Cliff Notes – Glastonbury performer forced to cancel all shows in 2025 over mental health
- Nottingham rapper Bru-C, real name Josh Bruce, has withdrawn from all performances in 2025, citing ongoing mental health struggles.
- In an emotional Instagram post, he expressed the need to prioritise his well-being and seek appropriate help and support.
Glastonbury performer forced to cancel all shows in 2025 over mental health
A rapper who was scheduled to perform at Glastonbury 2025 has pulled out of all remaining shows this year, citing mental health struggles. He posted an emotional statement on his Instagram page.
Nottingham rapper Bru-C, whose real name is Josh Bruce, has slowly risen through the ranks of the British music scene over the last decade.
After releasing his first EP in 2015, Bru-C has scored two platinum-selling singles, with a handful of other hits scoring gold and silver classification.
He landed a top 20 hit in 2022 with the song No Excuses and was scheduled to perform his collection of recent hits at Glastonbury’s Arcadia area.
But a recent post on Bru-C’s Instagram has revealed the rapper will no longer be performing at the festival, which will run from June 25 to June 29 this year.
A statement read: ‘This is a really difficult thing for me to post, and one I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to. I’m really sorry to announce I’m going to have to cancel all of my upcoming show commitments for 2025.
Bru-C has apologised to fans who were going to the festival
‘Many of you know I’ve been struggling with mental health issues for some time now and I’ve tried my best to bury things and keep my life and career moving forward.’
He continued: ‘What I’ve been going through has got gradually worse over the last few years and I need to take another step back and try to get back to some kind of stable peace in my life.
Bru-C said the last thing he wanted to do was let people down by cancelling shows, but stressed that he needed to take this time to recover and get his life and health back on track.
Fellow musicians have supported Bru-C in his decision
He then apologised to people who had ‘spent hard-earned money’ to see him at any future shows he’s had to cancel, but assured fans he was ‘seeking the right help and support’.
Concluding his emotional statement, Bru-C revealed that he ‘just wants to be better’ but admitted that he didn’t know when that would be.
Showing support, chart-topping DJ and rapper Example said: ‘Take your time man. Focus on yourself. Mad respect for this post. Hopefully it helps others. Love ya.’
Manchester rapper Blizzard – real name Bradley Green – also assured Bru-C that he was doing the right thing: ‘This is a massive step and you should be proud of yourself for having the self awareness to realise this is what you need.
Bru-C has a Platinum-selling single to his name
‘Your health is the most important thing and it has to be prioritised before absolutely everything. All the best to you bro, be kind to yourself and do what you need to do.’
London-based DJ ShyFX was similarly supportive: ‘Wishing you the space and support to heal and recalibrate.’
Bru-C released his debut album, Original Sounds, in 2019 and a few years later signed with the UK arm of Def Jam Recordings, currently owned by Jay-Z.
The Nottingham-based rapper isn’t the only person who has been cancelling shows in recent weeks ahead of Glastonbury, with rock royalty Sir Rod Stewart also having to take breaks to prioritise his health.
The Maggie May singer revealed earlier this month that eight of his shows in the United States had to be cancelled or rescheduled due to his falling ill.
Sir Rod is still expected to perform on the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm, with the Scottish pop sensation set to fill the coveted legends slot on Sunday afternoon.