BBC Music
Season 2018
BBC Music is an umbrella title used by the BBC to collect together its music output
Where to Watch Season 2018
54 Episodes
- New Year's Day Concert - Highlights 2018E2
New Year's Day Concert - Highlights 2018Another chance to take your place in the best seats in the house for the New Year's Day Concert from Vienna 2018. Petroc Trelawny is on hand to guide the viewer through the sparkling polkas, marches and waltzes composed by the Strauss family and their contemporaries, including all the traditional favourites. Italian conductor Riccardo Muti takes up the baton of this hugely popular concert for the fifth time, in the spectacular setting of Vienna's Musikverein. Soloists from the Vienna State Ballet perform at Eckartsau Castle and the Court Pavillion at Hietzing Station to mark 100 years since the death of the great Austrian architect Otto Wagner. - The Old Grey Whistle Test For One Night Only
E4The Old Grey Whistle Test For One Night OnlyHosted by Bob Harris, this live studio show features music, special guests and rare archive footage to mark the 30 years since the legendary series was last broadcast. Featuring performances from Peter Frampton, Richard Thompson, Albert Lee and more. Bob also chats to Whistle Test alumni, including Dave Stewart, Joan Armatrading, Ian Anderson, Chris Difford and Kiki Dee, as well as fan Danny Baker. - Jeff Beck: Still on the Run
E5Jeff Beck: Still on the RunFor many people, musicians and fans alike, Jeff Beck is the greatest ever British guitarist. For more than 50 years he has blazed an uncompromising trail across the musical landscape. Always an innovator, never a follower, Jeff has steadfastly refused to pander to the demands of the record industry. This maverick attitude required some difficult career decisions; he left The Yardbirds at the height of their popularity, deserted his own group days before their billed appearance at Woodstock and often shifted his attention to his other great passion of building hot rods rather than continuing a tour or returning to the studio. Jeff's adventurous spirit led him to embrace a wide range of musical styles and he is one of a handful of artists who have transcended and redefined the limitations of their instrument, be it the Fender Telecaster, Esquire, Strat or Gibson Les Paul. He pioneered the use of feedback on record and his ability to capture the zeitgeist made The Yardbirds forerunners of psychedelic blues. With The Jeff Beck Group and the album Truth, he nurtured two of rock music's finest performers, Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood, and gave birth to a sound that would later mutate into heavy metal. He turned even the loss of Rod Stewart to his advantage by almost single-handedly inventing the guitar instrumental album with the release of Blow By Blow, which embraced the influences of Jan Hammer and John McLaughlin whilst developing a sound that was uniquely his own. Moving forward Jeff continued to push the envelope, amassing a fantastic body of work spanning many musical genres whilst constantly developing and evolving his inimitable approach and technique. This film tells Jeff's story from his earliest days growing up in Wallington, Surrey with his homemade guitars, teenage friendship with Jimmy Page and the influences of guitarists such as Les Paul, Cliff Gallup and James Burton. With essential tracks from throughout his career it follows his journey from ar - The Jazz AmbassadorsE7
The Jazz AmbassadorsIn 1955, the African-American congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie announced a new Cold War weapon to combat the Soviet Union - America's iconic jazz musicians and their racially integrated bands would cross the globe to counter negative propaganda about racism in American. Over the next decade, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck would tour the world in service of US Cold War interests. But the unfolding Civil Rights movement back home forced them into a moral bind; how could they promote a tolerant image of America abroad when racial equality remained an unrealised dream? This is the story of how the state department unwittingly gave the Civil Rights movement a voice on the world stage when it needed one most. - Tap America: How a Nation Found Its Feet
E8Tap America: How a Nation Found Its FeetClarke Peters, the writer of Five Guys Named Moe and actor in the likes of The Wire and Three Billboards, explores the origins, development and modern significance of a great American vernacular art form he has loved since a child - tap dancing. From 17th-century accounts of the dances performed by African slaves on American soil to celebrated 19th-century dance-offs and contests between Irish and African-American dancers, through to the troubled Hollywood heyday of tap in the 1930s and 40s when black dancers were routinely excluded from the film roles their talent deserved. The Hollywood greats like Fred Astaire actually owed much of their style to the craft and innovation of unsung black performers such as John Bubbles, Bill Bojangles Robinson, The Nicholas Brothers and Baby