Home Free Give Update On World Tour Amid Global Pandemic

Home Free has postponed all dates and further ticket sales of their Dive Bar Saints World Tour through May. The move was made with public safety and growing concerns over the novel coronavirus in mind. 

“We’re in the middle of a global pandemic that is shaking the world, and the only way we will come out together is if we rely on one another to live as safely and compassionately to one another,” Home Free wrote on Instagram on Thursday (March 19). “To that end, it would not be responsible of us to continue with our originally scheduled April and May shows of the Dive Bar Saints World Tour.”

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The all-vocal country group, comprised of Austin Brown, Adam Rupp, Tim Foust, Rob Lundquist, and Adam Chance, let fans know that they are currently working with their team and promoters to arrange their previously scheduled performances for a later time. They are requesting for the ‘Home Fries’ to hold on to their tickets as they will be honored at the newly scheduled dates. 

Just last week, Home Free was forced to cancel all remaining European and UK dates of their massive trek.

“The global outbreak of COVID-19 has created a great deal of uncertainty…it’s become clear that we could not finish this tour safely and completely. Ultimately, this is the best course of action to provide for the safety of our fans, crew, and venue staff,” Home Free wrote via Instagram on Friday (March 13), adding that they were “absolutely crushed” they couldn’t see their fans and perform new music for them while out on the road.

“The crowds in Europe on the shows we were able to play were some of the best we’ve ever had,” they wrote to fans on Instagram. “The love and energy you gave us were amazing. Please trust us when we say: we *will* be back. Stay safe everyone.”

Home Free began cancelling shows one by one in early March, starting with their tour stop in Milan, Italy, due to travel restrictions. Stops including, Vienna, Austria, Munich, Germany, and Zürich, Switzerland, soon followed, as the band waited for additional steps on how to handle remaining tour dates. 

“The European leg of our World Tour was all one step at a time. We and our team had to closely monitor and stay in touch with every single country. We had no idea what each day would bring,” Chance, the group’s baritone, told Country Now. “It was a huge bummer to leave [Europe and the UK] early, but we are really happy we got through as many shows as we did. They are all such great fans, and we can’t wait to get back over there in the future.”

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Home Free had a chance to bring their show to a number of cities since the beginning of the year. Their Dive Bar Saint’s World Tour originally had them traveling to 16 countries, and playing over 100 shows through October 2020. The band is currently back in the U.S., taking preemptive measures to ensure that their health, as well as the health of their loved ones, aren’t at risk. 

“It was stressful getting back to the U.S. after the announcement to close the borders,” Chance said. “I don’t think any of us felt relief until we were all in our homes.”

Luckily, none of the members from Home Free have shown any symptoms of having the coronavirus. But as a precautionary measure, Lundquist, and the band’s tour manager, Jenika, went to a clinic to get tested. Thankfully, both those results came back negative, according to Lundquist, who is currently waiting out the virus with his family at a cabin.

“Operation: get home was a success! My Dad picked me up from the airport, and I am immediately going to get tested for COVID-19. #WhatATimeToBeAlive#Home,” the band’s tenor wrote on Instagram, along with a photo that shows him wearing a facemask to cover up his nose and mouth.” 

He later updated fans that he was staying indoors with a slideshow featuring photos from inside his cabin.

“Ready to quarantine!” Lundquist wrote.

Home Free is one of several artists who were forced to either cancel or postpone tour dates in recent days, due to the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. Other artists who have had to make changes to their touring schedule include Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Kane Brown, Kenny Chesney, Dan + Shay and more.

“We feel for them,” Lundquist said regarding tour cancellations from fellow artists. “It’s not fun letting down your fans, but it’s the only responsible thing to do in this crazy time.”

“It’s sad to see all these tours, shows, and sporting events getting canceled. We all understand it’s for the best, but it’s going to be difficult for a long time,” Chance added. “This has been tough on the entertainment industry, and touring artists like it is on a lot of other parts of our economy… But we know that people are going to need entertainment coming out of this time, whenever that may be, and we’ll be there when that happens!”