Taiwanese rock band Mayday postpones Hong Kong performance after LED installation catches fire
- Mayday’s second show rescheduled to May 9 after first performance was moved online amid heavy rainfall
- ‘A decoration ball at a concert venue … was reportedly on fire. Billowing plumes of smoke were seen,’ police say
Popular Taiwanese rock band Mayday had to postpone the second show of its stop in Hong Kong after a huge sphere LED installation caught fire on Wednesday, a day after its first performance was moved online amid heavy downpour.
Organisers said the show was moved to May 9 and that ticket holders were eligible for a refund.
Mayday is on a concert tour in Hong Kong where the five-member band originally planned seven shows at the Central Harbourfront between Tuesday and May 8.
The band was forced to move the encore session of their first show online and indoors because of the heavy rainfall on Tuesday evening, when the Observatory issued an amber rainstorm warning.
On Wednesday, Hong Kong police said they received a report of a fire at the concert venue at about 2.34pm.
“A decoration ball at a concert venue in Central was reportedly on fire,” a police spokesman said. “Billowing plumes of smoke were seen. The fire was extinguished before the firefighters arrived.”
The spokesman added no injuries were reported and no evacuations were needed.
Organiser B’in Music said in a Facebook post that Wednesday’s show would be postponed to May 9, citing bad weather and safety. It also apologised to fans and promised an unconditional refund for those who could not attend the new concert.
Further details of the refund will be announced.
The band’s vocalist Ashin, or Chen Hsin-hung, posted on Facebook: “In music, we can remain unbent. But under thunderstorms, we cannot ask [fans] to compromise on safety. [Fans’] safety is the utmost priority of Mayday and the organisers. After careful assessment, the May 1 concert will be postponed to May 9.”