Laurence. And on to the painful years of the 'great tap drought' when audiences abruptly fell out of love with the dance after World War Two - depriving a generation of talented tap dancers of their livelihood. From the 1950s to the 1970s, tap was almost single-handedly kept alive in the mainstream by the genius of Sammy Davis Jr. Clarke explores the fascinating story of the 'tap revival' of the early 1980s - spearheaded by the legendary Gregory Hines - and finds out how tap was made modern again, culminating in the hip-hop-inspired hoofing of Savion Glover and beyond. He ends his journey by meeting some of the biggest stars on today's tap scene, such as Michelle Dorrance and Chloe Arnold's Syncopated Ladies (who happen to be Beyonce's favourite tap ensemble). - Summer-night Concert from Vienna - 2018
E10Summer-night Concert from Vienna - 2018Katie Derham introduces 2018's open-air concert from the magnificent gardens of the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, given by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra led by Russian conductor Valery Gergiev. Italian music dominates the programme, with highlights from classical hits such as Rossini's William Tell overture, Mascagni's Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana and Verdi's Triumphal March from his opera Aida. They are joined by Russian superstar soprano Anna Netrebko performing some of her favourite arias, including Puccini's Vissi d'arte from Tosca and O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi. - Reginald D Hunter's Songs of the Border
E11Reginald D Hunter's Songs of the BorderAgainst the backdrop of President Trump's much-trumpeted wall, Reginald D Hunter takes a 2,000-mile road trip along the US-Mexico border to explore how romance and reality play out musically where third-world Mexico meets first-world USA on this broken road to the American dream.Classic American pop and country portray Mexico as a land of escape and romance, but also of danger - think of Marty Robbins's El Paso, The Drifters' Mexican Divorce or Ry Cooder's Across the Borderline. Against this evocative western soundtrack, Hunter explores the border music as it is today, much of it created by musicians drawn from the 36 million Mexican-Americans who are US citizens. Robin Hood tales of Mexican cartels, South American dance, Tex-Mex accordion, Mexican-American rap, border fence sound art and country music of both Mexican and American flavours shed fascinating insight into the topical issues of immigration, drug smuggling and Mexican-American identity, and throw the western songwriter's dream of Mexico as a place of romance, fun and escape into sharp relief.Reg's natural empathy and gentle humanity guides on this cinematic journey, featuring Lyle Lovett, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Frontera Bugalu, Calexico, Carrie Rodriguez, Asleep at the Wheel, Los Texmaniacs, Glenn Weyant, Eva Ybarra and Cecy B. - Dave Grohl - Play
E12Dave Grohl - PlayPLAY is a mini-documentary, directed by Dave Grohl celebrating the rewards and challenges of dedicating ones life to playing and mastering a musical instrument. Part one opens with narrated behind the scenes footage featuring discussion of the love of playing music and the lifelong relationship with an instrument, and detailing the process and challenges of recording and filming this unique performance. PLAY film then segues to the titular 23-minute, one-man-band instrumental recording on which Grohl plays all seven instruments on the track, all live. The entire song was played by Grohl, each time on a different instrument, live for 23 minutes. - Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park - Kylie Minogue
E13Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park - Kylie MinogueKylie Minogue takes to the stage in London's Hyde Park for the annual BBC Radio 2 Festival in a Day to perform a plethora of her floor-filling numbers to a crowd of 45,000 people. Kylie has carved her place in pop music history after dominating the international pop and dance charts and selling more than 80 million records over the course of three decades. Expect such classics as Spinning Around, In Your Eyes, Better the Devil You Know and Can't Get You Out of My Head to be celebrated along with songs from her recent country/Nashville-inspired record Golden, her 14th studio album, which became her first number one album since 2001. - Hyundai Mercury Prize 2018: Album of the Year LiveE14
