Thursday, September 25, 2014 9:17am ET by  
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Cat Stevens cancels rare New York show over ticket tout concerns

Yusuf - also known as Cat Stevens - has pulled an upcoming date in New York over ticket tout worries.

The singer-songwriter is due to play his first tour in the US since 1976 later this year.

However, he has cancelled a date at New York's Beacon Theatre on December 7 after seeing touts sell tickets online at inflated prices.

Yusuf wrote on Facebook on Wednesday (September 24): "Unfortunately I will not be performing in NYC this time around but I am looking forward to playing for fans in Philadelphia on December 4 and hope to return to NYC at a future date. My fans will understand and I thank them for informing me about the extortionate tickets prices already being listed on some websites.

"I have been a longtime supporter of paperless tickets to my shows worldwide and avoiding scalpers. Unfortunately NY has a state law that requires all tickets sold for shows in NYC to be paper, enabling them to be bought and sold at inflated prices.

"I'm sorry about not being able to now play in NYC but hope to find an opportunity that aligns with my support of this issue in the near future, God willing. Looks like the Peace Train is going to arrive at New York a little bit later than expected."

Yusuf - who is releasing his new album 'Tell 'Em I'm Gone' on October 27 - has scheduled a date in Philadelphia on December 4 as a result of the cancellation.

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Watch Yusuf in action below: