Fans attending Upheaval Festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan on July 17, 2026 were left surprised when Poppy failed to appear for her scheduled performance.
While the singer did not take the stage, her masked bandmates still performed the set, delivering an instrumental-only performance while wearing respiratory protection. The unusual appearance sparked confusion among festivalgoers until Poppy later addressed her absence on social media.
According to the artist, hazardous air quality conditions in the area prevented her from performing. Grand Rapids has been among the regions affected by smoke drifting south from ongoing wildfires in southeastern Canada, resulting in significantly elevated air quality index (AQI) levels.
In a statement shared via her Instagram Stories, Poppy explained:
“Hi Upheaval
Due to ‘hazardous’ AQI reaching 350+ around our set time I was unable to join my band on stage. I was unable to breathe in those conditions. You might’ve noticed our set was instrumental only. For those who braved the conditions — I applaud you.”
Despite Poppy’s absence, her band completed the scheduled performance instrumentally, giving attendees at least a partial version of the set amid the challenging environmental conditions.
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