Bluesfest Are Keeping Their Black Keys Replacement A Secret

Byron Bay’s Bluesfest was left with a Black Keys-shaped hole in its lineup this week after drummer Patrick Carney’s ongoing shoulder injury forced the blues rockers to cancel their upcoming Australian tour dates. Intriguingly, today the festival have revealed they will be keeping the name of the Keys’ replacement act a secret until festival day.

“Bluesfest Festival Director, Peter Noble has been working tirelessly to find an artist to play on Good Friday in lieu of The Black Keys cancellation,” reads a statement from the festival.

“Bluesfest cannot disclose whether this remaining ‘Secret Show’ will be an International or Australian artist but festival-goers are to be advised to be front and centre at the MOJO stage on Friday 3rd April at 7:30pm for a very special Good Friday treat.”

Speaking recently about his search to find a replacement act, Noble revealed that a handful of Aussie acts were in the running to replace Dan Auerbach the injured Patrick Carney. Such acts included British India, Spiderbait, Kingswood and even local muso Matt Corby – though Noble admitted he might need to “rock out a bit more” to fit the criteria.

Bluesfest have also confirmed that Southhampton rockers Band of Skulls – who were supposed to support The Black Keys on their Australian tour – will play an extra Bluesfest set at next week’s festival.

Band of Skulls will now play the Bluesfest MOJO stage at 1:30pm on Saturday 4th April, in addition to their previously scheduled set on Friday 3rd April. They’ll be treating the Bluesfest audience to material from their latest and third album Himalayan.

To accommodate the second show for Band of Skulls, Genevieve Chadwick’s performance time on the MOJO stage has been changed to Saturday to 12noon.

Check out the Bluesfest set times, here.

UPDATE 01/04/15: Bluesfest organisers have announced that Melbourne band British India will replace The Black Keys at Bluesfest 2015.