Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Poppy Says She Was ‘Unable to Breathe’ Amid Wildfire Smoke at Upheaval Festival
Singer Poppy withdrew from her scheduled performance at Upheaval Festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan on July 17 after wildfire smoke degraded air quality to hazardous levels exceeding an AQI of 350. Rather than proceed with the full set, her backing band delivered an instrumental rendition whilst wearing respirator masks to mitigate exposure to the poor air conditions.
Michigan was operating under a statewide air quality alert due to elevated fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke affecting much of the Lower Peninsula. Festival organisers had stated beforehand that attendee safety was their paramount concern whilst monitoring conditions throughout the day. This represents the second occasion this season when environmental circumstances have disrupted Poppy's live performances, following a lightning-related interruption to her Welcome to Rockville set in May.
In short
- Poppy cancelled her Upheaval Festival performance in Grand Rapids after wildfire smoke created hazardous air quality (AQI 350+) conditions
- Her backing band performed an instrumental set wearing respirator masks; this marks the second environmental disruption to her live sets this season
Explained simply
Poppy is a singer who performs at major music festivals. Upheaval Festival is an annual music event in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In July, the region was dealing with poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke spreading across the Lower Peninsula.
Air quality is measured using an index where higher numbers indicate worse pollution. When the index exceeds 350, the air becomes hazardous to breathe and can cause serious health problems. Michigan was under a statewide air quality alert during this time, and festival organisers were monitoring conditions and prioritising the safety of performers and attendees.
This is the second time this season that environmental conditions have disrupted Poppy's performances. Her previous disruption occurred in May at the Welcome to Rockville festival, when lightning interrupted her scheduled set.