Poppy Misses Upheaval Festival Set Amid Hazardous AQI

*Poppy attends the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)*

Poppy’s band took the stage as scheduled Friday at the Upheaval Festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but the “new way out” singer did not perform with them.

Instead, the band played an instrumental set. Poppy later wrote in an Instagram Story that she was unable to appear because of poor air quality conditions caused by wildfires in Canada.

“Due to ‘hazardous’ AQI reaching 350+ around our set time, I was unable to join my band on stage,” Poppy wrote. “I was unable to breathe in those conditions. You might’ve noticed our set was instrumental only.”

She added, “For those who braved the conditions – I applaud you.”

AQI stands for “air quality index.” A level of 350+ signals a health emergency.

As previously reported, air quality issues forced bands including The Black Keys and Creed to postpone their outdoor concerts on Thursday.

This article was adapted from original reporting by ABC Audio, as featured on 105.7 The Point.