Hyundai Mercury Prize 2018: Album of the Year LiveCoverage of this year's prestigious music awards ceremony from the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London. Making her debut as host is DJ, BBC Radio 1 presenter and former Mercury Prize judge Annie Mac. Each year, a highly regarded panel of artists, broadcasters, and music industry heavyweights shortlist what they believe to be the best albums of the year. As ever, the shortlist reflects the current eclectic music scene in the UK and this show recognises all of the shortlisted albums through special performances, culminating in the live announcement of this year's winner. Albums range from Who Built the Moon? by rock 'n' roll legend Noel Gallagher with his High Flying Birds; the soulful debut Lost & Found from Walsall's Jorja Smith; intergalactic opus Tranquillity Base Hotel & Casino by previous winners Arctic Monkeys; self-released album Novelist Guy, the debut from south London grime MC Novelist; and High as Hope, the fourth offering from ethereal songstress Florence + the Machine. Concluding the list are albums by Manchester's indie pop quartet Everything Everything; south London's understated and unsettling Archie Marshall aka King Krule; record company boss and producer Richard Russell's star-studded impromptu collective Everything Is Recorded; South Tyneside's passionate singer-songwriter Nadine Shah; jazz four-piece Sons of Kemet, led by sax maestro Shabaka Hutchings; plus festival favourites Wolf Alice and, completing the list, the pop queen who wears her heart on her sleeve through her confessional songs - Lily Allen. - Disco & Beyond with Ana Matronic and Martyn Ware
E15Disco & Beyond with Ana Matronic and Martyn WareFormer Scissor Sisters singer Ana Matronic along with Martyn Ware, who was in both The Human League and Heaven 17, reveal a playlist packed with disco classics and more. Each song is hand-picked, and as they watch the performances, they reveal the reasons behind their choices. Discover why the Scissor Sisters owe a debt to Boney M, and how Martyn Ware helped revive the career of a singing icon. From Donna Summer to the Doctor Who theme tune and The Temptations to Tina Turner, their playlist holds dance-along gems interwoven with candid stories. - Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park - The Manic Street Preachers
E16Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park - The Manic Street PreachersJo Whiley and Sara Cox introduce the Manic Street Preachers and Gary Davies brings his Sounds Of The 80s live Megamix to Hyde Park. One of the UK’s most notorious and best loved bands, Manic Street Preachers return to Hyde Park, after thrilling us in 2013, with a stash of anthemic sing-alongs like Design for Life and You Love Us. With a career spanning over 30 years, the Welsh legends have never lost their trademark politically inspired rock sound with which they announced themselves in 1986. With their newly released 13th album Resistance is Futile under their belts, expect The Manics to be a force on the Hyde Park stage. - Bowie at GlastonburyE17
Bowie at GlastonburyOn Sunday 25 June 2000, David Bowie closed Glastonbury with a two-hour performance. Only half an hour or so of that stunning set was broadcast on BBC television that night at Bowie's insistence. At the time, the BBC were heavily criticised for coming off Bowie after broadcasting the first five songs of the set live and only returning for a couple of encore songs at the end of the show. Fortunately the cameras kept rolling and captured the whole set. This programme features an hour of highlights from that performance, including such previously unbroadcast hits as Ashes to Ashes, Starman and Let's Dance. Bowie was returning to the festival for the first time since 1971. His star was not in the ascendant after the Tin Machine era and such 90s solo albums as Outside, Earthling and Hours. But from the moment he walked out on the Pyramid Stage, resplendent in an Alexander McQueen frock coat with his hair in Hunky Dory mode, and launched into Wild is the Wind, it was clear that he had decided to embrace and fully restate both his catalogue and his legend. Arguably it was Bowie's greatest live performance since the 70s. After a heart attack in June 2004 while at the end of the 110-plus dates of A Reality Tour, Bowie never played live with a band again. His final stage performance was at a private Aids benefit show with pianist Mike Garson in 2006 - Beats, Bass and Bars: The Story of GrimeE18
Beats, Bass and Bars: The Story of GrimeAlmost 20 years on from its first beginnings, grime dominates the music charts and awards ceremonies, and even influences politics. Here, rapper Rodney P examines how grime rose from the council estates of east London to become the most important British musical movement since punk. He discovers that its success rests upon the original styles and contributions of previous generations of artists and learns that grime can only be truly understood when viewed as part of a broader social narrative and ever-evolving musical culture that goes back to the 1980s. - Synth & Beyond with Stephen Morris and Gillian GilbertE19
Synth & Beyond with Stephen Morris and Gillian GilbertNew Order's Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert unpack a playlist of electro, pop and new wave classics spanning four decades. Stephen and Gillian have been married for 24 years and have been in New Order together for even longer, but they still manage to surprise one another with their musical tastes. While Stephen declares Captain Beefheart an early influence, Gillian confesses her teenage love for a disco classic. During an hour of top tunes, Stephen also reveals the moment he was mistaken for Stevie Wonder, and Gillian recalls how her Dad was a fan of punk. From Kraftwerk to Can, David Bowie to Kate Bush, Magazine to Grace Jones and many more, this stellar playlist by Stephen and Gillian is brimming with iconic performances. - Simply the Best: In Conversation with Tina Turner
