Sting and Pet Shop Boys to headline BBC Radio 2 in the Park 2024 in Preston in September

03 June 2024 - Press release

Radio 2 in the Park Pre-Party to be held for the first time

 

Radio 2, the UK’s most listened to radio station with 13.23 million weekly listeners (RAJAR Q1 2024), presents Radio 2 in the Park – a THREE day poptastic juggernaut, featuring performances from some of the world’s most-loved pop stars alongside DJ sets from some of the station’s adored presenters.

The festivities take place in Moor Park in Preston, Lancashire on Friday 6^th, Saturday 7^thand Sunday 8^th September.  For the first time, there will also be a Friday night Radio 2 in the Park Pre-Party on the DJ stage. 

 

As announced earlier today by Zoe Ball on The Radio 2 Breakfast Show: 

Sting will front his new power rock trio to headline the BBC’s festivities in Preston on Saturday night. Fresh off the STING 3.0 tour, Sting (vocals, bass), long-time collaborator Dominic Miller (guitar) and dynamic drummer Chris Maas (Mumford & Sons, Maggie Rogers) will be performing selections of music from Sting’s timeless discography, including solo hits, surprise rarities and The Police classics. After launching in Germany last week, the STING 3.0 Tour has already received an amazing reaction from fans and media.  

Pet Shop Boys will headline Sunday night, presenting their highly acclaimed Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live production - a set featuring classic hits and the latest singles from their best-selling new album ‘Nonetheless’.

Tickets for all three shows will go on sale at 8.15am tomorrow (Tuesday 4^th June).

 

The full line-up is:

Saturday 7th September

Sting

Sugababes

Snow Patrol 

Craig David 

Kim Wilde

Pixie Lott

Shaznay Lewis

Travis

 

Sunday 8th September 

Pet Shop Boys 

Manic Street Preachers 

Sister Sledge feat. Kathy Sledge

Paul Heaton 

Gabrielle

Shed Seven

Delta Goodrem

Haircut 100

 

Following last year's launch of the Radio 2 DJ stage in Victoria Park, Leicester, the ‘big top of bop’ will return to host some of the station’s favourite presenters who will play some of the best music in the world from the past six decades across the weekend.

As announced on this morning’s Vernon Kay show on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, this year for the first time, in addition to the Saturday and Sunday events, there will be a Pre-Party on Friday 6^th September from 5-11pm, featuring some of the Radio 2 family of DJs taking to the stage to entertain 5000 listeners.  Presenters including Sara Cox, Vernon Kay, Scott Mills, Rylan and DJ Spoony will each be playing sets to kick off the weekend in style. 

Presenters will also be introducing artists on stage and broadcasting from Radio 2 in the Park across the weekend, with shows and sets available live plus on demand on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer across the weekend and for 30 days afterwards.

All tickets go on sale tomorrow, Tuesday 4^th June at 8.15am, and will be available via www.bbc.co.uk/radio2inthepark along with full terms and conditions.  Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday events, which take place over a 170,000 square foot site, will be priced from £59 plus booking fee. Tickets to the Radio 2 in the Park Pre-Party will be available at £30 plus booking fee.

Jeff Smith, Head of Music for Radio 2, said: “Following last year's incredible Radio 2 in the Park in Leicester, we are delighted to hand the baton to Preston. Only Radio 2 could present another star studded line up featuring some of the UK and the world's most loved pop artists from the last six decades performing their biggest songs. We can’t wait to bring the Radio 2 listeners and presenting family together in Preston for an unforgettable weekend of live music.”

Zoe Ball said: “Our Radio 2 family can't wait to be back with our listeners dancing and singing our hearts out! We've all grown up listening to Pet Shop Boys and Sting, they sure know how to put on a great show so hold tight Preston. We're going to have a blast.”

