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Lewis Capaldi Takes Tour Break to ‘Adjust to Impact’ of Tourette Syndrome

Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi performs on The Pyramid Stage on day 4 of the Glastonbury festival in the village of Pilton in Somerset, southwest England, on June 24, 2023. (AFP)
Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi performs on The Pyramid Stage on day 4 of the Glastonbury festival in the village of Pilton in Somerset, southwest England, on June 24, 2023. (AFP)
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Lewis Capaldi Takes Tour Break to ‘Adjust to Impact’ of Tourette Syndrome

Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi performs on The Pyramid Stage on day 4 of the Glastonbury festival in the village of Pilton in Somerset, southwest England, on June 24, 2023. (AFP)
Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi performs on The Pyramid Stage on day 4 of the Glastonbury festival in the village of Pilton in Somerset, southwest England, on June 24, 2023. (AFP)

Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi said he is taking a break from touring for the foreseeable future to "adjust to the impact" of having Tourette syndrome, days after he struggled during a Glastonbury music festival performance.

The 26-year-old had taken three weeks off ahead of his set on Saturday at the festival held in southwest England, where the likes of Elton John, Guns n' Roses and Lana Del Rey were among the billing. But after performing several songs, Capaldi told the crowd he was starting to lose his voice. Soon after, he struggled and fans stepped to sing the lyrics.

Writing on Twitter on Tuesday, the "Someone You Loved" singer thanked Glastonbury "for singing along when I needed it and for all the amazing messages afterwards".

"The fact that this probably won't come as a surprise doesn't make it any easier to write, but I'm very sorry to let you know I'm going to be taking a break from touring for the foreseeable future," Capaldi wrote.

"I used to be able to enjoy every second of shows like this and I'd hoped 3 weeks away would sort me out. But the truth is I'm still learning to adjust to the impact of my Tourette's and on Saturday it became obvious that I need to spend much more time getting my mental and physical health in order, so I can keep doing everything I love for a long time to come."

According to his website, Capaldi had 26 show dates planned between end-June and October, with concerts in Britain, Australia and Dubai among other locations.

"I'm so incredibly sorry to everyone who had planned to come to a show before the end of the year, but I need to feel well to perform at the standard you all deserve. Playing for you every night is all I've ever dreamed of so this has been the most difficult decision of my life. I'll be back as soon as I possibly can,” Capaldi wrote.

Capaldi also thanked his family, friends, team, medical professionals and those supporting him "through the good times and even more so during this past year when I've needed it more than ever".

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Lady Gaga to Rock Copacabana Beach with a Free Concert for More than 1 Million Fans

American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga (L) performs during a rehearsal before her concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 02 May 2025. (EPA)
American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga (L) performs during a rehearsal before her concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 02 May 2025. (EPA)
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Lady Gaga to Rock Copacabana Beach with a Free Concert for More than 1 Million Fans

American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga (L) performs during a rehearsal before her concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 02 May 2025. (EPA)
American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga (L) performs during a rehearsal before her concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 02 May 2025. (EPA)

Lady Gaga will give a free concert on Copacabana Beach Saturday night, the second such show in as many years organized by Rio de Janeiro's City Hall.

The show will be the biggest of the pop star’s career, as it was for Madonna who also turned the expansive stretch of sand into a massive dance floor last year.

The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years’ Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint John’s Day celebrations in June.

“It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars, restaurants, and retail, generating jobs and income for the population,” said Osmar Lima, the city’s secretary of economic development, in a statement released by Rio City Hall’s tourism department last month.

Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028.

Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday. The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since, as it geared up to welcome the Mother Monster for her first show in the country since 2012.

Rio’s metro employees danced to Lady Gaga’s 2008 hit song “LoveGame” and gave instructions for Saturday in a video. A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out. And “Little Monsters,” as her fans are known, sang and danced in front of Copacabana Palace where the pop star is staying, in the hope of catching a glimpse of her.

Rio’s City Hall said in a recent report that around 1.6 million people are expected to attend and that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (some $106 million) into Rio’s economy, nearly 30% more than Madonna’s show.

While the vast majority of attendees will be from Rio, the event is expected to attract Brazilians from across the country and international visitors.

Ingrid Serrano, a 30-year-old engineer, made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show.

“I’ve been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,” said Serrano, who was wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes over the years.

For her, the mega-star represents “total freedom of expression - being who one wants without shame.”

Lady Gaga's more than 2-hour performance is scheduled to start at 9:45 p.m. local time. Sixteen sound towers have been spread along the beach to ensure the hits resonate across the vast space.

Rio state’s security plan includes the presence of 3,300 military and 1,500 police officers, and 400 military firefighters.

Rio officials have a history of organizing huge concerts on Copacabana Beach.

Madonna's show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year, while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994. According to Guinness World Records, that was the biggest free rock concert in history.