E20Simply the Best: In Conversation with Tina TurnerGrammy award-winning singer Tina Turner talks to Will Gompertz about her five-decade-long career as one of the biggest stars in rock music - as her memoir My Love Story is published. In a candid interview she discusses her music, her health problems, her relationship with her late ex-husband Ike and the recent death of her eldest son. - Blues & Beyond with Cerys Matthews and Val Wilmer
E21Blues & Beyond with Cerys Matthews and Val WilmerDJ and broadcaster Cerys Matthews and acclaimed blues photographer Val Wilmer select their favourite blues musicians, several of whom Val has met and photographed. As they view their selection, they reveal the reasons behind their choices. Discover why Muddy Waters is their master of mojo, and how Val rescued Jimi Hendrix from some over-eager fans. From Howlin' Wolf to John Lee Hooker, Sister Rosetta Tharpe to Peggy Lee and many more, their playlist is packed with classic blues and punctuated with great stories. Blues and Beyond offers new insights on both the subject and the narrators, as well as providing a heady nostalgic hit of the very best in blues music, from the intimate to the epic. - Royal Opera House - Lessons in Love and Violence
E22Royal Opera House - Lessons in Love and ViolenceSir George Benjamin conducts the world premiere of his darkly dramatic new opera based on the life of Edward II - a major event in contemporary music with an internationally renowned cast, Lessons in Love and Violence is the latest collaboration between composer George Benjamin and playwright Martin Crimp. Their previous work includes the large-scale opera Written on Skin - which has since become the most performed new opera of the 21st century. Director Katie Mitchell and designer Vicki Mortimer complete the creative team. King Edward II's relationship with Piers Gaveston upsets the personal life of court and the political wellbeing of the country. When the controlling military leader Mortimer joins forces with Queen Isabel, the results are deadly for Gaveston and Edward. The lessons learned by the characters of this new opera are harsh ones, following a gripping trajectory from warmth and indulgence towards calculating, cold severity. - Indie & Beyond with Shaun Ryder and Alan McGeeE23
Indie & Beyond with Shaun Ryder and Alan McGeeHappy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder and Creation Records boss Alan McGee reveal a selection of their all-time favourite tracks. From first jobs to private jets, long-time friends Ryder and McGee unpack the songs that formed the soundtrack to their lives. In an hour of eclectic tunes, Shaun Ryder also discovers his lost Top of the Pops appearance and Alan McGee declares an alternative Scottish national anthem. Theirs is a blistering playlist of indie, punk and ska classics from Buzzcocks to The Specials, Junior Murvin to Marc Bolan, Orange Juice to Underworld and many more. - Soul & Beyond with Corinne Bailey Rae and Trevor NelsonE24
Soul & Beyond with Corinne Bailey Rae and Trevor NelsonDJ Trevor Nelson and singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae present their ultimate soundtrack in an hour of classic and contemporary soul and R&B gems. As they watch their selection, they reveal the reasons behind their choices. From childhood favourites such as The Jackson 5 and Gladys Knight to inspirational tracks from Prince, Mary J Blige, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, this is a playlist to satisfy any soul fan. - Vocal Giants & Beyond with Beverley Knight and James MorrisonE26
Vocal Giants & Beyond with Beverley Knight and James MorrisonBeverley Knight and James Morrison select their all-time favourite vocalists in a playlist packed with some of the world's greatest singers. They celebrate incredible voices and track their influence in an hour of astonishing archive performances. James picks Tina Turner's epic Proud Mary rendition as one of his all-time greats, and Beverley introduces him to Big Mama Thornton - a woman who taught Elvis a thing a two. What's it like to sing with your 'idol of idols'? Beverley reveals how she felt when this opportunity presented itself. Experience the raw stadium rock vocal of Steve Tyler and the soaring acoustic purity of Eva Cassidy; the intensity of Otis Redding and the passion of Prince. Whitney Houston sings live to an audience of millions, and Sir Tom Jones returns to the green grass of Wales to deliver one of his classic hits. Finally a pitch-perfect George Michael serves to blow the roof off Wembley stadium in this feelgood hour of dazzling show-stoppers. - Holst and Vaughan Williams: Making Music English
