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Radio 2 in the Park
GenreAdult contemporary
DatesSeptember
Location(s)
Years active2011–present
Attendance45,000
Websitewww.bbc.co.uk/events/e4jqwh

Radio 2 in the Park (formally known as Radio 2 Live, Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park and Radio 2's Festival in a Day) is a British music festival that took place from 2011 to 2019 in Hyde Park in London. It was due to be held in Leeds in September 2022, but it was cancelled due to the death of Elizabeth II; it returned in 2023 as Radio 2 in the Park live from Leicester.

The idea behind the event was for music fans who enjoy live music but are not comfortable with the idea of a full multi-day festival to be able to experience the variety of artists and the atmosphere that such a festival would offer, without the associated necessities such as camping. The festival is designed to appeal to the over 35 demographic that makes up the majority of BBC Radio 2 listeners, although the event attracts fans of all ages. The line-up is compiled of the various adult contemporary music and specialist genres featured on Radio 2, including folk, country, soul, rock and jazz. The festival was hosted by Chris Evans and later Jo Whiley alongside other Radio 2 presenters and is broadcast live on the station and streamed on the BBC Red Button.[citation needed]

In June 2022, the corporation announced that the festival will be moving away from London, with the 2022 festival set to be held over two days at Temple Newsam Park in Leeds, but it was cancelled following the death of Elizabeth II.[1]

In 2017, the attendance was 45,000.[2]

Performers

Live in Hyde Park 2011

The inaugural festival in a day was held on 11 September 2011.[3] Lionel Richie was originally set to headline the event but was forced to cancel due to ill health.[4]

Live in Hyde Park 2012

The 2012 festival in a day was held on 9 September.[5]

Live in Hyde Park 2013

The 2013 festival in a day was held on 8 September.[6]

Live in Hyde Park 2014

The 2014 festival in a day was held on 14 September.[7]

Live in Hyde Park 2015

The 2015 festival in a day was held on 13 September.[8] The line-up was revealed by Chris Evans between 8 and 12 June.[9]

Artist Genre Promoting
Rod Stewart Pop rock, Blue-eyed soul, Blues rock Another Country
Giorgio Moroder Electronic, Synth-pop, Disco Deja Vu
Bryan Adams Rock Get Up
The Corrs Alternative rock, Celtic Fusion, Pop rock White Light
Leona Lewis R&B, Soul, Pop, Adult contemporary I Am
Kate Rusby Folk The Frost Is All Over
Will Young Pop, Synth-pop, Soul, Adult contemporary 85% Proof
Shaun Escoffery R&B In The Red Room
Ward Thomas and The Shires Country, Country pop From Where We Stand and Brave
  Headlining Act

Live in Hyde Park 2016

The 2016 festival in a day was held on 11 September.[10] It also featured a DJ set by Craig Charles and a special edition of PopMaster with Ken Bruce.

Live in Hyde Park 2017

The 2017 festival in a day was held on 10 September.[11] The line-up was announced on 6 June by Chris Evans, with tickets for the event going on sale on 8 June.[2] Between the main acts, the festival also featured a special edition of PopMaster with Ken Bruce, Sounds of the 80s with Sara Cox, A Question of Radio 2 with Clare Balding, Jeremy Vine, Fearne Cotton, Jon Culshaw and Rev. Kate Bottley plus live DJ sets from Craig Charles and Ana Matronic.

Live in Hyde Park 2018

The 2018 festival in a day was held on 9 September.[12] Carrie Underwood was scheduled to perform but had to pull out due to illness and was replaced by The Shires.[13] The festival featured a special edition of PopMaster with Ken Bruce and Sounds of the 80s with Gary Davies plus a DJ set from Craig Charles. During the headline set, Rick Astley and Jason Donovan appeared as special guests.

Live in Hyde Park 2019

The 2019 festival in a day was held on 15 September. Two acts were announced each day by Zoe Ball starting on Monday 3 June 2019, with the headliners the Pet Shop Boys being revealed on Thursday 6 June.[14] Emeli Sandé was originally scheduled to perform but cancelled on the day due to having lost her voice. Her set was replaced by a Craig Charles DJ set.[15] There was also a DJ set from Gary Davies. During the headlining set, Olly Alexander and Beverley Knight appeared as special guests.

