A Glasgow TV personality has gone viral after slamming the chaotic pre-sale ticketing system for Lewis Capaldi's upcoming UK and Ireland tour.
The backlash comes amid widespread fan frustration over being required to purchase a CD in exchange for early access to tickets — only to be met with digital queues tens of thousands long.
'Absolutely livid': Influencer Calls Out Presale Chaos
Abbie Blyth, known for her appearances on BBC Scotland's 'The Agency: Unfiltered' and her vibrant presence on TikTok and YouTube, expressed outrage on social media after failing to secure tickets despite buying a Capaldi CD to qualify for pre-sale access. In a now-viral TikTok clip, Blyth said: 'I'm absolutely livid, right. I'm livid. I had to buy a f*ing CD, a CD, right? I don't even think they make cars anymore with a CD player in them, where the f*k am I putting that CD?'
She continued: 'Nowhere, but I bought it anyway for Lewis Capaldi, because there's nothing I love more than a Lewis Capaldi song, and I thought buying the CD gets you presale. I was honestly, not even joking, 33,000 or something in the queue. Why are we giving that amount of people presale?'
Too Many Fans, Too Few Tickets
@abbieblyth Anyone actually get a ticket and want to take me hehe 😂 #lewiscapaldi
♬ original sound - Abbieblyth
Blyth, who has attended several Capaldi concerts before, called the experience a 'joke' and said she attempted to get tickets for multiple cities — including Sheffield, Aberdeen, and London — but came up empty each time. 'I'm not being funny, that's not presale, that's just the full stadium, know what I mean?' she added. 'Of course I'm not gonna get a ticket, and I was on time.'
The influencer lamented being left with an unusable CD and no concert access: 'I've now got a CD sitting, can't use it, can't play it, but no tickets.'
More Fans Join the Chorus of Complaints
Abbie isn't the only fan left frustrated. Another social media personality, Dazza, who gained fame through TikTok and 'Come Down With Me,' also shared his disappointment in a Facebook post: 'Jesus! We tried. Well, we'll try again on Thursday (July 9). I'm getting these for a charity raffle by the way, so fingers crossed!'
On X (formerly Twitter), fans voiced their discontent over what they saw as an exploitative and ineffective presale model. One user wrote: 'I want my money back for the CD I bought for the pre-sale, that was absolutely shameful.' Another added: 'Absolute joke. People buying extra tickets just to scam people should be ashamed.'
Lewis Capaldi's Comeback Tour: An Overview
Lewis Capaldi, 28, recently announced a 10-date tour of the UK and Ireland, marking his return to the stage after a two-year hiatus to focus on his mental and physical health. The announcement followed a surprise comeback performance on the Glastonbury Festival's Pyramid Stage on 27 June.
The tour will begin in Sheffield on 7 September and conclude in Dublin on 29 September. Stops include major arenas in Glasgow, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Cardiff, and Birmingham, where Capaldi will perform on 23 September at the Utilita Arena.
Tickets for the tour range between £26.20 and £86.20, depending on the venue and seat type. Pre-sale tickets were made available on 8 July at 09:00 BST, with general sales launching on 10 July. A maximum of four tickets per person and household applies.
The CD Presale Strategy: A Growing Trend?
In the age of streaming and digital music, including a CD as a requirement for concert access is designed to appeal to a demographic who likes retro, or a blast from the past. But critics argue it blurs the line between fan loyalty and forced purchasing.They feel it will alienate audiences already reeling from inflated ticket prices.
Despite the controversy, Capaldi's team has not issued a statement addressing the fan backlash over the presale model as of this writing.
With ticket sales ongoing, it remains to be seen whether the controversy will affect turnout — or if fans will continue to buy CDs in hopes of securing elusive access to their favourite artist live.