Vernon Kay said: “Lancashire!!  Birth place and home of many great things we can be proud of…..but the future is a weekend like no other in Preston.  Radio 2 will be adding a huge moment to the history books of Lancashire that the Red Rose can be proud of.  The biggest radio station in the UK hosts a party like no other in a county like no other.  Bring your dancing boots Preston ‘cause the Gang at Radio 2 are coming to entertain and put big smiles on faces!!“ 

Adrian Phillips, Chief Executive at Preston City Council said: “Only the BBC and Radio 2 could secure such an incredible line up of artists to perform in Preston in September. We’re looking forward to welcoming thousands of people to Radio 2 in the Park, as well as our favourite presenters, who we love to listen to day in, day out. It promises to be the biggest live event Lancashire has seen in many years, and everyone can’t wait to enjoy what promises to be a fantastic weekend of live music in the city.”

 

 

Saturday 7th September

Sting said: “I’ve never been to Preston in my life, so I'm really looking forward to joining the Radio 2 line up as the Saturday headliner.   I want to give a full picture of my entire career. Of course I will sing Roxanne, Message In A Bottle, and Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic, but there will also be some deep cuts as well. We will be a trio on stage which is very flexible, and the songs are strong enough to take them back to their bare essence with no keyboards, no backing vocalists - just me, a guitar player and a drummer.” 

Composer, singer-songwriter, actor, author and activist Sting formed The Police in 1977, releasing five studio albums which earned them six Grammys and two Brits. As a solo artist, Sting has received an additional 11 Grammys, two Brits, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, four Oscar nominations and a TONY nomination, and has sold 100 million albums from his work with The Police and as a solo artist. Sting’s last album, The Bridge, was released in 2021 and he is currently on critically-acclaimed a world tour.

Sugababes said: "We are very excited to be performing at Radio 2 in The Park in Preston in September. Can’t wait to see you all down the front!"

Sugababes are one of the most successful British groups. Formed in 1998, they’ve had six No. 1 singles and multi-platinum albums and now the original line-up - Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena and Siobhan Donaghy - are back together and have sold out their biggest headline shows, released brand new music – which has been playlisted on Radio 2 - and attracted record-breaking crowds at festivals, including Glastonbury Festival 2022 where they had to close the field due to demand!

Snow Patrol said: "We’re really excited to perform at Radio 2 in the Park and looking forward to playing in Preston again. We’ve played live shows for Radio 2 many times over the years, in the Piano Room, for Jo Whiley’s Sofa Session, or Jo’s lovely Christmas show at her house, or the big outdoor events in Hyde Park and we always have fun. So it'll be great to be back on stage with Radio 2 once again. Hopefully see you there! SP.x"

Northern Irish alt-rock outfit Snow Patrol broke into the mainstream with their 2003 major-label debut Final Straw, followed up with the multi-platinum success of 2006's Eyes Open, which featured the international hit single "Chasing Cars," and continued with two more multi-platinum records, A Hundred Million Suns (2008) and Fallen Empires (2011). After a six-year hiatus, the band returned with the UK Top Ten album Wildness in 2018. Now comprising the trio of Gary Lightbody, Johnny McDaid and Nathan Connolly, the band have emerged from the process of writing and recording their extraordinary new album, The Forest is the Path (September 13th 2024), perhaps a little battered, but maybe, just maybe, a little wiser and certainly more humble from the experience.

Craig David said: “I’m so excited about appearing at Radio 2 in the Park and coming to Preston with my full band.  We’ve got such special memories playing shows in the past for Radio 2 including Piano Room and Radio 2 in Concert. I can’t wait to bring my vibe to Moor Park and everyone listening at home!” 

