The Bangalore Open Air Festival team have released the following announcement –

It looks like the Indian government has once again decided to play spoilsport. We are extremely disappointed to announce that the mighty Iced Earth will not be performing at the Bangalore Open Air on June 16th 2012 due to the denial of their visas by the Indian Embassy. As to why the visas have been denied, well there has been no explanation forthcoming unfortunately.

Despite this setback the show will go on as scheduled and to soften the blow we have roped in the incredible folk metal maestros Suidakra to take Iced Earth’s place at Bangalore Open Air.

We humbly request all Indian metalheads to show up in force at Bangalore Open Air and stand together as one. The system may try and break us but we will not be defeated.

We sincerely thank you all for your patience and understanding and we hope to see each and every one you at the festival with your fists raised high.

In metal we trust.
The BOA team.