Baaba Maal cancels Celebrate Brooklyn! show, but he's sitting in w/ Mumford & Sons at Forest Hills show

Senegalese singer-guitarist-percussionist Baaba Maal has been forced to cancel his June 16 appearance at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival in Prospect Park, due to unforeseen travel issues with his band. Lakou Mizik was to have played as well, but the whole event is now off. Says Maal:

I am truly sad and disappointed at not being able to perform at the fantastic BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival that I love so much. It was an extremely difficult and painful decision, but unfortunately it is not possible for me to come without my band and give you all the kind of show you deserve and want to see. I will make this up to everyone – to all my fans, to the Festival and to all the people that work so hard to bring the opportunities for artists to perform around the world.

That is a bummer. Baaba Maal will, however, set in with Mumford & Sons at their June 17 show at Forest Hills Stadium (their second of two consecutive nights there) and tickets are still available.

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival got underway on Wednesday with a free kickoff show featuring Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings.