Craig McLachlan’s New Year’s Eve concert Hey Good Lookin cancelled

Gold Logie-winner Craig McLachlan’s much-anticipated return to the stage for a New Year’s Eve gig has been cancelled. Find out why.

Craig McLachlan’s much-anticipated return to the stage after a five-year hiatus has been cancelled, with the Gold Logie winner revealing he recently underwent emergency abdominal surgery.

“I discovered I required open abdominal surgery that needed to be performed sooner rather than later, meaning before Christmas, so I wouldn’t have been fit to sneeze on New Year’s Eve, let alone get booted and suited, strap on a guitar and belt out a tune or two,” McLachlan exclusively told the Saturday Telegraph.

“As you can well imagine, we’re all very disappointed that we’ve had to pull our NYE concert, a night we’d all been looking forward to for such a long time,” he said.

“But as happens in life, things crop up unexpectedly and sometimes these things must take precedence.

“And indeed that has been the case for some members of the Hank team, myself included.”

Craig McLachlan had emergency abdominal surgery recently. Picture: Supplied

The production was to be McLachlan’s stage return after a five-year hiatus. Picture: Tim Pascoe

McLachlan was also referring to a family crisis that had affected members of the production team of Hey Good Lookin, the tribute to Hank Williams that McLachlan was planning for Adelaide on January 31.

The company, Spotlight Revivals, said in a statement: “Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel the upcoming New Year’s Eve Concert of ‘Hey Good Lookin’.

“A company family crisis has made it necessary for this sad decision.

“Our thoughts and support are with the respective members and their families.

“A full refund will be available through the ticketing agency.

“We are looking to possibly reschedule at a later date.”

Craig McLachlan was set to play Hank Williams at a special New Year's Eve gig, but has had to cancel after undergoing surgery. Picture: Tim Pascoe

McLachlan said many supporters had made contact since the producers made the announcement.

“I know I speak for all of us at ‘Hank-land’ when I say we appreciate these wonderful people more than they know.”

It was to be his first time on stage since a protracted court battle that saw the former Neighbours star acquitted of sexual assault charges.

McLachlan, who played the “sweet transvestite” Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, was found not guilty in December 2020 of seven counts of indecent assault and six counts of common law assault.

He filed defamation proceedings against the ABC and Nine Newspapers over the accusations, after several former co-stars accused him of inappropriate behaviour.

However he then discontinued the case, citing the strain on his own mental health and the health of his family.

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Originally published as Craig McLachlan’s New Year’s Eve concert Hey Good Lookin cancelled