E27Holst and Vaughan Williams: Making Music EnglishHistorian Amanda Vickery and broadcaster Tom Service unearth the fascinating story of the life-long friendship between composers Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst, whose music gave birth to the 'English sound' in the first half of the 20th century. They retrace the walking trips the two composers took together across the country to discover how influences ranging from the Renaissance masters to folk music imbued their music with the 'Englishness' we recognise today. Illustrating the story, the BBC Concert Orchestra perform excerpts of both composers' music. - Reggae Fever: David RodiganE30
Reggae Fever: David RodiganDavid Rodigan's unlikely career as a reggae broadcaster and DJ has developed in parallel with the evolution of Jamaican music in the UK. His passion and his profession have given him a privileged, insiders' view of the UK's love affair with Jamaican music that began in the 1950s. His constant championing of it has afforded him national treasure status with generations of British Jamaicans and all lovers of reggae music. This is a film about the career of David Rodigan but it's also a window through which to see a wider human story about social change in the UK: a story of immigration and integration, and music's role within it. The beginning of his career conjures up a forgotten era when reggae was reviled by liberal, hippyish music fans because of its association with skinheads. At one point, his fellow students agreed to share a house with him only if Rodigan agreed not to play reggae. Instead, he would haunt London's specialist record shops and sneak out to Jamaican clubs alone. His break first came on BBC Radio London, where his knowledge and infectious enthusiasm won him the gig. Since that first break, he's had shows on Capital, Kiss and now BBC Radio 1Xtra and BBC Radio 2. In the 80s, his radio show became such a Sunday lunchtime fixture in London's West Indian households that it was colloquially known as 'rice 'n' peas'. Bob Marley personally chose Rodigan's show to play out the world exclusive of Could You Be Loved. As well as being a DJ, Rodigan also began to 'soundclash' on a global stage. This musical competition where crew members from opposing sound systems pit their skills against each other involves the playing of records in turn, with the crowd ultimately deciding who has 'killed' the other crew, by playing the better chosen track. But standard versions of tracks don't cut it in a clash, where the true currency is 'dubplates' - versions of tracks recut, often by the original artist, with lyrics changed to praise the playing crew or d - Primal Scream: The Lost Memphis Tapes
E31Primal Scream: The Lost Memphis TapesThe programme shows Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie's fascination with music from an early age, listening to the sounds of Elvis and Aretha Franklin before graduating to punk. He talks about his passion for music and how to keep creativity on the right track. In the early 90s the UK music scene was changing - with Oasis and Blur emerging, this alternative rock band was recording in Memphis but suddenly sounded out of step with the music scene. As the documentary reveals, nine songs were recorded for the band's 1994 album Give Out But Don't Give Up, including Jailbird, Rocks, and Cry Myself Blind, but the album that was released, after further mixes were made to make the new album more contemporary, was not the mix Primal Scream wanted. In the film Bobby Gillespie talks candidly about how this process led him to question his own judgement and that for many years the experience left him feeling that he had failed himself and his audience. With exclusive, previously unreleased footage of behind-the-scenes studio sessions, this is the story of how the original mixtapes of the album were rediscovered in a basement by Andrew Innes, Primal Scream's rhythm guitarist. The sessions recorded by the band in Memphis with the legendary record producer Tom Dowd, along with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section musicians Roger Hawkins, drums, and David Hood, bass, did not make the light of day, because some of the mixes were not suitable in the musical climate at the time. Bobby and Andrew go back to Memphis 25 years later to revisit Ardent Studios, where the band first recorded the original album, and meet some of the musicians and engineers involved in the process. It gives Bobby the chance to remaster the album he had originally envisaged all those years ago. The film has new interviews with Bobby, Andrew, David and Jeff Powell, the original engineer, giving their own, unique perspectives of the events of more than 20 years ago. Plus, there are archive interviews with the Me - David Cassidy: The Last Session
E32David Cassidy: The Last SessionThis candid biography explores the life of David Cassidy, the 70s pop idol and TV star. The film includes never-before-heard audio interviews with David from 1976 and a raw and poignantly filmed final recording session shortly before his death. Cassidy's role as singer Keith Partridge in the 1970s sitcom The Partridge Family brought fame and fortune and made him a global teen sensation. David Cassidy: The Last Session tells the inside story of his explosive rise to fame, his conflicted relationships with his father and his own celebrity, and the legacy he left behind. - Evita: The Making of a Superstar
