American soul legend Smokey Robinson and homegrown stars Doves and Dizzee Rascal are the first names confirmed to play at this year’s BBC Electric Proms, which takes place at The Roundhouse in London from 20th – 24th October. All three shows will be broadcast completely live on BBC radio with highlights broadcast on BBC Two.
The festival – dedicated to creating new moments in music – is back for 2009 with an unique line up of international and UK artists presenting one off collaborations and performances. Tickets will go on sale at 8am on Wednesday 16th September.
Smokey Robinson will be joined on the main Roundhouse stage by the BBC Concert Orchestra on Saturday 24th October where he will perform classic soul and motown tracks from his legendary career plus new material from his forthcoming album. The BBC has specially commissioned orchestral arrangements for this unique performance, which sees one of the most influential Motown artists playing in the UK during the label’s 50th anniversary. The show will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2.
Doves will be working with choral arranger Avshalom Caspi to interpret their tracks for a brand new performance with the 40 strong London Bulgarian Choir on Thursday 22nd October, reworking their music especially for the BBC Electric Proms audience. This unique collaboration will be broadcast live across BBC 6Music.
Since his Mercury Music prize win, Dizzee Rascal has become a major UK star producing several dancefloor hits. He will be performing on Wednesday 21st October, playing the classics, as well as tracks from his brand new album Tongue 'N' Cheek - including the two Number 1 smashes, 'Dance Wiv Me' and 'Bonkers'. Backed by live band the Young Punx and a 16 piece string section from the Heritage Orchestra, this will be the first time Dizzee will have ever performed a full length live show with a band and orchestra. The show will be broadcast live on 1Xtra.
More acts will be announced in coming weeks. All performances will be available online. All headline shows will be filmed in High Definition, broadcast on BBC Two and simulcast on the HD Channel.
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