Whilst Leeds is gearing up this month for the annual rites of passage that is Leeds Festival at Bramham Park with the likes of Rage Against The Machine and Arctic Monkeys a more sedate festival in Leeds has announced a steller line-up. The Radio 2 Live annual event spreads its wings for the first time across the UK. This year it will be in Leeds with two days of incredible music from an amazing line up of musicians on Saturday 17 September and Sunday 18 September. Hosted by some of the station’s best loved presenters and, for the first time, there will be a Radio 2 DJ Tent where they – as well as special guests – will be playing sets encompassing legendary tracks from Motown in the 60s to the dance classics of today. Jeff Smith, Head of Music for Radio 2, says: “Having been without it for so long we all really appreciate how important live music is to all our lives and so we invite everyone to join us for Radio 2 Live in Leeds at Temple Newsam Park.”
Saturday headliners Simple Minds have been musical pioneers for over 40 glittering years. Catching the mood of the post-punk era they emerged with a style rooted in the art-rock of David Bowie and the electronic dance of Donna Summer, going on to become one of the great bands of their generation and topping the American chart with Don’t You (Forget About Me) and the UK chart with Ballad Of The Streets. Selling over 60 million records, three of their 20 studio albums have reached number one in the UK, and they’ve graced the world’s biggest stadiums. Simple Minds are honoured to be headlining the first night of Radio 2 Live In Leeds. “ We can’t tell you how much we are looking forward to performing a career-spanning set for the thousands of people in Temple Newsam Park” lead singer Jim Kerr told us.
Sunday sees Nile Rodgers the multiple Grammy-winning composer, producer, arranger and guitarist who’s been inducted into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. As the co-founder of CHIC, he pioneered chart-topping hits like Le Freak and sparked the advent of hip-hop with Good Times. Nile transcends all styles of music and has worked with Diana Ross, David Bowie, Madonna, Duran Duran and Daft Punk amongst a legacy that is responsible for over 500 million record sales. Nile Rodgers says: “The UK is my second home and following our incredible summer tour which includes Kenwood House, Isle Of Wight and British Summer Time, I’m delighted to be joining Radio 2 Live in Leeds in September! Some of our greatest shows have been with the BBC and Radio 2 in particular so let’s get the good times into what will be the last days of summer.”
And there’s some local talent too with Kaiser Chiefs. Since forming in Leeds in 2000, Kaiser Chiefs have delivered much-loved anthemic hits including Oh My God, I Predict A Riot, Everyday I Love You Less and Less, and Ruby. The band have released seven original studio albums, including their Mercury nominated debut, Employment, which sold over two million copies. Its number one follow up, Yours Truly, Angry Mob, went twice-platinum in the UK alone, and follow up, Education Education Education and War, also entered the UK Album Charts in the top spot. They have been honoured with Brit Awards, an Ivor Novello award for Album of the Year, toured with U2, Foo Fighters and Green Day, and sold eight million albums. Lead singer, Ricky Wilson told us “We’ve all been to some great events in Temple Newsam Park in the past and we’re very excited to get the chance to finally play a hometown show there. See you at Radio 2 Live in Leeds in September.”
Also lined up to appear over the weekend are Tears For Fears, Craig David, Bananarama, Ella Henderson, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, George Ezra, Melanie C, Emeli Sandé, Mark Owen, Heather Small, Olly Murs and a couple of surprise guests! The event will be broadcast live on Radio 2 – and the station will also be featuring festival highlights across the weekend along with a highlights show from the festival main stage on Saturday 24 September on BBC Two.
