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BBC Radio 2 In The Park 2024: the complete line-up deep dive
Your guide to the names playing Preston's biggest weekend this September
The UK’s most listened to radio station, BBC Radio 2, is bringing beloved sounds to the grounds of Moor Park in Preston, Lancashire for their flagship festival across 7-8 September. The station’s hosts and resident DJ’s will head north to accompany a roster of music greats primed to soundtrack what will hopefully be an Indian summer. Fingers crossed.
Naturally, anyone attending will likely be familiar with the swathe of artists set to perform, given their status as chart favourites and prestigious music legends. Nevertheless, we’ve delved deep into the line-up which spans pop gold, rock anthems, electronic dance hedonism, and R&B majesty for your perusal.
The Headliners
Sting
One of rock’s most revered bass players and songwriters of the past five decades: Gordon Sumner aka Sting. Since the official dissolution of new wave colossus The Police in 1986, Sting has warmly embraced his first loves of jazz and reggae throughout his solo career without veering too far from the mainstream’s heartstrings. But for his reinvigorating recent tour, Sting 3.0, Sumner has streamlined his set-up to just three musicians including himself, conjuring the vibrancy and ingenuity of his former band. So, expect a hefty set of The Police classics like ‘Message In A Bottle’, ‘Roxanne’ and ‘Every Breath You Take’ along with soaring solo tracks like ‘If I Ever Lose My Faith In You’ and ‘Fields Of Gold’, a song that Paul McCartney admitted he wished he’d written. For his 72 years, Sting is in remarkably good shape, and his distinctive voice is of equally fine fettle. Maybe tantric sex has its benefits after all…
Pet Shop Boys
Without doubt, synth-pop wouldn’t be as sophisticated or sardonic if it weren’t for the Pet Shop Boys. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have been setting fires on discotheque dance-floors for over 40 years now, and all with a knowing wink and a wry smile. Not to mention their sonic expertise. There’s a reason why they’ve been named the most successful musical duo in British pop music, and can cite three Brit Awards and four UK No.1 singles amongst their long list of accomplishments. Even coaxing Dusty Springfield from semi-retirement for 1987 duet ‘What Have I Done To Deserve This?’ is a bewildering achievement in itself that few artists could’ve pulled off. But with timeless hits like ‘West End Girls’, ‘Always On My Mind’, and ‘It’s A Sin’, the Pet Shops Boys’ headline show will be one to savour.
The Pop Princesses
Sugababes
Calling Sugababes ‘pop princesses’ is perhaps a disservice, given they are bonafide queens of 20th century pop music. Since the original trio of Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhán Donaghy’s reunion in 2011 and reclamation of their rightful band name in 2019, Sugababes have rekindled the love with grown-up girls and boys around the country thanks to the series of nostalgic pop bangers they have in their arsenal. The clamour to see the beloved girl group was clear at their recent Glastonbury Festival performance, with the West Holts Stage having to be closed off due to overcrowding. Luckily there won’t be any similar issues at BBC Radio 2 In The Park given their penultimate headline position on Saturday night. Brimming with inventive pop hits like ‘Push The Button’, ‘Freak Like Me’ and ‘Overload’, Sugababes have earned their place on centre stage.
Kim Wilde
Few songs symbolised teenage exuberance in the eighties quite like Kim Wilde’s 1981 signature hit ‘Kids In America’. But Wilde sustained a successful pop career throughout subsequent decades as she abandoned the ennui of adolescence. Wilde was destined to be a pop star – her father was a rocker in the fifties, her brother a child star not too dissimilar to Donny Osmond – and she fulfilled her destiny on the biggest scale after scoring a US No.1 hit in 1986 with a hi-NRG cover of The Supremes’ ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’. Though the iconic hits may have slowed after the eighties came to a close, Wilde has remained a firm favourite in Europe and at home ever since. You’ll be singing “Whoah-oh!” long after she leaves the arena.
