Fans left frustrated as Lana Del Rey arrives late and delivers just 15 songs at Cardiff Stadium show

Lana Del Rey’s long-anticipated UK tour got off to a rocky start on Monday night in Cardiff, as fans accused the singer of delivering a “lazy” and “abysmal” performance after she arrived over 20 minutes late and performed for only 90 minutes.

The 40-year-old Grammy winner kicked off the tour at the Principality Stadium, but many ticket holders left underwhelmed by a 15-song setlist, two of which were covers, and a lack of energy that some called “heartbreaking”.

Despite ticket prices ranging from £78 to over £400, Del Rey barely managed to meet the show’s strict 10:30pm curfew. By the time she walked on stage—at 8:53pm—she had already lost valuable time. Her set ended promptly at 10:16pm, and for some, that wasn’t enough.

One fan vented online: “She was late, hid behind a wall for 20 mins, sang the same set as the last three years, overpriced tickets, and is playing covers. Lana babe, I love you but sort it out.”

Another compared her to Beyoncé, saying: “I saw Lana for £300 for just 90 mins. Beyoncé cost less and gave us nearly 3 hours.”

Discontent centred not only on the brevity but also on the production choices. For two songs, “Norman F***ing Rockwell” and “Arcadia,” Lana didn’t perform live at all. Instead, fans watched pre-recorded visuals with shortened studio versions blaring through the speakers.

A particularly bizarre moment saw her perform “Salvatore” acapella while reading lyrics off her iPhone—an audience request that left many wondering if the spontaneity was worth the price.

Social media lit up with mixed reactions. “Her lack of urgency is so disappointing,” one user wrote. “I’m honestly heartbroken. Please have better management.”

Still, not everyone left disheartened. Some fans praised the “beautiful staging” and her “angelic” vocals, with a few describing the experience as “emotional” and “moving”. One Reddit user said: “She sounded brilliant. The staging was beautiful. I had a really good time.”

Critics were kinder than the crowd. The Times called the show “gloomy but exquisite”, while The Guardian dubbed it “mid-century melodrama as mindblowing stadium spectacle”. Rolling Stone went further, hailing the performance as “a dazzling stadium debut”. Each outlet awarded four stars.

Yet the backlash has sparked concern among fans heading to future dates, especially given Del Rey’s history of tardiness. Her 2023 Glastonbury set ended abruptly after she arrived late, prompting organisers to cut her mic. At the time, she blamed her hair for the delay.

Now married to alligator wrangler Jeremy Dufrene, Del Rey is no stranger to doing things her own way. But with more shows ahead—including two nights at Wembley Stadium—many hope she’ll adjust her timing and deliver the epic performances fans expect from a star of her stature.

Despite the complaints, some concertgoers clung to the positives. “I cried a lot during Ocean Boulevard,” one fan posted. “Finally got to see one of my idols. She was emotional, which made me emotional too.”

Lana’s UK & Ireland tour continues:

• 26 June: Hampden Park, Glasgow
  
• 28 June: Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
  
• 30 June: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
  
• 3 & 4 July: Wembley Stadium, London