Blur cancel festival appearance due to injury ahead of their Wembley Stadium shows

According to an update from the festival’s social media pages, Blur will no longer be performing at Festival Beauregard in France as drummer Dave Rowntree has suffered a knee injury.

The statement translated from French reads: "The bad news has just fallen: Blur will not be able to perform their concert in Beauregard. Dave Rowntree, the drummer, was injured this weekend and must rest for future shows."

In a move that may divide fans, Festival Beauregard have announced that Royal Blood will be replacing the iconic Britpop band.

La mauvaise nouvelle vient de tomber : @Blur ne pourra pas assurer son concert à Beauregard.
Dave Rowntree, le batteur, s’est blessé ce week-end et doit se reposer pour assurer les futurs shows.
Pour toute demande de remboursement, cliquez ici ➡️ https://t.co/gleI6endQ2 pic.twitter.com/DpeuOUlGEn

— John Beauregard (@FestBeauregard) July 3, 2023

The announcement comes just days before Blur are set to headline two shows at London’s Wembley Stadium this weekend, ahead of the release of The Ballad of Darren – their first full-length album in eight years.

Of the new release, Damon Albarn said: “This is an aftershock record, reflection and comment on where we find ourselves now", whilst Graham Coxon adds that "the older and madder we get, it becomes more essential that we what we play is loaded with the right emotion and intention."

Blur are yet to release a statement around Dave Rowntree's injury and whether the shows will still be going ahead.