Adele has reportedly cancelled a top-secret London concert at the last minute as she prepares to return to the spotlight with her long-awaited fifth album.
The 38-year-old singer, who has been out of the public eye since the release of her last album, 30, in 2021, is said to have been quietly working on new material. Reports claim she had booked Camden's Roundhouse for a secret gig to test out her new songs, but the performance has since been pulled.
Secret London Recording Sessions
According to reports, Adele, who lives in Los Angeles, California, had secretly returned to Britain to record at Church Studios in Crouch End, north London. The studios have previously hosted recording sessions for artists including Sir Mick Jagger, Oasis, Paul McCartney and Coldplay.
Church Studios is also where Adele recorded parts of her 2015 album, 25. The studios are owned by producer Paul Epworth, who collaborated with Adele on the James Bond theme "Skyfall," which won the pair an Oscar.
Plans for New Music
Speaking to The Sun, a source said: "She is getting ready for a big comeback and booked the venue as a secret way to get feedback on her new songs. She later pulled the gig. But can you imagine being a fan who got tickets for a mystery artist, then it turned out to be Adele?"
The source added that there are currently no plans to reschedule the performance, saying: "So it looks like she's confident in her new material. But new music is definitely on the way and she's excited to roll out a new record next year."
Previous Tours and Residencies
It was revealed in June that, despite Adele promising to take a "big break" following her Las Vegas residency, she was actually working on new music. Reports suggest she has been spending at least a fortnight in London writing and recording.
During her sell-out Las Vegas residency in 2024, Adele told fans: "I don't have any plans for new music at all. I want a big break after all this, and I think I want to do other creative things just for a little while."
Adele has released four albums, all of which achieved significant commercial success, but has only toured on three occasions: An Evening With Adele (2008-2009), Adele Live (2011), and Adele Live 2016 (2016-2017). She also performed an Adele in Munich residency in the summer of 2024.
The Mirror has approached Adele's spokesperson for comment.