Live in Hyde Park 2020

This year's Live in Hyde Park was a virtual affair due to coronavirus.[16]

On 12 and 13 September 2020, the BBC aired new sets recorded from home by Sheryl Crow, Nile Rodgers and Chic featuring Rebecca Ferguson, Craig David, Erasure, Sir Tom Jones, The Killers, John Legend, McFly, Gregory Porter and The Pretenders. Several past performances by Sir Elton John, Jeff Lynne, Kylie Minogue, Pet Shop Boys, Rita Ora, Sir Rod Stewart, Shania Twain, Smokey Robinson and Take That were also made available to watch on BBC iPlayer.[17]

Radio 2 Live in Leeds 2022

Following two cancelled years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced on 5 April 2022 that the event was to be rebranded as Radio 2 Live 2022 and would take place in Leeds at Temple Newsam on 17 and 18 September.[18] The line-up was announced on 14 June by Zoe Ball, revealing that Simple Minds would be headlining the event. Ball also stated that two additional acts would be announced in the following weeks[19][20] On 2 August, Robbie Williams and the BBC Concert Orchestra were revealed as the second headliner alongside Elbow and the Radio 2 DJ line-up, which features Richie Anderson, Sara Cox, Rylan Clark, DJ Spoony, Jo Whiley, Dermot O'Leary, Gary Davies, Trevor Nelson, Tony Blackburn, Kate Bottley, and OJ Borg.[21][22] However, on 9 September, the event was cancelled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II the previous day.[23]

Radio 2 in the Park, Leicester 2023

On June 12, 2023, it was announced that Leicester would be hosting Radio 2 in the Park on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September at Victoria Park.[24] The following day, Zoe Ball announced the full line up, with Kylie Minogue as headliner and also featuring Rick Astley, Sam Ryder, James Blunt, Bananarama, and Tears for Fears, the latter two of whom were previously slated to appear at the 2022 event, which was cancelled last year due to the death of Elizabeth II.[25] The festival featured DJ sets from Gary Davies, Rylan Clark, and Scott Mills.

Saturday 16

Sunday 17

References

  1. ^ "Full musical line up for BBC Radio 2 Live in Leeds 2022 revealed". 14 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Radio 2 Live In Hyde Park returns with a spectacular day of live music". BBC Media Centre. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park - September 11 2011". BBC Music Events.
  4. ^ Moodie, Clemmie (9 September 2011). "Gary Barlow to headline Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park gig in place of Lionel Richie". Daily Mirror.
  5. ^ "Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2012". BBC Music Events.
  6. ^ "Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2013". BBC Music Events.
  7. ^ "Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2014". BBC Music Events.
  8. ^ "Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2015". BBC Music Events.
  9. ^ "BBC - Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park returns in 2015 with another spectacular line-up". BBC Media Centre.
  10. ^ "Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2016". BBC Music Events.
  11. ^ "Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2017". BBC Music Events.
  12. ^ "BBC Music - Who's Performing at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park 2018?". BBC Music.
  13. ^ @BBCRadio2 (6 September 2018). "The @theshiresuk have come to the rescue! We are delighted to announce that they will be performing live on our Hy…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ "Pet Shop Boys to headline huge Hyde Park gig". Official Charts Company.
  15. ^ @emelisande (15 September 2019). "I am so sorry @BBCRadio2 x" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "BBC Radio 2 replaces Hyde Park shows with Live At Home". Radio Today. 17 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Acts announced for BBC Radio 2 Live at Home". Radio Today. 1 September 2020.
  18. ^ "Radio 2 Live 2022: Leeds to hold two-day event". BBC News. 5 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Radio 2 Live 2022: Line-up revealed for Leeds event". BBC News. 14 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Radio 2 Live in Leeds".
  21. ^ "Robbie Williams to headline Radio 2 Live with BBC Concert Orchestra". NME. 2 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Robbie Williams and Elbow to perform at Radio 2 Live in Leeds".
  23. ^ "BBC Radio 2 cancel Live in Leeds event following Queen's death". NME. 9 September 2022.
  24. ^ "Leicester confirmed as host city for BBC Radio 2 in the Park 2023". Radio Today. 12 June 2023.
  25. ^ "BBC Radio 2 music festival announces line-up". BBC News. 13 June 2023.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_2_Live_in_Hyde_Park

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