Although its weight isn’t as comparable to Mumford and Sons’ absence at Bonnaroo, The Lumineers’ sudden cancellation at this weekend’s Firefly Festival will be felt by many. But like Bonnaroo’s Jack Johnson substitution, Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite are stepping in to Dover, DE to save the day. Although the exact details of the cancellation aren’t clear, The Lumineers released a statement earlier today:
It is with great regret that we have to announce that due to an illness in the band, The Lumineers will not be able to perform at the Firefly Music Festival this coming weekend. We were all extremely excited to be a part of this great event and share our music with you, but the health and well-being of the band along with giving the fans the best possible performance remain our top priority. Unfortunately given the circumstances, both of those things would be in jeopardy if we went ahead with our set this Sunday. We hope everyone enjoys the festival and we will be back to see you all as soon as humanly possible.
Although the cozy acoustics and sweet melodies of the folk trio will be missed, the Harper Musselwhite duo will surely bring a more rooted, flavorful act at the festival. They are currently on the road touring their collaborative effort, Get Up!, which features a heavy dose of Musselwhite’s epic harmonica playing, and Harper’s always organic perspective. The powerful Chicago- bluesy spirit will surely do The Lumineers great justice. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jim, James, Edward Sharpe, and many more incredible acts are still set to fill up the roster in Dover, Delaware this weekend.