Bright Eyes announced on Wednesday that they will be canceling their upcoming record release shows due to founder and lead vocalist Conor Oberst losing his voice.
In a statement shared to social media, the band said that they were “heartbroken” over the decision and that “warm up shows we played earlier this week resulted in Conor losing his voice.” They added that on “the advice of doctors, we’ve made the difficult but sensible decision to prioritize rest and recuperation for the remainder of the month.”
The canceled shows included Brooklyn Steel in New York City on Sept. 19, Riot Fest in Chicago on Sept. 21, and Steelhouse in Omaha on Sept. 22.
Bright Eyes noted that they are working on rescheduling the dates and will keep fans updated when they have more information, while noting refunds will be available at the point of purchase.
“Thank you for your understanding, love, and support,” they wrote before signing off. “Can’t wait to see you all soon.”
The news arrives just days before the release of Five Dice, All Threes — their first album in four years — on Friday. Their upcoming 10th album features collaborations with Cat Power, the National’s Matt Berninger, and the So So Glos’ Alex Orange Drink.
Five Dice, All Threes is the follow-up to Down In the Weeds, Where the World Once Was. Last December, the group released a cover of John Prine‘s 1973 song “Christmas in Prison,” featuring a sample from “A John Prine Christmas,” off 1993’s A John Prine Christmas EP. Proceeds from the single went toward Prine’s charity, The Hello In There Foundation, an organization created by his family to honor the artist’s memory that works to “offer support for people who are marginalized, discriminated against or, for any reason, are otherwise forgotten.”