Laneway Festival 2015 Loses International Act, Gains A Local

Organisers of this year’s Laneway Festival have announced that, due to “health reasons”, Swedish songstress Lykke Li has cancelled her festival appearance including her scheduled Melbourne and Sydney sideshows.

“I’m incredibly sorry to announce that I’m no longer able to play in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore for Laneway Festival,” said Li in a statement. ‘It’s been a long time coming, but unfortunately tour life has caught up with me and it’s been recommended that I take a break.”

“I’m devastated, but know I will return. Thank you for all the support, and I sincerely hope I can make it up to you at a later date.” In her place 18 year-old Adelaide rapper Tkay Maidza has just been added to the lineup for all five Australian Laneway events.

She’ll join an impresive Laneway 2015 lineup, which includes acts like FKA twigs, Royal Blood, Mac DeMarco, Flying Lotus and St Vincent.

Li was also due to perform at Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on Thursday 29th January and Sydney Opera House on Monday 2nd February. Refunds will be issued and details can be found at the Laneway Festival website.

UPDATE 06/01/15: Lykke Li has issued another statement via Instagram confirming that she’ll be taking an extended break from music and the touring in general, saying that 7 years of touring has taken a physical toll on her.

“I am utterly devastated, sometimes we push and push but the body simply won’t follow,” she wrote. “I gave it all I had, my body, heart and soul. After 7 years of touring my health is screaming/begging for me to listen/heal/slow down.” See the full statement in her Instagram post below.

I AM UTTERLY DEVASTATED, SOMETIMES WE PUSH AND PUSH BUT THE BODY SIMPLY WON'T FOLLOW. I GAVE IT ALL I HAD, MY BODY, HEART AND SOUL. AFTER 7 YEARS OF TOURING MY HEALTH IS SCREAMING/BEGGING FOR ME TO LISTEN/HEAL/SLOW DOWN.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR UNDERSTANDING. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY BLEEDING HEART AND WATCHING ME DANCE IN THE DARK THESE PAST YEARS. I LOVE YOU. I WILL COME BACK. STRONGER. BUT FOR NOW MY LOVES, I HAVE TO REST. U CAN'T ALWAYS "WIN"…. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES!!! YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME. CHOOSE LIGHT AND LIFE! LIFE IS EBB N FLOW, HIGH N LOW. BUT WE KEEP ON. I WILL MISS YOU SO. X photo:@sgrdrpl

A photo posted by Lykke Li (@lykkeli) on Jan 1, 2015 at 11:31pm PST

We're sad to announce that, due to health reasons, @LykkeLi is no longer able to perform at the 2015 Laneway Festival or scheduled sideshows

— Laneway Festival (@lanewayfest) January 5, 2015

We are excited to announce that @TKAYMAIDZA has just been added to all five Australian Laneway events: http://t.co/J4O44Iwowp #Laneway2015

— Laneway Festival (@lanewayfest) January 5, 2015

https://twitter.com/TKAYMAIDZA/status/551984687300608000

St Jerome’s Laneway Festival 2015

Tkay Maidza

…joining

Agnes DeMarco*
Andy Bull
Angel Olsen
BANKS
Benjamin Booker
Caribou
Connan Mockasin
Courtney Barnett
Dune Rats
Eagulls
Eves***
FKA Twigs
Flight Facilities
Flying Lotus (Layer 3)
Future Islands*
Highasakite
Jesse Davidson**
Jon Hopkins*
Jungle
Little Dragon
~~Lykke Li~~
Mac DeMarco
Mansionair
Perfect Pussy
Peter Bibby
POND
Ratking
Raury
Royal Blood*
Rustie
Seekae
SOHN
St Vincent*
Vic Mensa
JOY (Brisbane only)
I Know Leopard (Sydney only)
Sparkspitter (Adelaide only)
Milwaukee Banks (Melbourne only)
Dianas (Perth only)