SCOTS chart-topper Lewis Capaldi has been drafted in to this year's TRNSMT Festival after Snow Patrol cancelled on medical grounds.
Snow Patrol, who were formed in Dundee, decided to pull out after piano and guitar player Johnny McDaid suffered a serious problem with his neck which requires surgery.
Lead guitarist Nathan Connolly is currently still having to take time out due to nerve damage in his hand due to an injury.
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But TRNSMT announced that taking his place will be Lewis Capaldi, who saw his recently released debut album Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent remain at number one for four weeks.
Festival director Geoff Ellis said: “We are very sorry to hear about Johnny and Nathan and we completely understand that this means they can no longer play at this year’s TRNSMT Festival.
"We send our best wishes to them both for a speedy recovery.
"Whilst this is sad news, we are able to confirm that Scotland’s hottest new global export, Lewis Capaldi will join the line-up in place of Snow Patrol, and we look forward to seeing him bring his Number One album to the Main Stage.
"He’s had an outstanding year and we can’t wait to welcome him back to TRNSMT for what I’m sure will be an incredible performance.”
Snow Patrol said in a statement: "We are all of course worried about our brother Johnny. He is a force of nature and a giant light in our lives on stage and off and we of course will give him all the time and support he needs to recover. Johnny has been incredible in the wake of this news and has remained calm at a time when a lot of people might freak out.
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As for the upcoming shows: to replace Johnny it would take at least two people and with Nathan still out with nerve damage (he is slowly on the mend) so he is also still unable to play guitar we feel it’s just not appropriate to continue with shows at this stage.
"It isn’t just their guitars and pianos that would be missed. Their backing vocals are essential to our sound and their energy and spirits are colossal and are irreplaceable forces.
"Am sure you all understand that at this point the most important thing is to take time to let our brothers heal and recover so we need to cancel the forthcoming shows we are billed to play in Europe this summer up to Latitude July 20 to give them both time to recover.
"We have hardly ever cancelled shows in 25 years together and we don’t do it lightly. We hope you all understand. We are sorry to miss the shows but health is the most important thing. All our love and healing to our brothers Johnny and Nathan."
To date, Snow Patrol have had five UK top ten hits, with their single Chasing Cars selling more than 1 million copies in the UK.
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