E33Evita: The Making of a SuperstarSuzy Klein travels deep into the world of musical theatre, and the colourful landscapes of Argentina, to discover the story of one of the West End's most celebrated characters. Intertwining the stories of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's creation with the true story of Eva Peron, she celebrates the extraordinary show in the 40th year after its creation. Meeting musical stars including Elaine Paige, Hal Prince and Tim Rice, she hears how the show came into being, all inspired by a face on a postage stamp. She then travels to Argentina, meeting politicians, performers and Eva fans to hear how this intensely divisive figure - loved by the poor, loathed by the rich - became one of the enduring icons of our time. - Stevie Wonder: A Musical History
E34Stevie Wonder: A Musical HistoryWell-known fans celebrate Stevie Wonder and his music by selecting some of his best-loved songs. Wonder is one of the dominant figures in American music, a multi-faceted genius whose music has permeated popular culture, and he is not short of celebrity fans. His musical achievements are lauded in this anthology of his greatest hits. Contributors include actor Martin Freeman, singers Alexander O'Neal, James Morrison, Beverley Knight and Corinne Bailey Rae, New Order's Gillian Gilbert and Stephen Morris, DJs Ana Matronic, Trevor Nelson and Norman Jay, Heaven's 17's Glenn Gregory and Martyn Ware, journalist Sian Pattenden and presenter Emma Dabiri. - Tabula Rasa
E35Tabula RasaTwo of Scotland's foremost performing groups, Scottish Ensemble and Vanishing Point, present a co-production that sets Arvo Pärt's spiritual and mesmeric Tabula Rasa (as well as Spiegel im Spiegel and Fratres) in a theatrical context, exploring the recognised role of the piece in the care of patients during their final days. With musicians forming an integral part of the drama, this visionary production explores the documented role of Pärt’s haunting piece, which has come to be known - and used - as a profound and transcendental piece of music. It is a life-affirming exploration of care, humanity, suffering - and the uplifting power, and endless importance, of art. - Aretha Franklin: RespectE36
Aretha Franklin: RespectThis tribute pays respect to the voice and life of Aretha Franklin, who died on 16 August 2018 aged 76. The daughter of legendary preacher CL Franklin, who hailed from the same Deep South as many of the blues legends, Aretha was raised in Detroit where her father preached at the New Bethel Baptist Church and where she grew up singing gospel. She had her first child at 13 and signed to Columbia in 1960, and her career ignited when she signed to Atlantic in 1967. Global hits such as I Say a Little Prayer and Respect then quickly established her as the queen of soul, while her majestic delivery and regal presence made her an iconic figure in the emerging civil rights movement. Aretha enjoyed renewed success in the 1980s when she collaborated with Luther Vandross, had a cameo in The Blues Brothers and duets with the likes of Annie Lennox and George Michael. She was also the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and has sold over 75 million records. As recently as 2015 she stunned audiences with her extraordinary performance of (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman in front of President Barack Obama and the song's co-writer Carole King at the Kennedy Center. - Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music: A Musical History
E37Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music: A Musical HistoryDocumentary exploring the music of rock band Roxy Music, who have a good claim to be one of the UK's most influential bands. Led by charismatic front man Bryan Ferry, their striking style and great songs won them an army of fans who would go on to make their own mark in the world of music. In this celebration of the music of both Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music, insights and anecdotes are provided by household names from Sadie Frost to Glenn Gregory & Martyn Ware, Gaz Coombes, New Order's Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert, Shaun Ryder and Alan McGee, Ana Matronic and more. Formed in 1971, Roxy Music was the brain child of art student Bryan Ferry. His advert in Melody Maker gathered the initial line-up which included guitarist Phil Manzanera, saxophonist Andy Mackay, keyboard player Brian Eno and drummer Paul Thompson. Pioneers of glam, their outlandish fashion sense, songwriting and pioneering use of electronics created a glorious package. Punk, New Wave and New Romantic music owe a huge debt to Bryan and Roxy Music. Style is one thing, but the substance was reflected in a catalogue of classic songs - combined they create an enduring legacy which is celebrated in a golden hour of their greatest hits. - Fleetwood Mac: A Musical History
