Fans were left dismayed after The Fugees’ set at the Diaspora Calling! Festival was cut short with major songs still left to perform on Friday night (Aug. 7).
The festival took place at Milton Keynes National Bowl in England, marking ghe first time the Lauryn Hill-curated event had taken place in the U.K. The lineup featured Erykah Badu, Giggs, Fireboy DML and was hosted by comedian Dave Chappelle. But following the event, fans shared their disappointment when the headliners’ set finished at 11 p.m., just one hour after they began their performance.
Both Hill and Wyclef Jean’s microphones were turned off due to legal restrictions on sound beyond curfew. A sign on stage read, “THANK YOU EVERYONE. We’re sorry for the abrupt finish. As part of our licence we are legally required to finish the show at 11pm and cannot continue beyond this time. Thank you for being part of an incredible day, we hope you had an amazing time. Please take care, look after one another and have a safe journey home. See you next time!”
The 14-song set included a number of Fugees classics “The Score” and “Vocab” as well as songs from Hill’s solo catalogue such as “Doo Wop (That Thing)” with Erykah Badu, and a cover of “Three Little Birds” with her son Zion Marley, grandson of reggae legend Bob Marley.
Hill and Jean were midway through a performance of “Ready or Not” when the curfew kicked in, with “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “Fu-Gee-La” among the classic songs left unplayed. Hill then led the crowd in an a capella rendition of “Ready or Not” as the show concluded.
Speaking to The Sun, Jean said, “We’re really sad how it ended. “We was just getting started, so we’re hoping to continue next year.”
He added: “We had so much surprises on the line up and everybody showed up and we really felt the crowd, that love and that energy, it’s something that they need, something they feel, it just reminds you of unity.” Billboard U.K. has approached the festival organizers for further comment.
One fan wrote on X, “Lauryn Hill knows her power can withstand any criticism because Diaspora Calling was the WORST festival I’ve been to in a while but seeing a Fugees reunion is a blessing.” On Reddit, another wrote, “The ending was ridiculous and spoiled the whole experience for me. It was meant to be 30th anniversary of the album and all we got is DJ set and like 2 tracks from the score. I don’t think I will ever pay for her [Hill] gig again.”
Prior the performance, the pair teased a potential return to the studios for the Fugees.
