The Blenders cancel holiday concerts over COVID concerns

Famed vocal band The Blenders have canceled their annual holiday tour over concerns about COVID-19 and the highly contagious delta variant. 

The band, which originally hails from Fargo, North Dakota, but now calls Minneapolis home, had recently announced sale dates for its Holiday Soul Tour when it made the decision on Monday to cancel the entire 2021 tour "given the prevailing risks of COVID-19 and its variants," a news release said. 

The Blenders were set to perform at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis Dec. 10-12. 

“After careful consideration, and with much disappointment, we are announcing the cancellation of our Holiday tour for 2021. With current and anticipated restrictions, and more importantly safety and wellness at stake, we feel it’s the right thing to do," the band said in a post on social media on Friday. 

The Blenders said due to the "limited size and duration" of their tour, it just isn't  feasible to move forward "with so many unknowns."

"This is entirely our decision based on what is best for us, our band, our crew and our fans, so please do not place any blame on venues that are doing their best to navigate these times," the post said. 

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The group said the decision will be good for their mental health and "we can move forward in the hopes of coming back next year."

The Belnders' holiday concert season was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, they produced performance videos called the Holiday Studio Sessions 2020.

The group says it may offer a virtual project this year as well, with details coming at a later time.