Royal Blood will headline Pukkelpop music festival on Sunday 18 August in a last-minute move to replace Queens of the Stone Age.
Rock band Queens of the Stone Age withdrew from the festival line-up last Friday following a surgery undergone by leader singer and founder Josh Homme. His recovery is taking longer than expected and the group has had to cancel appearances all over Europe.
Royal Blood will take the closing spot on Sunday evening, the festival announced on Monday. "Pukkelpop! It's been five years since we last played for you so we can't wait to be closing out the festival this time round," the band wrote in a social media post.
Pukkelpop! It's been 5 years since we last played for you so we can't wait to be closing out the festival this time round. We'll see you on 18th August!https://t.co/srhRvqqADw pic.twitter.com/b80mdWJ9JP
— Royal Blood (@royalblooduk) July 29, 2024
"A band of the calibre of Queens of the Stone Age cannot simply be replaced," Pukkelpop spokesperson Frederik Luyten told Belga News Agency. "We are therefore relieved that Royal Blood will still give the line-up a royal touch on Sunday."
Pukkelpop announced a handful of other acts along with the new headliner: Marc Rebillet, Kabin Crew, Rachel Chinouriri, Julia Sabaté, Kawala, Hang Youth, Big Special and The Whatevers.
The four-day festival will feature headliners Stormzy, Fred Again, Charlotte De Witte, Sam Smith, Goldband and The Offspring. Taking place from 15 to 18 August, Friday and Saturday are sold out but tickets are still available for Sunday.
