THE JACKSONS TO PERFORM AT BBC PROMS IN THE PARK 2015 

Hyde Park, London – Saturday 12 September
Plus UK-wide celebrations, with events in Belfast, Glasgow and Swansea

FULL LINE-UP AT HYDE PARK

THE JACKSONS

ALISON BALSOM trumpet DANIELLE DE NIESE soprano
RUSSELL WATSON tenor

BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Richard Balcombe
Royal Choral Society
Presented by Sir Terry Wogan

Afternoon entertainment at Hyde Park hosted by Tony Blackburn, Ken Bruce and Anneka Rice
Line-up: Jack Pack, The Mavericks, David Garrett, Beverley Knight & Matt Cardle with the cast of Memphis, plus more to be announced.

Ken Bruce has announced today on BBC Radio 2 that the American music legends The Jacksons are to headline at this year’s BBC Proms in the Park in Hyde Park – the annual Last Night of the Proms spectacular broadcast live on BBC Radio 2.

Inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Jacksons are one of the world’s best-loved bands with a career spanning for more than 40 years. Originally led by Michael Jackson, the band’s founding members Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon Jackson now perform around the world in tribute to their brother.

The stars of disco and soul sang some of the biggest hits to come out of the 1970s and 1980s, including Blame It On The Boogie, ABC, I’ll Be There and Can You Feel It – and at Proms in the Park, will take to the Hyde Park stage in a live set that promises to get everyone dancing and into the Last Night of the Proms party spirit.

Speaking to Ken Bruce on BBC Radio 2, The Jacksons said:

“We’re looking forward to coming to London, to Hyde Park, and when we get there we’re going to be singing all the greats, and we’re going to have a really big party. We always bring great weather over from California!”

Joining the Jacksons on the billing, tenor Russell Watson will perform for the Hyde Park audience, and trumpeter Alison Balsom will entertain the crowds fresh from her appearance at the BBC Proms.

Soprano Danielle de Niese will be performing at both Proms in the Park and the Last Night of the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall – at Hyde Park, she will bring The Sound of Music to the crowds, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the release of the iconic film, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.

Celebrating its 20th year, BBC Proms in the Park is Britain’s largest outdoor classical music event and a rousing finale to two months of world class music-making at the BBC Proms, as part of BBC Music. Sir Terry Wogan returns to present the main evening performance for the 19th year running, with Proms in the Park regulars the Royal Choral Society, the BBC Concert Orchestra and conductor Richard Balcombe taking to the stage.

About Proms in the Park, Sir Terry Wogan said:

“I’m looking forward to it – I’ve been doing it since Sir Henry Wood was a boy. I just love the atmosphere, the 40,000 people cheering…It’s just a fantastic, wonderful evening and if the weather is terrible the Dunkirk spirit comes out!”

Proms in the Park around the UK

Once again the Last Night of the Proms radiates out from the Royal Albert Hall to embrace all four nations of the UK, inviting music-lovers from across the four nations to enjoy the magic of the Last Night.

In Northern Ireland, the Ulster Orchestra returns for a night of music-making at the Titanic Slipways, Belfast.

In Scotland, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra take the magic of the Last Night to Glasgow Green, for a glorious night of music on the banks of the Clyde. The BBC SSO and presenter Jamie MacDougall will be joined by a host of guest performers, including Alexandra Burke.

In Wales, Proms in the Park will be held at Singleton Park, Swansea, with an evening of celebrations with the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales. Ticketing details will be announced soon.

All four nations will come together with special joined-up moments, singing together, with all locations having their moment in the spotlight.

Edward Blakeman, Director of the BBC Proms 2015, said:

„It’s always a uniquely exciting moment when the Last Night of the Proms links up live with Parks across the UK. This is a celebration for everyone as we come to the end of two months of world-class music making.

„The BBC Proms is all about bringing great music to the widest possible audience – and with a fantastic range of artists lined up, both at the Royal Albert Hall and in the Parks, we hope that the whole of the UK will get in the party spirit on the Last Night of the Proms!“

Proms in the Park in Hyde Park will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 and highlights of the Proms in the Park celebrations around the UK will be included as part of the coverage on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Radio 3. Highlights from all four Proms in the Park events will be available to watch on the evening of 12 September via the Red Button for BBC viewers, and online at bbc.co.uk/proms.

BBC Proms 2015

As the world’s biggest classical music festival, the BBC Proms offers eight weeks of world-class music-making from a vast array of leading orchestras, conductors and soloists from the UK and around the world. Across more than 90 concerts – and a similar number of free events designed to extend and further enrich the audience’s Proms experience – the festival aims to offer a summer of music that allows for the most diverse and exciting musical journeys. 120 years since it was founded, the driving factor in building a festival of this scale is to offer exceptional music-making at the lowest possible prices, continuing founder-conductor Henry Wood’s original ambition of bringing the best classical music to the widest possible audience. With every Prom broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and many televised on the BBC, the Proms reaches far and beyond the Royal Albert Hall.

Booking Details for Proms in the Park at Hyde Park:
Tickets cost £39 – bbc.co.uk/promsinthepark.