Thousands of fans were left disappointed on Sunday night when the highly anticipated Bryan Adams concert at Perth's RAC Arena was abruptly canceled due to severe sewer blockages caused by a large fatberg. The outdoor situation escalated quickly, leading authorities to deem the venue unsafe for concertgoers hours before Adams was scheduled to take the stage.
The show, part of Adams’ "So Happy It Hurts" tour, was slated to begin at 9 p.m. but was called off shortly after 9:00 p.m., leaving concertgoers who had been waiting outside for hours, frustrated and confused by the lack of timely communication. "The cancellation of the show is bitterly disappointing," stated Frontier Touring, the concert's promoter, on social media. They offered automatic refunds to all ticketholders but confirmed there would be no rescheduling due to the unforeseen circumstances.
The incident stemmed from major sewage blockages caused primarily by the accumulation of fat, grease, and rags, collectively known as fatbergs. Perth's Water Corporation confirmed the situation had forced workers to respond immediately at the Wellington Street site, where overflowing wastewater was reported earlier on Sunday afternoon. Pat Donovan, CEO of the Water Corporation, stated to ABC Radio Perth, "Unfortunately, we had a bit of a perfect storm of factors converging on the worst possible place and obviously at the worst possible time with the concert going ahead."
Many fans expressed their outrage concerning the event's cancellation process, primarily pointing out the chaotic handling by the venue's staff. Belinda, one disappointed concert attendee, recounted her experience: "They had a loudspeaker going but because there were so many people, it wasn’t loud enough for everyone to hear what was happening. I really think the communication should have been a lot more efficient and clear. They clearly knew there was an issue before this.” With concertgoers reportedly receiving their first notification about problems only half an hour after doors were initially set to open, many felt the communication was significantly lacking.
Perth's Water Corporation had raised concerns well before the concert about sewage possibly backing up at the venue's toilets, which posed a considerable public health risk. A statement from authorities echoed the urgency of the decision: “Acting on public health advice from the Department of Health, the Bryan Adams concert at RAC Arena this evening was cancelled due to the risk of sewage backing up within the venue toilets.”
Among the affected was Bryan Adams himself, who took to social media to express his disappointment: “I’m really sorry we couldn’t make this happen tonight — I was so looking forward to seeing you all. I appreciate your patience and support and can’t wait to be back and play for you as soon as we can reschedule.” His sentiments matched the feelings of many who had looked forward eagerly to his performance.
Those awaiting the concert were treated to chaotic scenes, with photos shared across social media platforms showing massive queues and crowds waiting for updates, often to no avail. Many attendees could not help but vent their frustrations online, including comments such as: “Devastated … 15,000 people waiting on the streets for hours.”
This cancellation follows similar challenges faced across the city, including another major blockage incident affecting Hollywood Private Hospital just days prior due to another fatberg. The correlation raised calls for public awareness about the disposal of waste products, particularly focusing on the importance of flushing only the "three Ps": pee, poo, and toilet paper.
While the authorities continue to deal with the sewer situation, many are left wondering how events like these can be mitigated moving forward. Donovan urged the public to assist by containing their waste management responsibly, stating the significance of reducing similar blockages: “There’s only three Ps to go down the toilet, do not stick other items like fats or wet wipes down the drain as this leads to the creation of fatbergs.”
Adams, who has remained a beloved performer across Australia since his debut back in 1984, is set to continue with scheduled performances later this week, including stops in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. For fans who waited hours on Sunday evening, the encounter was frustratingly defined not by the electric atmosphere of Adams’ music but rather by the unexpected inconveniences associated with infrastructure challenges and environmental health safety.
With many fans still seething over the lack of timely information surrounding the cancellation, the incident has not just highlighted the issues related to public facilities management but has also raised the profile on environmental hazards presented by fatbergs.
Efforts to clear the fatberg are continuing, but the fatigue and disappointment felt by fans at the cancelled concert linger as they wait for news on how they could possibly see their favorite Canadian rocker perform live again. The situation vividly exemplifies how significantly such unexpected events can disrupt community experiences and spark public outcry when not managed well.