Bluesfest’s Secret Black Keys Replacement Is Not So Secret Anymore

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

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