E38Fleetwood Mac: A Musical HistoryFellow musicians, journalists and fans celebrate Fleetwood Mac with a selection of their best-loved songs. Fleetwood Mac are the great survivors of British and American rock music. For more than fifty years they’ve overcome break-ups and breakdowns to become one of the most successful bands of all time. They have sold over 100 million records worldwide, with their 1977 smash Rumours accounting for nearly half of those sales. They have endured, like all great bands, because of the complimentary talents of its members. From Peter Green to Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham, it has contained some extraordinary songwriters. With brilliant musicians on all instruments, the band has been able to turn the songs into commercial gold. Above all the tough determination of the two men who gave the band their name has seen Fleetwood Mac through thick and thin. Fleetwood fan Edith Bowman provides a narrative overview alongside other celebrity fans, who all pay tribute to the band in this hit-filled hour. Contributors include KT Tunstall, Travis’s frontman Fran Healy, Toyah Willcox, Sian Pattenden and Emma Dabiri. - Radio 2 In Concert: Ed Sheeran (2018)
E39Radio 2 In Concert: Ed Sheeran (2018)Global pop star and Suffolk boy Ed Sheeran performs in the intimate setting of the BBC Radio Theatre, London, following his global stadium tour. Ivor Novello Award- and Brit Award-winning Ed made his debut TV performance on Later... with Jools Holland in April 2011, beginning his meteoric rise to fame with his debut album +. He has since released two further record-breaking albums and has cumulative sales of 26 million albums and 100 million singles worldwide. Expect songs from across all his very popular albums from this troubadour of modern pop music. - Dreaming of a Jewish ChristmasE40
Dreaming of a Jewish ChristmasDreaming of a Jewish Christmas tells the story of a group of brilliant Jewish songwriters, including Irving Berlin, Mel Torme, Jay Livingston, Ray Evans, Gloria Shayne Baker and Johnny Marks, who wrote the soundtrack to Christianity’s most musical holiday. It’s an amazing tale of immigrant outsiders who became irreplaceable players in pop culture’s mainstream – a generation of songwriters who found in Christmas the perfect holiday in which to imagine a better world, and for at least one day a year, make us believe in it. - Merry Christmas Baby - with Gregory Porter & FriendsE41
Merry Christmas Baby - with Gregory Porter & FriendsGregory Porter hosts a seasonal cocktail of music with a festive flavour. He’s joined by special guests: singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae; 24-year-old musical phenomenon Jacob Collier; legendary British saxophonist Courtney Pine; and one of the UK’s best loved jazz singers Clare Teal. Featuring standards from the Great American Songbook, together with a carol or two, and some of Gregory’s personal favourites, performances include ‘Merry Christmas Baby’, ‘Silent Night’, ‘Take me to the Alley’ and ‘The Christmas Song’. Filmed in an intimate ‘jazz club’ setting in Cardiff Bay, Merry Christmas Baby has all the ingredients of a joyful winter warmer - the perfect offering for a mellow Christmas night. - Madness Rocks Big Ben Live (1)E42
Madness Rocks Big Ben Live (1)The New Year's Eve celebrations kick off live from the heart of London with a concert staged by music legends Madness. They perform many of their massive hits as the programme builds up to midnight and the spectacular fireworks display over the River Thames. The concert also includes special collaborations with The Kingdom Choir. - Cèilidh na Bliadhn' Ùire 2018
E46Cèilidh na Bliadhn' Ùire 2018Tha Cèilidh Na Bliadhn’ Ùire 2018 a’ tighinn beò am-bliadhna à seann Talla Bhaile Ghobhainn, faisg air Abhainn Chluaidh, agus aig aon àm ainmeil mar thaigh-dannsa nan Gàidheil agus na ‘Urban Teuchtars’ ri chèile. Bidh aoighean am pailteas agus ceòl is craic gu leòr! Còmhla rinn air an oidhche bidh: an Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band, Kathleen NicAonghais, Sineag Nic an t-Saoir, Seudan, Kim Carnie, Murchadh ‘Wasp’ Dòmhnallach, Hò-ro, Ceòlraidh Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu, Còisir Ghàidhlig Bhaile Ghobhainn agus aodainn ainmeil & càirdeil a’ cur fàilte air a’ bhliadhn’ ùir. Thèid am prògram a lìbhrigeadh le Cathy NicDhòmhnaill agus Niall Iain Dòmhnallach agus bidh iad a’ guidhe ceud mìle fàilte dhuibh maille ri cèol is craic! Feuch gum bi sibh còmhla rinn airson Cèilidh Na Bliadhn’ Ùire 2018 beò air Oidhche Challain. Nach tog sibh glainne còmhla rinn airson fàilte mhòr chridheil a chur air 2019. Hogmanay Ceilidh 2018 broadcasts live from Govan Old Town Hall on the banks of the River Clyde, home to Gaels and Urban Teuchtars alike. We open our doors to an array of stunning Gaelic singers and musicians providing ceilidh craic and a sensational playlist to take you through the bells and into 2019. Joining us live for the celebrations are The Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band, Kathleen MacInnes, Murdo Macdonald, Seudan, Kim Carnie, Hò-rò, Sineag MacIntyre, Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association, Govan Gaelic Choir and a surprise first foot. Cathy Macdonald and Niall Iain Macdonald are your hosts for the evening’s live entertainment and will be wishing you 100,000 welcomes as they lead the shindig through midnight into the wee small hours. Tune in live for the 2018 Hogmanay Ceilidh and raise a glass with us at the bells as we bid farewell to the old year and welcome in the new year. - Country & Beyond with The Shires
