Olivia Dean apologises after sound issues disrupt Auckland concert

British singer Olivia Dean's Auckland concert was interrupted by technical difficulties on Saturday night, forcing her to leave the stage after performing just three songs. The sound issues required a reset, resulting in a delay of nearly 40 minutes. Dean returned to the stage shortly after 10pm, apologising to the crowd and promising to perform her full set despite an 11pm curfew.

The concert, part of 'The Art of Loving Live' tour, was performed for a crowd estimated between 40,000 and 45,000 people. This event marked the first major show at the newly refurbished Western Springs Bowl following a $2.5 million upgrade. The performance was originally moved from Spark Arena to the outdoor venue in August due to high ticket demand.

The show ended at approximately 11:20pm, roughly 20 minutes past the scheduled 11pm curfew. While most fans remained positive, the late finish caused transport issues for some attendees attempting to return home. Auckland Stadiums director James Parkinson stated the venue is in discussions with the Auckland Council regarding the curfew breach.

Police reported no significant incidents during the event, though six people were trespassed for attempting to enter without tickets. Auckland Transport deployed additional standby buses on the NX1 and 18 routes to assist with the late departure. A spokesperson for the promoter, Handsome Tours, noted the technical interruption was an issue with the tour's production rather than the venue.

How it developed

• Sun 18 Oct, 12:05pmThe report detailed that the concert ended at 11:20pm, causing a curfew breach that is being discussed with the Auckland Council.

Where reports differ

• Reports vary on the exact attendance, with some citing 40,000 and others citing 45,000 people

Compiled from reports by Stuff, NZ Herald and 1News.