Cat Stevens' North American Tour Postponed Due to Visa Issues
Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam, has postponed his North American book tour due to visa issues. The tour, 'Cat on the Road to Findout,' was set to begin on October 2 in Philadelphia and included stops across the U.S. The tour's October 8 stop in Toronto, Canada, has also been postponed. Stevens' book release, however, remains unaffected by the tour's delay.
Stevens' team has faced difficulties arranging production logistics for the show due to the visa issues. This is not an isolated incident; Stevens is the latest international musician to be impacted by visa issues, which have seen increased fees and slower processing times in the past year. The tour was designed to be a 'portal' into Stevens' universe, offering an in-depth conversation on his memoir and acoustic performances of select songs.
The postponement comes nearly two decades after Stevens faced visa problems during a planned concert tour in North America in 2004. On September 21 of that year, Stevens was removed from a flight to the U.S. due to security concerns, as his name appeared on a watchlist. The incident led to a public controversy and discussions about security measures and potential misunderstandings surrounding the artist's name. Stevens and his team worked to clarify the situation, and the issue was eventually resolved without further major problems.
Stevens has indicated that the tour could be rescheduled if visas are approved, but any new dates would be some time away. Despite the postponement, Stevens' book release, 'Cat on the Road to Findout,' will not be impacted. Fans eagerly await updates on the rescheduled tour.
