After American duo The Black Keys left a Black Keys-shaped hole in this year’s Byron Bay Bluesfest lineup, the festival’s organisers deliberated on who their replacement might be, but made sure to keep the whole thing a pretty big secret, until now.
After being named as a possible replacement for The Black Keys by Bluesfest 2015 Festival Director Peter Noble, Melbourne four-piece British India have been selected to play the festival’s Friday night. The band will be making their Bluesfest debut, backed by their recently-released album Nothing Touches Me.
Noble says the festival tried to replace The Black Keys with another international act, but time wasn’t on their side.
“Whilst I attempted initially to get an international artist to replace The Black Keys, who pulled out due to issues with drummer Patrick Carney’s shoulder injury less than 2 weeks before the festival, we weren’t able to get a suitable replacement in time and have the visas issued,” Noble says.
“We contemplated getting an International or Australian artist already performing to cover, and finally decided the artist should be one who is not already performing. We have looked at scores of artists to play, and after much discussion within the company and the music industry have made our decision on who has been chosen.
“British India are achieving major interest right now as a result of their recent release, and they are fast becoming one of Australia’s foremost bands. We expect them to deliver a great show at Bluesfest. This major stage play will be an integral part of their rise to the top here.”
Following Bluesfest 2015, British India are embarking on a huge national tour.
Bluesfest Byron Bay kicks off tomorrow, and takes place throughout the Easter long weekend. View the full lineup alongside ticket details, below.
Watch: British India – Nothing Touches Me
Bluesfest 2015 Lineup
British India
…joining
Angus & Julia Stone
Boy & Bear
Sticky Fingers
Frank Yamma
Delta Rae
Wagons
Skipping Girl Vinegar
Marlon Williams & The Yarra Benders
Kristy Lee
Genevieve Chadwick
Dewayne Everettsmith
The Bella Reunion
Luluc
James T.
Matt Andersen
Shaun Kirk
Eddie Boyd & The Phatapillars
Hozier
The Waterboys
Switchfoot
Hunter Hayes
Fly My Pretties
Music Maker Presents Super Chikan And Vasti Jackson
Diesel
Jeff Lang
Phil Wiggins & Dom Turner
Watussi (Final Performances)
Nikki Hill
The Rumjacks
Lenny Kravitz
The Gipsy Kings (feat. Nicolas Reyes & Tonino Baliardo)
Rodrigo Y Gabriela
Jurassic 5 (Now also performing on Thursday night)
John Mayall
Keb Mo
Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin with the Guilty Ones
JJ Grey & Mofro
Tony Joe White
Jon Cleary
Trevor Hal
Serena Ryder
Jake Shimabukuro
Music Maker Foundation (feat. Cool John Ferguson, Little Freddie King, Alabama Slim, George Stancell)
Michael Franti’s Soulshine
Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals
Paolo Nutini
David Gray
Ben Howard
Counting Crows
Jimmy Cliff
Mavis Staples
Gary Clark Jr
Dispatch
Ruthie Foster
The Beat
Keziah Jones
Playing For Change
The Black Keys
Zac Brown Band
Alabama Shakes
Train
Michael Franti & Spearhead
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
Paul Kelly Presents The Merri Soul Sessions feat Dan Sultan, Kira Puru, & Vika And Linda Bull
Xavier Rudd and The United Nations
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Rebelution
Soja
The Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Beth Hart
Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls
Mariachi El Bronx
G. Love & Special Sauce
Pokey Lafarge
Band Of Skulls
Rockwiz Live
Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires
Augie March
Donavon Frankenreiter
Melbourne Ska Orchestra
Justin Townes Earle
Declan Kelly Presents Diesel n’Dub (Featuring Emma Donovan, Alex Lloyd, Pat Powell, Radical Son, Tony Hughes)
Ash Grunwald
Blue King Brown
The Beautiful Girls
Steve Smyth
Karl S. Williams
Thursday, 2nd April – Monday, 6th April 2015
Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay NSW
Tickets: Byron Bay Bluesfest | Moshtix | Ticketmaster