Pixie Lott
Shocking to think Pixie Lott is only 33 years old. A teenage pop sensation, the singer’s 2009 debut album Turn It Upspawned two UK No.1 singles in ‘Boys And Girls’ and ‘Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)’ which both belied her adolescent talent. Traversing dance-pop with subsequent No.1 ‘All About Tonight’ in 2011, Lott has made a name for herself on London’s West End in recent years, having returned to pop music’s fore this summer with ‘Somebody’s Daughter’ a little wiser but no less wonderful.
Shaznay Lewis
Shaznay Lewis is most recognised for her contributions to noughties girl band All Saints’ success, co-writing massive hits like ‘Never Ever’, ‘Black Coffee’ and ‘Pure Shores’, even winning a coveted Ivor Novello Award for the latter. But she’s dipped her toe into the world of solo stardom with two albums, two decades apart mind you. 2004 album Open offered up a top 10 single ‘Never Felt Like This Before’, leaving it 20 years till her follow-up with Pages, a declaration of confidence and celebration of Lewis’ heritage that harks back to the era of pop music that made her a star in the first place.
The Seasoned Rockers
Manic Street Preachers
Wales’ favourite sons and anarchic songsmiths, Manic Street Preachers emerged in the early nineties dubbing themselves as “generation terrorists” – the title of their 1992 debut album as it turns out – armed with leftist political rhetoric, lashings of eyeliner, and plenty of on-stage shock tactics. Though the trio may have mellowed as the years have gone by, their artistry remains as potent as ever. Expect a setlist of favourites from across their 14 albums, including the enduring ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’, ‘A Design For Life’, and foreboding 1998 No.1 single ‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next’.
Snow Patrol
Seasoned rockers they might be, but by gum can Snow Patrol craft a ballad of anthemic proportions. It’s been two decades since their lauded breakthrough album Final Straw piqued the interest of the indie rock crowd, with songs like ‘Run’ and ‘Chocolate’ encouraging tears and fist-pumping in equal measure. Though, it was their 2006 single ‘Chasing Cars’ that paved Snow Patrol’s path to international glory, which has since racked up over a billion streams on Spotify and transformed frontman Gary Lightbody into pop music hot property who went on to write for Robbie Williams, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and P!NK. In 2024 the newly reshuffled three-piece announced their eighth studio album, The Forest is the Path, so expect a few new earworms during their set.
Travis
Travis swam against the current of chaotic Britpop throughout the nineties, biding their time for a gentler, more emotive brand of alternative rock to take the spotlight at the tail end of the decade. With the releases of their lauded albums The Man Who and The Invisible Band, Travis’ misty-eyed introspection won over mainstream audiences at the turn-of-the-millennium with singles like ‘Why Does It Always Rain On Me?’, ‘Turn’, and ‘Sing’. Fast forward to 2024, and Travis are back with tenth studio album L.A. Times. Nowadays, singer Fran Healy is sporting Irn Bru-coloured hair reminiscent of Annie Lennox and they’re clearly having as much fun as they’ve ever had.
Shed Seven
Talking of Britpop, where a slew of bands that came to fruition during the era either imploded or faded into obscurity, Shed Seven very nearly suffered a similar fate. Being axed by a major label led to a split in 2001, though a reunion six years later was the catalyst for renewed interest in the Yorkshire-bred band. They’ve been pounding away ever since, releasing blues-rocker Instant Pleasures in 2017 and hitting the peak of their powers this year with A Matter Of Time, Shed Seven’s first ever UK No.1 album. They’ve been ‘Going For Gold’ since 1991, and on evidence are still ‘Getting Better’.
The Soul-stirrers
Sister Sledge
Undeniably, Sister Sledge are one of the defining groups to make it big during the late seventies when disco reigned supreme. Naturally, Nile Rodgers had a hand in their intentional success, writing and producing their timeless 1979 debut album, We Are Family. And it’s been a family affair ever since, given the revolving door line-up which has featured numerous members of the Sledge sisterhood. With Kathy Sledge in tow however, not getting ‘Lost In Music’ will prove irresistible.
