The chaotic saga of Kanye West’s planned Russian concerts

The biggest Western musician to headline in Russia since Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive in 2022, some Russian officials have welcomed West’s planned shows, hoping to dispel the notion that Russia is isolated over the war.

The Gazprom Arena stadium in St. Petersburg is in talks with the organizers of Kanye West’s (also known as Ye) concerts, the venue’s press service told the Telegram news channel Ostorozhno Novosti and the news outlet Bumaga.

This is a “temporary measure” due to the “geopolitical situation”, says the Petroleum Ministry; with applications pending since March, distributors are pushing the 5-kg free-trade cylinders and the 10-kg composites as alternatives

Kanye West’s planned October concerts in St. Petersburg are in doubt after Gazprom Arena abruptly said it never signed a deal to host the US rapper, despite announcing the shows and selling 81,000 tickets in 24 hours. Russian media suggest authorities may have pressured the venue to pull out.

Say Agency, the organizer of the October performances, said they would still take place despite Gazprom Arena’s withdrawal.