tickets to see Arcade Fire are being offered online for a fraction of their face value amid a storm over sexual misconduct allegations against lead singer Win Butler.
The Canadian band will play Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday, with tickets for the gig initially costing upwards of £58.
But on Friday afternoon, seats for the same gig were available for just £23 on secondary ticketing sites such as Viagogo.
Meanwhile, tickets for the band’s O2 concert in London next Thursday were going for 26% less than face value on Twickets.
Arcade Fire face pressure from fans to cancel gigs or refund tickets for their upcoming UK tour
The allegations, which were made by three women and a gender-fluid man and published in an article by US music website Pitchfork last weekend, prompted a swift backlash. Butler denied the allegations.
Butler (second from right) with bandmates (LR) Arcade Fire’s Jeremy Garra, Tim Kingsbury, Richard Reid Parry, Regine Chassan and Will Butler
/ Tommaso Bodi/Getty ImagesFans say they will boycott Arcade Fire shows and stop listening to their music.
Some also took to social media to encourage the band to take responsibility for refunding tickets and canceling the show.
Those who contacted Ticketmaster were told they would only be offered a refund in the event of a cancellation.
In a tweet to Ticketmaster, one ticket holder urged them to “do the decent thing” and offer a refund.
“Cancel the tour and refund the fans,” wrote another, before admitting he had tried to sell his two tickets at half price but “can’t even give them away”.
Another Twitter user said it “doesn’t seem right anymore” to see the band in Manchester on Saturday.
Support act indie band Feist has also pulled out of the tour.
After playing in Dublin, musician Feist announced his departure from the tour on Thursday.
She said “the best way to take care of my band and my team and my family is to distance myself from this tour, not this conversation.”
Butler’s accusers were aged between 18 and 23, and he was in his early 30s at the time of the alleged inappropriate behaviour, which allegedly took place between 2016 and 2020.
Butler, 42, who has been married to Arcade Fire bandmate Régine Chassagne since 2003, said the contacts were consensual and denied wrongdoing.
In a lengthy statement to Pitchfork, he said, “I love Régine with all my heart. We have been together for 20 years, she is my partner in music and in life, my soulmate and I am happy and grateful to have her by my side…
“Today I want to clear the air about my life, the bad judgment and mistakes I’ve made.
“I have had consensual affairs outside of my marriage.
“There’s no easy way to say this, and the hardest thing I’ve ever done is share this with my son.
Arcade’s Chassagne and Butler have been together for 20 years
/ Getty Images“Most of these relationships were short-lived and my wife is aware – our marriage in the past has been more unconventional than some… every one of these interactions has been mutual and always between consenting adults.
“It is profoundly revisionist and frankly wrong for anyone to suggest otherwise.
“I have never touched a woman against her will and any insinuations I have are simply false.
“I categorically deny any suggestion that I assaulted a woman or asked for sexual favors. This has simply and unequivocally never happened…”
Arcade Fire have been playing gigs in Dublin this week and are set to kick off a string of UK dates starting on Friday night.
After that, they are ready to do concerts in Europe, USA and Canada.