Since he emerged at the end of 1999 with the instant UK garage classic ‘Re-Rewind’, Craig has scored 25 UK Top 40 singles (16 of them Top 10), nine UK Top 40 albums (five of them top 10) and amassed over five billion streams worldwide. Craig has received 14 Brit Award nominations, two Grammy nominations, four MOBO awards, three Ivor Novellos honouring his songwriting, and more recently, an MBE for his services to music.  Returning this year for its seventh season, Craig has become one of Ibiza’s most successful Ibiza Rocks residencies and recently announced he’s going back on tour with his ‘Commitment UK Arena Tour’ taking place in February 2025 with special guest Lemar. 

Kim Wilde said: “I’m really looking forward to Radio 2 in the Park in September. It’s such a great line-up and it’s so nice to be heading back to Preston – we had a fantastic show there back in 2018.”

Kim Wilde originally burst onto the music scene with her 1981 worldwide hit, Kids In America, which led to a career with over 30 million record sales spanning 15 albums and some of the most memorable hits of the 80s including Chequered Love, You Keep Me Hangin’ On (US No. 1), You Came, and many more. Voted Best British Female Singer at the 1983 BPI Awards, Kim was the most successful British female solo artist of the 1980s. Her career continues today with sell-out European tours and a new album, Closer, coming soon.

Pixie Lott said: “It’s been a while since I last performed in Preston and I can’t wait to be back there and performing for the Radio 2 listeners. My first ever gig was with Radio 2 for their Introducing show with Dermot in 2009 and I had the best time, and I’ve no doubt this will be a lot of fun too!” 

This summer sees the return of singer-songwriter Pixie Lott, who will soon be announcing plans for her fourth studio album. Since selling 1.6 million copies of her 2009 debut album, Turn It Up, Pixie has notched up three UK No. 1 tracks, sold in excess of four million singles, secured four BRIT nominations and won two MTV EMA Awards. She has also judged The Voice Kids (coaching four winners to victory!) and appeared as a guest judge on The X Factor. 

Shaznay Lewis said: “It was an incredible experience to perform for the Radio 2 Piano Room with the BBC Concert Orchestra in February at Maida Vale, and I now can’t wait to perform in Preston for the first time at Radio 2 In The Park!  It feels so special to be able to play for the massive Radio 2 audience because Radio 2 was the first station to debut my new album Pages, and a lot of the songs on it. So it feels really fitting to be able to play these songs live for the audience that heard them first.”

Ivor Novello and Brit Award winning singer songwriter Shaznay Lewis is best known as being part of multi-million selling girl band All Saints. Shaznay was the key songwriter of the band, penning their iconic discography which includes No. 1 singles Pure Shores and Never Ever. In 2004, she released her debut album to huge critical acclaim. Between 2014 and 2021, All Saints reunited and Shaznay reconnected with William Orbit (Pure Shores) on two new Top 10 albums, Red Flag and Testament. She has just released her latest album, Pages.

Fran Healy of Travis said: "I have changed trains at Preston Station my whole life and always wanted to play a show there so, when Radio 2 invited us to play Radio 2 in the Park, I was over the moon when I found out the location. Can’t wait. See you there, Preston!! Love Fran x.’ 

Glasgow’s multiple BRIT and Ivor Novello-winning songwriting giants Travis are soon to release their tenth studio album, 25 years since their multi-platinum breakthrough record The Man Who and numerous hit singles across that time. Following new track, Raze The Bar, with additional vocals by Chris Martin and Brandon Flowers, Travis will join The Killers on their UK arena tour this year, culminating in the band's Radio 2 in the Park performance.

 

Sunday 8th September 

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe of Pet Shop Boys said: “We’re looking forward to our first ever show in Preston and also to headlining this great annual Radio 2 event.”

Since their first No. 1 single, West End Girls, Pet Shop Boys have sold in excess of 50 million records, making them the most successful UK duo of all time. With over 70 hit singles spanning five decades, the Grammy nominated and BRIT and Ivor Novello Award winning songwriters have headlined Glastonbury three times, had a sell-out US arena tour with New Order, and their new album, Nonetheless, reached No. 2 on the UK Album Chart - their highest UK album chart position since 1993’s, Very.

