LONDON, UK (Top40 Charts) Radio 2 in the Park is coming to Moor Park, Preston, this September and today the DJ line-up for the three dates is announced, with a host of big names from the Radio 2 presenting family hitting the decks across the weekend, as well as introducing the artists on the main stage.
Following the launch of the DJ stage (in addition to the main stage) at Radio 2 in the Park 2023 in Leicester, the 'big top of bop' returns for 2024 and plays host to many of the station's presenters who will be spinning their favourite tunes to get the audience dancing.
In addition to the Saturday and Sunday events, new this year is a Pre-Party on Friday 6 September from 5-11pm, featuring Radio 2 presenters taking to the DJ stage to entertain 5000 revellers in the park and kick off the weekend in style.
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, says: "The debut of the Radio 2 DJ stage at last year's Radio 2 in the Park in Leicester was a huge hit with all those who joined us for the weekend, so we're bringing it to Preston and, due to popular demand, adding an extra special Pre-Party on the Friday. Radio 2 listeners love to party to great music, whatever their age, so we're looking forward to kicking off the weekend's festivities a day early this year."
Tickets are now available here along with full terms and conditions. Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday events, which take place over a 170,000 square foot site, are priced from £59 (plus booking fee). Tickets to the Radio 2 in the Park Pre-Party are available at £30 (plus booking fee).
Please note, the following are listed in alphabetical order.
Friday 6 September
• DJ Spoony's Good Groove
• Rylan's Rybiza Anthems
• Sara Cox's Wower Hour
• Scott Mills' Wonder Years
• Vernon Kay's Dance Sounds of the 90s
Saturday 7 September
• Dermot O'Leary's Alternative Sounds of the 90s
• Jo Whiley's Shiny Happy Playlist
• Michelle Visage's Handbag Hits
• Romesh Ranganathan's For The Love of Hip Hop
• Rylan's Rybiza Anthems
• Scott Mills' Wonder Years
• Tony Blackburn's Golden Years
Sunday 8 September
• DJ Spoony's Good Groove
• Gary Davies' Sounds of the 80s
• Paddy McGuinness' Sunday School Disco
• Sara Cox's Wower Hour
• Trevor Nelson's Rhythm Nation
• Vernon Kay's Dance Sounds of the 90s
DJ Spoony: "I'm breaking out of the studio and you can guarantee I'm bringing the best of the Good Groove with me to keep it cool in (hopefully!) sunny Preston."
Sara Cox says: "I am so excited to be joining our brilliant listeners in practically perfect Preston, sharing the fun and joy of Radio 2 in the Park with my very own Wower Hour, so make sure you prepare for some top teatime tunes!"
Scott Mills: "I'm so ready to get onto that DJ stage in Preston and deliver you a Wonder Years set that you'll love. Let's start the weekend as we mean to go on. I need EVERYONE dancing no excuses."
Vernon Kay says: "Get ready to party Preston as I'm going to take you back in time for a sublime Dance Sounds of the 90s DJ set. See you there!"
As previously announced Sting will headline on Saturday 7 September with Pet Shop Boys topping the bill for Sunday 8 September.
Fresh off the STING 3.0 tour, Sting (vocals, bass) will front his new power rock trio with long-time collaborator Dominic Miller (guitar) and dynamic drummer Chris Maas (Mumford & Sons, Maggie Rogers). They'll be performing music from Sting's timeless discography, including solo hits, surprise rarities and The Police classics.
Pet Shop Boys will present their highly acclaimed Dreamworld: The Greatest Hits Live production - a set featuring classic hits and the latest singles from their best-selling new album, Nonetheless.
The full line-up is:
Saturday 7 September
Sting
Sugababes
Snow Patrol Craig David
Kim Wilde
Pixie Lott
Shaznay Lewis
Travis
Sunday 8 September
Pet Shop Boys
Manic Street Preachers
Sister Sledge feat. Kathy Sledge
Paul Heaton
Gabrielle
Shed Seven
Delta Goodrem
Haircut 100
Radio 2 presenters will also be introducing artists on stage and broadcasting live from an on-site studio in Moor Park - which will look out to thousands of revellers on Saturday and Sunday - with shows and sets available live plus on demand on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer across the weekend and for 30 days afterwards.
BBC Radio 2 is the UK's most listened to radio station, with a weekly audience of 13.23 million (RAJAR Q1, 2024) and The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show is most listened to Breakfast show in the UK with 6.65 million listeners (RAJAR Q1, 2024). The network's presenters include Michael Ball, Zoe Ball, Rob Beckett, Tony Blackburn, OJ Borg, Revd. Kate Bottley, Rylan, Fearne Cotton, Sara Cox, Jamie Cullum, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gary Davies, Paul Gambaccini, Mark Goodier, Angela Griffin, Bob Harris, Vernon Kay, Cerys Matthews, Paddy McGuinness, Scott Mills, Jason Mohammad, Trevor Nelson, Dermot O'Leary, Elaine Paige, Mark Radcliffe, Romesh Ranganathan, DJ Spoony, Liza Tarbuck, Jeremy Vine, Michelle Visage, Johnnie Walker, Jo Whiley, Phil Williams and Owain Wyn Evans.
At the 2024 Audio and RadioIndustry Awards, also known as the ARIAs, Scott Mills won Gold for the Best Music Entertainment Show, 21st Century Folk won Gold for the Best Music Special, Windrush 75 won Gold for Best Coverage of an Event, and The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show won Bronze for the Best Music Breakfast Show. Plus, Cerys Matthews won the Best Blues Broadcaster Award for the third time at the annual UK Blues Awards so she has now been elected into the UK Blues Hall Of Fame.
