All the shows and concerts axed or postponed to make way for England's World Cup semi-final match

Shows and concerts due to occur Wednesday evening have either been postponed or axed to make way for the World Cup semi-final between England and Croatia. 

Justin Timberlake and Nile Rogers and CHIC are among the acts to announce that they will be pushing back their performances tonight to accommodate the match. 

The organisers of Nile Rogers and CHIC's performance at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, announced that they will air the match before the group performs.

In a statement, the events director, Peter Taylor, said: “We fully understand that when it comes to England reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup people feel torn if they have other plans. 

“Therefore, we’ve decided it is only right to show the big game on our stage screens so everyone who is attending the Nile Rodgers & CHIC show can still see England perform too." 

Justin Timberlake took to Twitter on Tuesday to tell fans that he has organised for the England match to be shown on big screens at the O2 Arena, before his second show at the venue this week. 

While nineties Pop group, All-Saints, will screen the match at Electric Brixton before taking to the stage at the later time of 9.30pm. 

Comedians Jason Manford and Chris Ramsey have both postponed their respective shows in Stevenage, Hertfordshire and Ulverston, Cumbria so that they can make sure to catch England's match against Croatia.

Manford tweeted that he would be cancelling his Stevenage appearance on Sunday, as he had "[bowed] under the weight of an expectant and hopeful nation."

After a bombardment of tweets from worried England fans, Ramsey announced that his Ulverston show had been postponed until September 19th, "due to the fact that it's blatantly coming home."

It is clear why artists do not want their performances to clash with any World Cup matches. Earlier this month, Emeli Sande had her own performance interrupted by England's World Cup win against Columbia.

As Tristram Saunders reported: "Halfway through Emeli Sandé’s piano ballad Clown, the most delicate song in her setlist, a raucous cheer broke out from the crowd...

For those of us among the footie fans at the back...it was Music 0 – Sport 1. " 

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