Manic Street Preachers said: "It's been 17 years since we played Preston Guildhall - it was a great gig that night and I'm sure it will be again when we return to Preston in September to perform at Radio 2 in the Park."

Manic Street Preachers - James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore - are one of the most influential and iconic rock bands to come out of Wales. Over the last 30 years they have released 14 studio albums, their latest being The Ultra Vivid Lament which entered the UK charts at No. 1. They have won four BRIT Awards, 11 NME Awards, eight Q Awards and two Ivor Novellos and have headlined numerous festivals including Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds. They have sold over 12 million records worldwide and are currently working on a new album which they hope to release early 2025. 

Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge said: “We can’t wait to get lost in music with you in Preston. So looking forward to all of the Radio 2 listeners joining us in the park. We Are Family!”

Sister Sledge featuring legendary lead singer, Kathy Sledge, will be singing all their much-loved hits, including We Are Family, Thinking Of You, He's The Greatest Dancer and many more. So join them at Radio 2 in the Park and get Lost In Music!

Paul Heaton said: “Much to my shame, it looks like it was back in 1985 with the Housemartins that I last played the glorious Lancastrian town of Preston. What better way to reignite that almost 40 year old relationship than appearing on the grand stage of Radio 2 in the Park, with its DJs, the live crowd, and its millions of listeners.” 

Paul Heaton, who was recognised at the prestigious Ivor Awards in 2022 for ‘Outstanding Song Collection’, is one of the UK’s most successful songwriters with 15 million album sales with his bands The Housemartins, The Beautiful South, solo and in recent years with Jacqui Abbott, with classics including Happy Hour, A Little Time, Perfect 10 and Rotterdam.  Heaton first came to prominence in the early 80s as The Housemartins front man and following the band’s break up, Heaton formed The Beautiful South in 1988, with the band becoming one of the biggest-selling UK acts of all time, releasing 10 hugely successful albums, later calling it a day in 2007.   Paul released his first solo album ‘Fat Chance’ in 2001 and released two further solo albums, a musical called ‘The 8^th’ and after teaming up with former Beautiful South bandmate Jacqui Abbott, released five acclaimed albums as a duo with their last two both going straight into the UK Chart at Number 1. 

Gabrielle said: “I’m thrilled to be performing at Radio 2 In the Park. I’ve always felt so much love from the station and their listeners so I know it’s going to be a very special day!”

From the early ‘90s to the turn of the millennium, Gabrielle was one of the UK’s most successful artists, with two No. 1 hits - Dreams and Rise - and numerous Top 10 singles, plus two multi-platinum albums, two BRIT Awards, two MOBOs and an Ivor Novello. Her 2021 album, Do It Again, reached No. 4 on the UK charts, with her 30 Years of Dreaming tour including sell-out shows at the Royal Albert Hall. In 2025 Gabrielle embarks on her biggest ever UK tour, including a performance at The O2 in London.

Shed Seven said: “We are thrilled to be taking part in this year's Radio 2 in the Park in Preston! Get ready for an electrifying performance as we celebrate 30 incredible years of Shed Seven in the sunshine! We can’t wait to bring a bit of Rock n Roll to the party.”

York's Shed Seven have already had an unforgettable 30th anniversary year, taking in their first ever #1 album with ‘A Matter of Time’, two huge upcoming homecoming celebration shows at York’s Museum Gardens, an incredible live session for Radio 2’s Piano Room with the BBC Concert Orchestra, and a #1 vinyl single with the Radio 2 playlisted ‘Let’s Go Dancing’. Yet the fun doesn’t stop there. Not only will Shed Seven release the new orchestral reworks album ‘Liquid Gold’ on September 27th, but they have just announced a major nationwide 30th anniversary tour. 

