Opeth Cancel Bogotá Show After Illness Halts Mikael Åkerfeldt’s Soundcheck

The band hope Åkerfeldt can recover for their 11 November tour finale in Mexico, while Bogotá ticket holders have been given refund instructions.

Opeth cancelled their Bogotá concert on Sunday, 8 November after Mikael Åkerfeldt fell ill with a virus and could not get through a single song at soundcheck.

In a statement posted to their official Instagram account, the band said their frontman had developed a fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. They said a doctor had examined him and confirmed a virus.

“We are truly sorry that we cannot perform this concert, but we are only human,” the statement read.

Fans were already waiting outside the Royal Center. In an eyewitness report for Semana/Arcadia, Alejandro Pérez Echeverry described a long queue and concertgoers who had travelled from Cartago, Medellín and Venezuela. News of the cancellation reached those waiting after the scheduled door-opening time, he reported.

For those fans, Bogotá was one of the last dates before Opeth’s planned extended break. As BLUNT reported last week, bassist Martin Mendez told Brazil’s 89 A Rádio Rock that the Latin American run would close the touring cycle for The Last Will And Testament.

Mendez said rest would come before rebuilding their energy and thinking about new music. He did not specify how long the break would last or set a recording timetable.

The tour’s final concert is scheduled for Mexico City on Wednesday, 11 November. Opeth thanked their Colombian audience for its understanding and said they hoped Åkerfeldt would recover in time to perform in Mexico. Their statement did not confirm he would be well enough to play.

Refunds For Bogotá Ticket Holders

For Bogotá ticket holders, Páramo Presenta and Ticketmaster Colombia’s joint cancellation notice says online purchases will be refunded automatically through Ticketmaster, without customers needing to submit a request.

Those who paid in cash should contact the ticket seller through its official channels to arrange their refund. Ticketmaster will refund only the original purchaser. The notice gives no processing timeframe. Customers can contact Ticketmaster Colombia support with booking enquiries.