Radio 2 Live is bringing live music direct to audiences, giving lucky listeners the chance to finally watch their favourite artists perform in person this August, after being unable to experience music concerts in venues for over a year. On The Radio 2 Breakfast Show today Zoe Ball revealed MANIC STREET PREACHERS will be performing at St. David’s Hall in Cardiff on Thursday 12th August in front of a small audience of fans. Earlier this week, Zoe announced that TEXAS would be performing in Glasgow on Thursday 5th August and STEPS would be performing in Manchester on Tuesday 10th August.
Radio 2 Live will be the first live gigs with an audience from the network since Radio 2 In Concert with Dido at Maida Vale on 9th December 2019. The performances will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer and hear on BBC Sounds from Saturday 11th September, with a special highlights show on Radio 2 from 7-9pm on Sunday 12th September.
Manic Street Preachers performed for Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park in 2013 and 2018, and previously performed a Radio 2 gig for fans in their home town at Blackwood Miner’s Institute, Wales, in 2011.
James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers said: “We are really excited to be playing St David’s Hall in Cardiff on August 12th for Radio 2 Live. I’ve seen bands and artists including The Waterboys, Echo and the Bunnymen, John Grant and Gary Numan perform on stage there, and myself and Nicky Wire busked outside of it in the mid 80s. Hopefully we can add to the musical memories we have experienced there.”
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, said: “New for 2021 and beyond, Radio 2 Live will take the spirit of our very special radio station around the UK. Manic Street Preachers delivered an incredible performance for Radio 2 Live at Hyde Park in 2018, so we’re thrilled to be bringing them to Cardiff to perform an intimate set for their fans in Wales. Listeners and viewers can watch these exclusive performances from the Manic Street Preachers, Texas and Steps on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer in September.”
Tickets will be allocated via a ballot following registration at bbc.co.uk/radio2live which is open from now until 8am on Friday 30th July. Allocations will be weighted with more going to those living closer to Cardiff. Full terms and conditions are on the website.
Jeff Smith, Head of Music for Radio 2, said: “Radio 2 is committed to bringing live music performance to its listeners as we know how much they love to listen and watch their favourite artists perform the songs they adore. Over the past year, Radio 2 House Music has done a brilliant job with sessions from Joan Armatrading, Kelly Clarkson, Rag’n’Bone Man and many more, but now it’s time to get back to gigs in front of a live audience. Radio 2 Live is going to feature incredible sets from major artists, in front of what I’m sure will be a very excited audience of Radio 2 listeners.”
Steps presented Steps into 2021 on the station last December, giving listeners two hours of wall-to-wall bangers, with tracks from Madonna, Spice Girls, Dua Lipa and ABBA.
Steps said: “We are beyond excited to be performing for Radio 2 Live in Manchester. It will be our first live performance in front of an audience in over three years and we cannot wait. It’ll be a great chance to play some of our latest singles and Steps classics and get warmed up ahead of our UK arena tour this November.”
In 2017 Texas performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at Barrowlands, Glasgow, for Radio 2 In Concert and at 2013’s Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park. Earlier this year they performed live at Maida Vale for The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show.
Sharleen Spiteri of Texas said: “I’m always excited to play in Glasgow, our home town! And I’m thrilled to be performing for the first time at St. Luke’s for Radio 2 Live.”
All the events will be managed in line with Covid guidelines at the time, and ticket holders must adhere to any restrictions in place at their venue locations on the dates of the recordings. Full terms and conditions at bbc.co.uk/radio2.
Radio 2 has delivered live music to listeners through the lockdown through Radio 2 House Music sessions which have featured some of the biggest names in music, including Barry Manilow, Melanie C, Cliff Richard, Ronan Keating, Travis, Aloe Blacc, Nell Bryden, Lola Lennox and Jessie Ware, with many accompanied remotely by the BBC Concert Orchestra.
BBC Radio 2 is the UK’s most listened to radio station, with a weekly audience of 14.4 million (RAJAR Q1, 2020). The network’s presenters include Michael Ball, Zoe Ball, Tony Blackburn, OJ Borg, Rev. Kate Bottley, Ken Bruce, Craig Charles, Rylan Clark-Neal, Fearne Cotton, Sara Cox, Jamie Cullum, Gary Davies, Vanessa Feltz, Paul Gambaccini, Bob Harris, Ana Matronic, Cerys Matthews, Jason Mohammad, Trevor Nelson, Paul O’Grady, Dermot O’Leary, Mark Radcliffe, Liza Tarbuck, Jeremy Vine, Johnnie Walker, Jo Whiley, Claudia Winkleman and Steve Wright.