Paul Heaton
Yes, Paul Heaton might not be a soul musician per se, but his music is undoubtedly soulful. The Housemartins and The Beautiful South’s former singer is very much a ‘man of the people’, and his slyly satirical lyricism speaks to the disaffected and heartbroken as much as it does the hopelessly hopeful. Heaton’s music might still be considered niche by the masses, but the Ivor Novello honouree possesses a mesmerising knack for crafting pop melodies. Take ‘Rotterdam’, ‘Perfect 10’ and ‘Happy Hour’ for instance, all of which he’ll no doubt perform on the day, alongside newbie ‘Fish ‘n’ Chip Supper’ from forthcoming album, The Mighty Several.
Gabrielle
After the release of her debut single ‘Dreams’ in 1993, Britain swiftly realised Gabrielle was a singular talent. A distinctive look with a unique vocal to match, she became the toast of British R&B throughout the nineties and beyond, scoring No.1 hits with her aforementioned debut as well as the empowered ballad ‘Rise’ in 2000 and the despairing ‘Out Of Reach’ which featured on the soundtrack to Bridget Jones’s Diary the following year. There’s more in her treasure trove of a back catalogue too. Mired by personal strife throughout her career, Gabrielle has made a habit out of making comebacks, doing the same once again with 2024 album A Place In Your Heart. Insisting her music is about “love, life and optimism” she pulls us back in every time.
Craig David
Knowing it’s been a quarter of a century since Craig David broke through after guesting on Artful Dodger’s UK garage bop ‘Re-Rewind’ is ever so slightly sickening. Yet, the Southampton-born singer-songwriter-slash-emcee has remained a fond favourite with British audiences for tracks like ‘Walking Away’, ‘What’s Your Flava?’ and of course No.1 hits ‘Fill Me In’ and the endlessly mimicked ‘7 Days’. Even Leigh Francis couldn’t derail his career, going on to sell over 15 million records worldwide and winning a bag full of awards to boot.
The DJs Du Jour
Michael Ball
Musical theatre’s most dashing veteran of the past four decades, Michael Ball has also represented the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest so is well placed to deliver a sublime set of show tunes and epic pop sing-a-longs with his ‘Broadway Bangers’. A frequent voice on BBC Radio 2 for nearly 20 years, Ball will no doubt be offering up familiar songs you’ll know and love, and will feel compelled to belt out yourself.
Jo Whiley
The ever-smiley Jo Whiley is committing to the good time vibes with her ‘Shiny Happy Playlist’ set. Riffing from R.E.M.’s 1991 single ‘Shiny Happy People’, you’ll certainly want to “throw your love around” to her mix of pop, rock, indie, and soul anthems. If you’re in need of an injection of endorphins, then Whiley’s your go-to gal. There’s a reason she’s been a consistent presence on the airwaves for over 30 years.
Romesh Ranganathan
A die-hard nerd for all things hip-hop, multi award-winning grumpster comedian Romesh Ranganathan’s ‘For The Love Of Hip-Hop’ set has taken BBC Radio 2 by storm since he began spinning vinyl on the station – bagging a prestigious Radio Academy ARIA Gold award for Best Specialist Music Show in 2023 – after his lauded podcast, Hip-Hop Saved My Life, came to its conclusion in 2021. Known as much for being a hip-hop head these days than as a deadpan comic, Romesh will have you bopping away with a mix of bars, R&B, and dancehall.
Trevor Nelson
In what possible safer hands could you be for a real dance-floor cookout than with Kiss FM founder Trevor Nelson, who took the station from pirate radio to one of the United Kingdom’s most beloved sources of contemporary music. These days, Nelson has harnessed the glory days of British R&B, garage, and dance with his regular spot on BBC Radio 2, cannily dubbed ‘Rhythm Nation’. You’ll feel the rhythm of the day and night during Nelson’s set no doubt.
BBC Radio 2 In The Park comes to Preston on 6-8 September. Find tickets here
Photo credit: Jo Hale/Getty
