By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Rock in Rio organizers announced that English electronic duo AlunaGeorge will replace Swedish pop singer Robyn’s place in the music festival’s lineup on September 27th, following the cancellation of her appearance due to personal reasons.
Robyn’s Rock in Rio appearance was to be part of a tour in support of La Bagatelle Magique, a collaboration with keyboardist and producer Markus Jägerstedt and producer and musician Christian Falk.
Following Falk’s 2014 death from pancreatic cancer, Robyn and La Bagatelle Magique attempted to keep the project going, performing at Sweden’s Popaganda Festival on August 28th of this year. Finding the experience too painful, Robyn and the band canceled their Rock in Rio appearance as well as an upcoming show as part of San Francisco’s Treasure Island Music Festival.
“It was much harder singing these songs on stage than I thought,” said Robyn in a statement released on Friday, September 11th. “Even though it’s been a year since Christian passed, I’m heartbroken and performing them feels too heavy still. I’m sorry to disappoint the fans that have bought tickets to these shows and I will do my best to come back to San Francisco and Brazil soon.”
Rock in Rio organizers then announced that the British duo AlunaGeorge would fill Robyn’s place in the lineup, opening for September 27th’s headlining act, Katy Perry. The pair now will open also for Perry at her September 25th show in São Paulo. “Really excited to be supporting @katyperry at @AllianzParque in São Paulo on 25/09 and @rockinrio on 27/09!” AlunaGeorge posted on Twitter on September 11th.
AlunaGeorge’s members, vocalist and composer Aluna Francis and producer and instrumentalist George Reid, first met in 2009. Since that time, the duo has become known for their songs “You Know You Like It,” “Your Drums, Your Love,” “Best Be Believing,” their 2013 single “White Noise,” a collaboration with English electronic duo Disclosure.
AlunaGeorge will join other artists confirmed for Rock in Rio 2015 including Katy Pery, Queen with Adam Lambert, A-ha, One Republic, Lenine, Nação Zumbi, Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Korn, Ministry, Elton John, Rod Stewart, John Legend, System of a Down, Queens of the Stone Age, Deftones, Slipknot, Faith No More, Rihanna, Sam Smith, Crookers, Tropkillaz, Matador, and Carl Craig.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Rock in Rio festival will again take place in Cidade do Rock (City of Rock) in Barra da Tijuca this September 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th.