BBC Radio 2 announces In Concert series for 2019

Applications open at 8am on Friday 18 October and close at 8.30pm on Wednesday 23 October

Tickets are free

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NEWS PROVIDED BY
BBC Radio 2

BBC Radio 2 announces the star-studded line-up for this year’s In Concert series.
The five concerts will kick off with Stereophonics (Friday 1 November, 8pm). This will be followed by Jeff Lynne’s ELO (Thursday 7 November, 7pm), Craig David (Thursday 14 November, 7pm), Robbie Williams (Friday 29 November, 8pm) all from the BBC Radio Theatre in London. Dido will perform the final concert of the series (Monday 9 December, 7pm), from Maida Vale studios.

The intimate performances will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 as well as in vision via the BBC Red Button, to be produced by BBC Studios. The performances will also be broadcast on BBC television at a later date. All performances will be available on BBC iPlayer for thirty days after transmission.

Ahead of each artist’s evening In Concert, Radio 2 listeners will be treated to special sound check tracks in Ken Bruce’s show (9.30am-midday) as well as a post-show interview with the artist that evening.

Radio 2 In Concert performances from Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Craig David and Dido will be presented by Jo Whiley. Stereophonics and Robbie Williams’ performances will be presented by Fearne Cotton.

Jeff Smith, Head of Music BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music, says: “Following another fantastic Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park with record breaking audiences, we’re delighted to bring listeners more world class live performances when Radio 2 In Concert returns this November. Radio 2 In Concert has always delivered on variety and 2019 will be no exception.

"This season will see the BBC Radio Theatre play host to great guitar hits from Stereophonics, the iconic songs of Jeff Lynne’s ELO and the amazing entertainer Robbie Williams, we will also have hitmaker Craig David and best-selling singer songwriter Dido. That’s five of the best of the best UK artists - live on Radio 2 and BBC Red Button!”

With an unparalleled longevity and continued success, Stereophonics are a band woven into the fabric of popular music. Having achieved six number one albums, ten top ten albums, 23 Platinum Sales Awards, 8.5 million albums sold in the UK alone, five Brit nominations, one Brit award win, they stand as giants of the current music scene. Stereophonics release their new album Kind this month. They continue to headline arenas and festivals to legions of dedicated fans and will embark on a UK arena tour early next year. Stereophonics return to Radio 2 In Concert for the first time since 2013.

Kelly Jones says: “It's always a pleasure to be invited to do a Radio 2 In Concert and I always enjoy listening to other people’s. Me and the boys are really looking forward to playing some new songs and some classics on 1st November. It's going to be very special."

Jeff Lynne’s ELO ranks among the most popular acts of its era, with more than 50 million albums sold, including four consecutive top ten albums and seven reaching the top 20, as well as a remarkable string of hit singles - 20 reaching the US top 40 and a seven of them lodging in the top ten. Rock and roll hall of famer and music legend Jeff Lynne’s music has touched fans across three generations. Having performed as a member of the Traveling Wilbury’s alongside George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty, Jeff has found himself in recent years at the peak of his powers as a songwriter, musician and producer. Jeff Lynne’s ELO made a momentous return to live performance with their first full gig in 27 years at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park in September 2014, and Jeff returns to Radio 2 In Concert this year for the first time since 2015.

Jeff Lynne says: “I’m looking forward to playing for everyone at Radio 2 In Concert. I can’t wait to share songs from the new album From Out Of Nowhere and lots of other favourites.”

Ivor Novello and MOBO Award winning artist Craig David has achieved 23 UK top 40 singles, nine UK top 40 albums and over five billion streams worldwide throughout his career. It has been 19 years since his debut album, Born To Do It, reached number one in the UK and since his comeback in 2016, Craig has headlined an arena tour, which sold-out in seconds and has seen over 1.5 billion streams on his last two albums, Following My Intuition and The Time Is Now, alone. This is Craig’s first performance for Radio 2 In Concert.

Craig David says: “I’m excited to be part of In Concert for Radio 2. I love performing and live for moments like this, where I can connect even more intimately with my audience.”

As a solo artist, Robbie Williams has sold 80 million albums worldwide, has six of the top 100 best-selling albums in British history and has had 14 number one singles. He is also one of the most in-demand live performers in music, and continues to play stadiums around the world. He has won a record 18 Brit awards - more than any other artist in music history. In 2016, Robbie joined Sir Elton John and David Bowie as the third recipient of the prestigious Brit Icon award - presented to artists whose writing, recording and performances have set them apart as having made a lasting impact on British culture, recognising the very highest level of achievement in music. Robbie returns to Radio 2 In Concert for the first time since 2016.

Robbie Williams says: “I can’t wait to play another Radio 2 In Concert - my first in three years. I’ll be performing some brand new songs from my new album The Christmas Present with the audience on Radio 2, as well as singing some of my biggest hits. See you in November!”

Also making her Radio 2 In Concert debut this year is singer-songwriter Dido. Dido is behind two of the best-selling albums in British chart history - No Angel and Life for Rent, with No Angel remaining the top-selling debut by a British female artist worldwide. She has won three Brit awards, three Ivor Novello awards and a Billboard award. Having toured the US earlier this year, Dido will perform across South America and continental Europe in October, before returning for a series of live dates in the UK. Her performance at Radio 2 In Concert in December will be her final show of 2019.

Dido says: “2019 has been a really special year for me. Releasing the album, going on tour for the first time in 15 years and enjoying it more than ever. I’m loving travelling the world and doing shows and I can’t imagine a better way to top off this year than by coming home and doing this show at the iconic Maida Vale Studios for Radio 2 In Concert.”

Radio 2 In Concert is a yearly series of live performances which in previous years has featured artists including CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers, Paloma Faith, Van Morrison, Kylie Minogue, Ed Sheeran and Paul Weller.

Ticket applications for the events are online here. Applications open at 8am on Friday 18 October and close at 8.30pm on Wednesday 23 October. Tickets are free, and successful applicants will be selected at random once the registration period has closed.

Source BBC Radio 2

October 18, 2019 7:39am ET by BBC Radio 2  

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