E49Country & Beyond with The ShiresBritish singer-songwriter duo Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle form the award-winning country act The Shires. Their ultimate soundtrack ranges from Dolly Parton to Shania Twain. Each song is handpicked and as they watch the performances they reveal the reasons behind their choices. They kick off with the Queen of Country, Dolly Parton, and her iconic track Jolene. Following that comes legendary singer Patsy Cline, and for Crissie it brings back memories of singing along to Crazy with her grandmother. Ben then picks country pop crossover Shania Twain, whose That Don't Impress Me Much certainly made its mark on him. But Ben also likes his country classics and plumps for Glen Campbell's legendary Wichita Lineman. It's not only the stalwarts of the Great Country Songbook - they also make room for the edgy Americana roots music of critically acclaimed duo The Civil Wars and their spine-tingling live appearance on Later. - Backstage Pass: Lily Allen
E50Backstage Pass: Lily AllenAfter a four-year break from music that saw her split from her management and husband plus deal with a stalker who broke into her house, Lily Allen returns with a new, brutally honest album and plenty to say! Backstage Pass follows her as she prepares to take the stage at the Mighty Hoopla Festival in South West London. Joining her at home where she gets ready for the day ahead, Lily talks about writing and recording a very personal album, her four year break, being a Mum, her thoughts on the UK press, politics and dealing with her demons. Travelling with her to the festival, Backstage Pass gets an exclusive look at her stage preparation, including her vocal warm up, as she’s joined by family and friends. Lily soaks up the festival atmosphere and meets fans ahead of her set, as she deals with the continued anxiety she feels before stepping onto stage. - Duran Duran: There's Something You Should KnowE51
Duran Duran: There's Something You Should KnowWith exclusive access, Duran Duran open up about their extraordinary career and talk candidly about the highs and lows they have endured together over four long decades. This is the band at their most relaxed, intimate and honest. The film spends time with John at his LA home, Simon pays a visit to his former choir master, Roger goes back to where it all started in Birmingham, and Nick dusts off some of the 10,000 fashion items that the band have meticulously catalogued and collected over the course of their career. Features fellow singer Boy George, fan and record producer Mark Ronson, friend, fan and supermodel Cindy Crawford and Highlander film director Russell Mulcahy. - Barbra Streisand: Becoming an Icon 1942-1984E52
Barbra Streisand: Becoming an Icon 1942-1984Barbra Streisand grew up in working class Brooklyn, dreaming of escape from her tough childhood. A stellar student, she resisted the pressure to go to college as her sights were firmly set on Broadway. She was determined to become an actress and landed her first role aged 16, but it was two years later, when she started to sing, that her career took off. Subverting stereotypes and breaking glass ceilings, this programme looks at her rise to stardom and the remarkable achievements of her early career. - Bros: After the Screaming StopsE53
Bros: After the Screaming StopsIn the 1980s, Bros were one of the biggest bands in the world... for 15 minutes. Having sold out stadiums around the world, they were the youngest to this day to play Wembley, and their Push album went to number one in over 20 countries, selling 10 million copies worldwide. The rise and fall of Bros was meteoric. This film charts twins Matt and Luke Goss's reunion 28 years on, after they had hardly spoken and not played together since their split. With an incredibly fractured relationship and only three weeks to go until sell-out gigs at The O2 London, will they be able to put their history aside and come together as brothers to play the show of their lives? A raw and emotional look into the aftermath of fame and the reconnection between two twins torn apart by their past. - My Asian Family - the MusicalE54
My Asian Family - the MusicalA joyous spectacle of song and dance, exploring one Asian family and the life they made for themselves in Leicester. In the early 1970s, the president of Uganda, Idi Amin, expelled the Ugandan Asians from the country. Ten members of the Thakrar family came to the UK and moved to Leicester, where they have since grown into a family of 90, spanning three generations. Old and young sing about the family's story, the changes between each generation and the lives they lead now. Show
