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Mumford & Sons Cancel Bonnaroo Set as Bassist Recovers From Brain Surgery

mumford and sons, bonnaroo

Mumford & Sons have canceled their Saturday night headlining performance at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2013. The band made the announcement on Thursday via their Facebook page, just days after bassist Ted Dwane received emergency surgery for a blood clot that was discovered on the surface of his brain. According to the statement, Dwane is currently recovering, but the U.K. folkies have decided to cancel their upcoming shows at the Bonnaroo and Telluride Bluegrass festivals, citing a medical recommendation. 

“We were hoping to have made it out by Bonnaroo this weekend,” the post says. “But it is with sadness that we have to announce the cancellation of our scheduled performances at both Bonnaroo and Telluride Festivals, and our show at Cricket Wireless Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, KS. If we could’ve we would’ve, you know that about us. We trust that you can respect our collective desires to encourage Ted to make a full recovery, and that this is based purely on the medical advice we have received.” 

Earlier this week, Mumford & Sons canceled a week’s worth of their current U.S. Summer Stampede tour. The band were scheduled to play Bonnaroo on June 15. Instead, Jack Johnson will be filling in for the five-piece. The singer-songwriter wrote the following announcement on his Facebook page Friday morning: 

I was on my way to Bonnaroo to sit in on a set with my friends ALO last night when we got the call asking if I could possibly help out and cover for Mumford and Sons. I heard the news about Ted Dwane and was happy to know that he was on his way to recovery. I called my band and asked if they were up for it. Long story short – they are headed this way. I’ve got a lot of lyrics and chords to relearn by Saturday night. I was here to play the first Bonnaroo and it is a very special festival to my band. We are excited to hit the stage again. Get well Ted!

This is the second major Bonnaroo lineup change this week. On June 13, Earl Sweatshirt revealed that he would not be able to perform at the four-day showcase due to illness. His slot — Friday, June 14 at 4 p.m. CST — will be filled by DIIV, whose original set time was delayed because of flight complications. The annual event is currently underway in Manchester, Tennessee and runs until June 16. Organizers will be live-streaming a number of performances this weekend.

Read Mumford & Sons’ full statement below.

It is with great joy that we can announce that Ted has been discharged from hospital and is on the road to a full recovery. The surgery went well, and the excellent medical team helping him are very pleased with his progress. He has been nothing short of heroic in how he has handled the whole ordeal, and now it has been medically proved that he does indeed have a brain.

Today, however, also marks the end of our Summer Stampede Tour. We were hoping to have made it out by Bonnaroo this weekend. But it is with sadness that we have to announce the cancellation of our scheduled performances at both Bonnaroo and Telluride Festivals, and our show at Cricket Wireless Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, KS. If we could’ve we would’ve, you know that about us. We trust that you can respect our collective desire to encourage Ted to make a full recovery, and that this is based purely on the medical advice we have received.

On behalf of Ted, and all of us really, we would like to thank every one for their compassion and support at this time and we are very excited to get back out on tour as soon as we can.