Running from Monday, January 29th to Friday, February 23rd, during Vernon Kay’s mid-morning show – now the most listened to radio program in the UK – the new sequence will see each of the 20 acts on the line-up do a new tune, a classic, and a cover version, live from London’s BBC Maida Vale studios.
National singer-songwriter and musician Bruce Hornsby will push off proceedings, followed by Beverley Knight, The Libertines, PP Arnold, and Gabrielle, who did rounded off year one with an extra special performance of a typical Lionel Richie track.
The 2024 Piano Room set on BBC Radio 2 has a full schedule, complete with:
Monday 29 January: Bruce Hornsby, performing a Don Henley include version
Tuesday 30 January: Beverley Knight, performing a Radiohead protect type
Wednesday 31 January: The Bohemians, performing a Love protect type
Thursday 1 February: PP Arnold, performing a Miley Cyrus include version
Friday 2 February: Gabrielle, performing a Lionel Richie protect type
Monday 5 February: Anastacia, performing a Whitesnake support version
Tuesday 6 February: Olivia Dean, performing a Leonard Cohen include version
Wednesday 7 February: Johnny Marr, performing an Mia Pop include version
Thursday 8 February: Shaznay, performing a No Fear protect type
Friday 9 February: Rick Astley, performing an Olivia Rodrigo include version
Monday 12 February: Texas, performing a Charles and Eddie include version
Tuesday 13 February: Jalen Ngonda, performing a Beach Boys cover edition
Wednesday 14 February: Valentine’s Day Special with Lisa Stansfield, performing a Lou Rawls support version
Thursday 15 February: Crowded House, performing a Petula Clark include version
Friday 16 February: Jess Glynne, performing a Fleetwood Mac support version
Monday 19 February: Paloma Faith, performing a Tracy Chapman include version
Tuesday 20 February: Delta Goodrem featuring unique visitor Gary Barlow, performing a Get That protect type
Wednesday 21 February: Elbow, performing a Louis Armstrong protect type
Thursday 22 February: Rod Stewart with Jools Holland, performing a Billie Holiday support version
Friday 23 February: Pet Shop Boys, performing a David Bowie include version
In a press release before tomorrow’s show, host Vernon Kay states:” It’s one of my joys to presenting on Radio 2’s midday show, so I ca n’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 Nose of Music, adding:” The Radio 2 Piano Room quarter will have a superb choice of 20 performers 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 give artists a springboard to success by allowing them to be watched and heard by millions of viewers on the BBC.
The BBC Concert Orchestra’s interim director, Carolyn Hendry, states,” I’m thrilled that Radio 2’s Piano Room Month is coming back for its third year. I look forward to 20 more collaborations between the BBC Concert Orchestra and a number 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 can showcase orchestral arrangements of some of the best songs in the world, enhanced further by our players ‘ musical prowess. I sincerely hope the audience finds it to be as inspiring as ever.