BBC Radio 2’s legendary Piano Room series kicks off tomorrow (January 29th), with some of the worlds biggest artists scheduled to perform alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Running from Monday, January 29th to Friday, February 23rd, during Vernon Kay’s mid-morning show – currently the most listened to radio programme in the UK – the new series will see each of the 20 acts on the line-up perform a new song, a classic, and a cover version, live from London’s BBC Maida Vale studios.
American singer-songwriter and pianist Bruce Hornsby will kick off proceedings, followed by Beverley Knight, The Libertines, PP Arnold, and Gabrielle, who will round off week one with an extra special performance of a classic Lionel Richie track.
Check out the full out the full schedule for BBC Radio 2’s 2024 Piano Room series below:
Monday 29 January: Bruce Hornsby, performing a Don Henley cover version
Tuesday 30 January: Beverley Knight, performing a Radiohead cover version
Wednesday 31 January: The Libertines, performing a Love cover version
Thursday 1 February: PP Arnold, performing a Miley Cyrus cover version
Friday 2 February: Gabrielle, performing a Lionel Richie cover version
Monday 5 February: Anastacia, performing a Whitesnake cover version
Tuesday 6 February: Olivia Dean, performing a Leonard Cohen cover version
Wednesday 7 February: Johnny Marr, performing an Iggy Pop cover version
Thursday 8 February: Shaznay, performing a No Doubt cover version
Friday 9 February: Rick Astley, performing an Olivia Rodrigo cover version
Monday 12 February: Texas, performing a Charles and Eddie cover version
Tuesday 13 February: Jalen Ngonda, performing a Beach Boys cover version
Wednesday 14 February: Valentine’s Day Special with Lisa Stansfield, performing a Lou Rawls cover version
Thursday 15 February: Crowded House, performing a Petula Clark cover version
Friday 16 February: Jess Glynne, performing a Fleetwood Mac cover version
Monday 19 February: Paloma Faith, performing a Tracy Chapman cover version
Tuesday 20 February: Delta Goodrem featuring special guest Gary Barlow, performing a Take That cover version
Wednesday 21 February: Elbow, performing a Louis Armstrong cover version
Thursday 22 February: Rod Stewart with Jools Holland, performing a Billie Holiday cover version
Friday 23 February: Pet Shop Boys, performing a David Bowie cover version
Speaking ahead of tomorrows show, host Vernon Kay says via a press release: “Playing a wide variety of songs by so many different artists, from a variety of decades and genres, on my show is one of the many joys of presenting mid mornings on Radio 2 , so I can’t wait to meet and welcome some of them to perform for a whole month in the Piano Room at the Maida Vale studios.”
With Jeff Smith, Radio 2’s Head of Music, adding: “The Radio 2 Piano Room month will feature a stellar selection of 20 artists from new talents such as Olivia Dean and Jalen Ngonda to established legends, such as Rod Stewart, who our listeners have loved for decades. We’re thrilled to offer artists the opportunity to be listened to and watched on the BBC by millions of fans, giving them a springboard to further success.”
Carolyn Hendry, Interim Director of the BBC Concert Orchestra, says, “I am thrilled that Radio 2’s Piano Room month is returning for its third year and look forward to 20 more collaborations between the BBC Concert Orchestra and a range of unique artists. As one of the UK’s leading orchestras, the BBC Concert Orchestra performs a vast range of music from classical to contemporary. With Piano Room, we get to showcase orchestral arrangements of some of world’s best known songs, heightened by the musical excellence of our players. I hope the audience finds it as inspiring as ever.”