Volcanic ash grounds UK bands

The Cribs have been forced to cancel their original slot at Coachella festival

A number of UK artists are among the thousands of people grounded by the closure of UK airspace (15 April) following a volcanic eruption in Iceland.

Wakefield band The Cribs and Selkirk's Frightened Rabbit both have appearances at this weekend's Coachella festival, in California. However, if they're not cleared for take off they may not make it in time.

The Cribs, who include ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, were scheduled to appear on Friday 16 April, have already been forced to cancel their original slot after their plane was grounded.

Speaking to Newsbeat, bassist and singer Gary Jarman, said: "I'd decided which films I was going to see, chosen my meal and was just falling asleep, then I got told we had to get off the plane."

'Angry' atmosphere

The Cribs were set to take off for Los Angeles at 11.50am (15 April).

Describing the atmosphere at London's Heathrow airport as "angry" Jarman said the band "were a little stressed out".

"We're figuring out if we can change the day," he added.

"We're contemplating driving all the way to Amsterdam now and taking a flight at 6am, but the only flights they have are executive. It's a force of nature - you can't really argue with that."

"I know there are a lot of British bands playing. I kind of hope a few other bands are having problems so we can steal their set time - I know that sounds selfish."

Coachella is traditionally the event which kicks-off the annual festival season.

Representatives for UK artists such as Muse, Gorillaz, Florence & The Machine, Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Little Boots, all due to play this weekend, have confirmed they're already in the US and unaffected.