Coachella update: Blur to headline on Friday; Biffy Clyro forced to pull out of Coachella and current U.S. tour

Blur is now slated to headline on Friday night and will take the main stage at 11:35 p.m.

All kinds of quick updates today while I continue to prepare to cover the second weekend of Coachella for The Orange County Register this weekend.

Two big news items to report as they relate to this weekend.

Friday night Britpop pioneers Blur and Stone Roses are swapping places for the second weekend. Last week, Blur delivered one of the best sets at weekend #1, with the Stone Roses then taking the stage but attracting a significantly smaller crowd for their night-ending set on the Coachella Stage. This time around (April 19), Blur is scheduled to take the final spot. Here is a link to an article in the Los Angeles Times that has a few more details.

On a sadder note, Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro will not be returning to Indio to perform this weekend. Here is the official release from Warner Bros. Records I received yesterday (April 17):

BIFFY CLYRO FORCED TO CANCEL REMAINING NORTH AMERICAN SHOWS



Biffy Clyro have today been forced to cut short their North American tour and return to the UK immediately; Simon Neil has been struggling with a serious respiratory problem on the shows, including two nights supporting Muse at Madison Square Garden on Monday and Tuesday of this week, and was advised by doctors that he was endangering his long term health if he chose to continue performing on this run. Thus, further dates with Muse across the US and Canada, plus a second weekend performance at the Coachella Festival this coming Saturday, have now been cancelled.

The band wish to express how sorry they are that they aren't able to carry out the full run of shows, and hope to confirm a new run of North American shows shortly. All UK and European dates this Summer should, however, remain unaffected.

Biffy Clyro have been out on tour supporting their new double album Opposites, which gave the band their first ever UK No1 in early February. Since the release, the band have been on an almost uninterrupted run of arena shows including a triumphant UK tour that culminated at the O2 in London last week.