‘Nowhere to go’: Pop stars’ huge Aussie gig cancelled last-minute

There was chaos at the final show of this international pop tour last night, as the headliners were forced to cancel minutes before taking to the stage.

British pop stars Take That and Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Australian visit came to an unfortunate end on Sunday night when the final show of the tour had to be cancelled last-minute due to “severe weather”.

The British pop legends were set to headline A Day on the Green concert at Queensland’s Sirromet Wines, with Aussie star Ricki-Lee and Murder on the Dancefloor singer Ellis-Bextor as support.

The sun was shining during Ricki-Lee’s late-afternoon performance, but towards the end of Ellis-Bextor’s set, disaster struck: The singer announced that she’d been advised to pause the show due to lightning.

Take That singer Gary Barlow. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty

Sophie Ellis-Bextor minutes before the concert was called off.

As the weather worsened, she never returned to the stage – and it was soon announced that Take That’s headline show would not go ahead.

The Back for Good hitmakers issued a statement on Instagram explaining that due to “the severe weather events experienced across Brisbane and South East Queensland this evening, the Take That show at Sirromet has been cancelled.”

Take That's cancelled Aussie show.

Ellis-Bextor also shared a message on social media, writing that she was “so sorry the rain stopped play tonight in Brisbane! Hope to be back again soon and thanks to Take That for having us with them for these show. Xxx hope everyone got home OK.”

One fan shared a breakdown of how the emergency unfolded across several Instagram stories, one of which was shared to Take That’s official account.

The ponchos come on … Instagram: bek_henley

...before concertgoers seek shelter in their cars. Instagram: bek_henley

“So, they’ve paused the show for Take That, because the heavens have opened and it’s lightning, big bolts of lightning,” she said.

“We’re sat in a field with a few thousand people and nowhere to go. We’re two rows from the stage – see that big metal structure in front of me? Not a fan.”

She and others soon retreated to their vehicles as the conditions worsened, with fork lightning lighting up the sky as the concert was called off and all concertgoers asked to evacuate the site.

All ticketholders will receive a full refund, with no action required.