and the Bottlemen show is cancelled due to artist illness. Refunds are available from point of purchase. Apologies to all the fans who have travelled to the show today and for any inconvenience caused.”
Some fans posted pictures of themselves crying, having travelled to the RDS for the show before learning of the cancellation. A number said they had hoped the gig would cheer them up after a morning of missing out on getting Oasis tickets for the Manchester band’s reunion tour next year. Instead they had further disappointment in learning at the last minute of tonight’s concert cancellation.
“Daughter travelled there for 18th birthday. Surely if someone is genuinely sick you’d have known more than 10 mins in advance,” one man posted in response to MCD’s announcement.
A number of fans said they had travelled from England or Belfast for the concert and had accommodation paid for. They expressed anger and frustration at learning of the cancellation at the gates of the RDS.
“Been dying to see Catfish and the Bottlemen in Dublin for months, was sat outside a pub about to finish my pint 10 mins before doors and some random fella says they’ve cancelled. Nice one lads,” said one concert goer on X.
The MCD post did not specify what the illness was or who in the Welsh band was unwell.
Irish DJ Rob Smith had earlier announced he had been booked to play a warm-up set for Catfish and the Bottlemen gig. After the concert was cancelled, he posted “Oh well. Next time… Thanks to MCD Productions for asking me to be part of it.”
Smith also said concertgoers could go to the Workmans Club for free where he would be playing tonight.
Catfish and the Bottlemen won the Brit Award for best British breakthrough act in 2016.
The band’s most famous song is Cocoon. The Welsh band had recently played in Reading festival. An NME review was positive, saying the band was “on the brink of something special”.
Catfish And The Bottlemen are due to tour Australia and New Zealand in September before playing in the US in October and November.