Delta Goodrem said: “I am so excited and honoured to be performing at Radio 2 in the Park this year and come to Preston for the first time! Radio 2 has become a music home for me these past couple years, from the amazing airplay support of my new music to asking me to be part of their Piano Room Month - I am thrilled to continue our journey together on a big stage with everyone.”

Delta Goodrem is a multi-award winning singer-songwriter and one of the highest-selling female Australian artists in history.  Her debut album Innocent Eyes reached No. 2 in UK’s Official Chart. With hits such as Born To Try, Lost Without You, Wings and the most recent Hearts On The Run, Delta’s emotive storytelling and energetic performances continue to traverse stages around the UK and the world. 

Haircut 100 said: “We had an absolute ball performing for Radio 2’s Piano Room last year. Loved every minute of it! We’re chuffed and thankful to be invited to play a full set in Preston at Radio 2 in the Park this September for a live audience, as well as for all the lovely Radio 2 listeners. It’s going to be such a fantastic day!” 

Bringing the past 40 years whizzing into the present day, one of Britain’s most-loved and creative pop bands, Haircut 100, will come together to fuse the sounds of their seminal Pelican West album, along with their classic 80s hits, as well as new music. 

Radio 2 in the Park was previously held annually in London’s Hyde Park, but now takes place in a different part of the UK every year as part of the BBC’s Across the UK plans, allowing the BBC to better reflect, represent and serve all audiences. Last year Radio 2 in the Park was held in Victoria Park in Leicester featuring headliners Tears for Fears and Kylie Minogue, who performed her world exclusive full concert performance for the first time in four years. Moor Park in Preston also hosted BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in 2007.

At Radio 2 in the Park in Leicester last year, the prestigious Gold status was awarded to the event from Attitude Is Everything, (which connects disabled people with music and live event industries to improve accessibility) for the event’s commitment to Accessibility. As with last year, the online pages will contain clear and accessible information, compatible with screen readers. We offer large print and easy-to-read PDFs, as well as recorded audio versions, so that everyone can easily access the necessary information. 

Radio 2 continues to broadcast a huge range of live music on the station. Piano Room has recently featured a performance from Shed Seven, with more to come, and Piano Room month in February featured an incredible range of artists including Anastacia, Johnny Marr, Gabrielle, Sir Rod Stewart and Jools Holland, and Bruce Hornsby. Jo Whiley’s Sofa Sessions have hosted artists including James, Lucy Rose, Yard Act, Jordan Rakei, Maggie Rogers, Cast, English Teacher, Corinne Bailey Rae and The Vaccines. 

BBC Radio 2 is the UK’s most listened to radio station, with a weekly audience of 13.23 million (RAJAR Q1, 2024) and The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show is most listened to Breakfast show in the UK with an audience of 6.65 million (RAJAR Q1, 2024). The network’s presenters include Michael Ball, Zoe Ball, Rob Beckett, Tony Blackburn, OJ Borg, Revd. Kate Bottley, Rylan, Fearne Cotton, Sara Cox, Jamie Cullum, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gary Davies, Paul Gambaccini, Angela Griffin, Bob Harris, Vernon Kay, Cerys Matthews, Paddy McGuinness, Scott Mills, Jason Mohammad, Trevor Nelson, Dermot O’Leary, Elaine Paige, Mark Radcliffe, Romesh Ranganathan, DJ Spoony, Liza Tarbuck, Jeremy Vine, Michelle Visage, Johnnie Walker, Jo Whiley, Phil Williams and Owain Wyn Evans.

At the 2024 Audio and Radio Industry Awards, also known as the ARIAs, Scott Mills won Gold for the Best Music Entertainment Show, 21^st Century Folk won Gold for the Best Music Special, Windrush 75 won Gold for Best Coverage of an Event, and The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show won Bronze for the Best Music Breakfast Show. Plus, Cerys Matthews won the Best Blues Broadcaster Award for the third time at the annual UK Blues Awards so she has now been elected into the UK Blues Hall Of Fame.