Poppy has issued a public statement addressing her absence from her own performance at the annual Upheaval Festival in Grand Rapids, MI. She shared her explanation via Instagram.
The singer explained that dangerously poor air quality conditions prevented her from taking the stage. Her masked bandmates carried on with an instrumental-only set in her absence.
“Hi Upheaval. Due to ‘hazardous’ AQI reaching 350+ around our set time I was unable to join my band on stage,” Poppy said. “I was unable to breathe in those conditions.”
The statement went on to acknowledge both the unusual nature of the performance and the fans who attended despite the difficult conditions.
“You might’ve noticed our set was instrumental only,” she continued. “For those who braved the conditions — I applaud you.”
The performance took place on July 17th. Poppy’s bandmates reportedly wore breathing masks during the set. No further updates regarding a rescheduled appearance have been announced.
Poppy’s absence came amid one of the most severe air quality crises Michigan has experienced in recent memory. The crisis was driven by a wave of Canadian wildfire smoke blanketing the region.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) issued a statewide Air Quality Alert for July 17–18, forecasting conditions ranging from “Very Unhealthy” to “Hazardous” across the state. Grand Rapids’ AQI stood at 317 on July 17th, classifying it as “Dangerous” — a level at which even brief outdoor exposure can cause serious health effects. PM2.5 readings had reached as high as 613 earlier in the week, among the worst figures recorded in the state.
The crisis was not limited to Grand Rapids. Air quality alerts were in effect across multiple states on July 17th, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, as wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota continued to push southeast. Michigan had been under successive statewide alerts since July 15th, with officials urging residents to avoid outdoor activities entirely.
Upheaval Festival, headlined by Gojira on July 17th and Papa Roach on July 18th, did not cancel its programming despite the conditions. Organizers monitored the air quality situation throughout the weekend and proceeded with modifications. Other outdoor events across Michigan were not as fortunate, with several concerts and public performances cancelled outright due to the dangerous air and extreme heat.
Poppy’s band took the stage and delivered a nearly hour-long instrumental set in her absence. Her masked bandmates provided what respiratory protection they could. Fans in attendance had already noticed something was off well before the statement was released. Footage circulated on social media showing the band performing without her for over 35 minutes before it became clear she would not appear. The statement, posted to her Instagram story, was her first and only public comment on the matter.
