Little Mix tour CANCELLED: Band pull Australia and New Zealand dates for new ALBUM

Little Mix shared an apologetic statement with their 11.9 million Twitter followers, saying: “We are really sad to announce that we have had to cancel our upcoming Australian and New Zealand tour dates.

“We are so sorry for disappointing our fans who were coming to the shows.

“This is not a decision we’ve taken lightly but we have to use this time to focus on recording new music,” they added.

With regards to refunds, the band, made of of Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirwall, told fans: “Please contact your point of purchase for a full refund on tickets.”

Meanwhile, an insider told the MailOnline the move was prompted by a hectic schedule leaving little space for recording in the coming months.

Little Mix were recently revealed to be teaming up with the BBC to search for talent to help form a brand new band who will also get the opportunity to support them on their UK 2020 summer tour.

According to the insider, because auditions for the programme begin at the start of 2020, the band were left with no time to record their next album.

“They had to choose between touring Australia or recording a new album, and after a lot of thought they decided that it would be better to record new music, and tour Australia later,

They added that Little Mix were disappointed to have let down their fans in Australia “but hope they understand that this was their only window to record new music for 2020”.

The stars had been due to head to Australia on December 7, starting the final leg of their tour in Perth.

They were set two play six concerts across Australia and New Zealand, wrapping up on December 19.

Little Mix previously postponed the Australia and New Zealand shows, which were originally scheduled for the summer just gone, in order to allow them to promote their new single Bounce Back.

At the time, Edwards explained on The Late Late Show: “We just thought postponing it would be a thousand times better than doing a show that wasn’t ready.

“If it isn’t going to be the best show possible, it’s not going to be good enough.”

She also said the band “wouldn’t have had time” to prepare for that led go the tour because they needed the time to focus on the new song.

On the plus side, fans will be pleased to hear they don’t have to wait too long for the X Factor winners’ sixth album, which they will reportedly record in the newly freed up time in December.

Less than a year has passed since Little Mix released their latest record, LM5, which peaked at number three in the UK album chart.

Next year, Little Mix The Search will be coming to the BBC and will see the girlband on the hunt for fresh talent to form a new group.

The BBC One programme will show singers in groups competing to win the chance to join Little Mix on their tour, with the chart-toppers acting as mentors.

Acts will be able to enter the competition as either a duo, three-piece or four-piece band.

source: express.co.uk