Sky Arts unveils new line-up of programmes dedicated to the UK music scene
Sky Arts unveils new line-up of programmes dedicated to the UK music scene
As we wait with bated breath for music venues, concert halls, clubs and arenas to reopen after over a year of closures, Sky Arts is today announcing a raft of brand new music programmes which will bring musicians from Soul II Soul to Slipknot straight to your living room.
Two brand new original commissions for music-lovers include:
The Live Revival: a new three-part series bringing together world class acts and breakthrough artists to shine a light on those hard-hit small music venues around the UK which are the beating heart of our music scene. Join musicians including Paul Weller, The Fratellis, James and David Gray as they revisit the regional venues they gigged in at the start of their careers to give exclusive one-off performances in a bid to spotlight the much-loved pubs and clubs which are increasingly under threat.
Noel Gallagher – Out of the Now: the legendary songwriter presents an up-close performance of music and storytelling from London’s Duke of York’s Theatre. Powered by his full formidable band, Noel will perform ten tracks spanning his career in Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Oasis, and walk us through some of the significant moments in his own life and career which continue to define British pop culture.
Phil Edgar Jones, Director, Sky Arts and Entertainment, commented:
“I don’t know what I’d have done without my favourite music to get me through lockdown and, while we are still missing the joys of live performance, Sky Arts is here with the next best thing – whether that’s digging into the archives for Guy Garvey: From the Vaults or the Best of Download for committed rockers, or if you’d prefer Handel’s La Resurrezionne conducted by Harry Bicket
with The English Concert or Noel Gallagher telling his story in words and song in Noel Gallagher: Out of the Now or violin virtuoso Janine Jenson Falling for Stradivari – we’ve got something to suit every taste."
“We also wanted to turn our attention to the plight of the small music venue; the places all the great bands or solo artists started out and learned their craft. And we’ve been overwhelmed by the response from some of the greats of British music who have gone back to the places they began to pay homage with incredible performances that shine a light on these important places.”
Further new music programmes set to feature on Sky Arts in the coming months include:
- Song for Nature
A specially curated concert for the London Climate Change Festival airing this evening for Earth Day featuring appearances from Rob Brydon, Janie Dee, David Suchet and Brian May.
- Classic Albums
Returning for a new series with an in-depth look at some of the greatest albums ever made, kicking off with The Who’s legendary concept album, The Who Sell Out, followed by Soul II Soul’s triple platinum Club Classics Vol 1.
- Handel’s La Resurrezione
A new production of Handel’s rarely performed sacred oratorio starring the English Concert conducted by Harry Bicket.
- Matt Deighton: Overshadowed
Airing during Mental Health Awareness Week, the respected front man of acid jazz band, Mother Earth, guides us through his life, music and the challenges of mental health and musicianship.
- Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan
A brand new feature documentary following the prolific founder of The Pretenders as she spends 15 weeks in lockdown working on 10 timeless new covers of Bob Dylan. The film will air on his 80th birthday.
- Guy Garvey: From the Vaults
The Elbow frontman returns to lift the lid on decades of TV gold, including era-defining musical performances and interviews which haven’t been seen for years.
- Best of Download Festival
Celebrating the best moments of the head-banging rock festival between 2011 and 2019, featuring Iron Maiden, Slipknot, Def Leppard and Halestorm.
- Falling for Stradivari
Follow virtuosic violinist Janine Jensen as she finds and plays some of the most sought-after violins in the world, all of them steeped in musical history.
- Darbar Indian Music Festival
Explore the ways in which Indian music can aid mindfulness, meditation and support mental health with a selection of Ragas which define Indian classical music.
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact:
Lucy Butterfield
07815646886
Further details on programming announcements:
The Live Revival (3x60’)
TX 20 May, 27 May, 3 June, 9pm
Noel Gallagher: Out of the Now (1x60’)
TX June - date TBC
Song for Nature (1x100’)
TX 22 April, 9pm
Classic Albums (4x60’)
TX 23 April 9pm
Handel’s La Resurrezione (1x90’)
TX 3 May, 7pm
Matt Deighton: Overshadowed (1x90’)
TX 14 May, 9pm
Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan (1x60’)
TX 24 May, 9pm
Best of Download Festival (2x90’)
TX 5 and 6 June, 10pm
Guy Garvey: From the Vaults (5x60’)
TX weekly from 2 July, 8pm
Falling for Stradivari (1x90’)
TX August 2021
Darbar Indian Music Festival
TX Autumn 2021
About Sky Arts
Sky Arts exists to bring more art to more people across the UK. In 2020, with the creative industries under serious threat, we threw open our doors to make the channel free for everyone to watch. We’ve redoubled our mission to increase access to the arts and we’re committed to getting everyone involved as the industry recovers. The fact is, we need the arts now like never before, and Sky Arts brings them straight to your living room.
We have something for everyone, championing creative talent by showcasing the best in music, theatre, dance, literature, opera and visual art. From Glyndebourne to Grime and Cézanne to The Style Council, we’ve got your passions covered. Millions of viewers tune in to hit returning series such as Portrait Artist of the Year, Urban Myths and British cultural institution The South Bank Show, but our acclaimed new programmes might take you anywhere from Pinter’s house with Danny Dyer to a Scottish road trip with Samuel Johnson.
Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. Sky Arts is the headline sponsor of National Theatre Live in the UK and we work with cultural partners across the country including the English National Opera, Royal Academy of Arts, Tate, Creative Industries Federation and Coventry City of Culture to name but a few.
You can watch Sky Arts for free on Freeview channel 11 and Freesat channel 147. If you’ve got Sky or a Now TV entertainment pass, you can also watch over 2,000 hours of shows exclusively on demand.
We’re passionate about supporting the next generation of artists, so we’re working with five leading Sky Arts Ambassadors - Booker Prize-winner Bernardine Evaristo, dance artist Akram Khan, conductor Charles Hazlewood, Theatre Royal Stratford East Artistic Director Nadia Fall, and sculptor Anish Kapoor – to run bursary schemes for new and emerging talent.
About Sky
Sky is Europe’s leading media and entertainment company and is proud to be part of the Comcast group. Across six countries, we connect our 24 million customers to the best entertainment, sports, news and arts including our own award-winning original content.
Our technology, including the market leading Sky Q, connects people to everything they love – with entertainment from Sky TV, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer, and apps like Spotify, YouTube, BBC Sounds, Highbrow, Fiit, and more, in one place, easy. Our streaming service NOW, brings viewers all the enjoyment of Sky with the flexibility of a contract-free service.
Building on the success of Sky Originals like Chernobyl, Bulletproof and Brassic, we are doubling our investment in original content by 2024 through Sky Studios. Sky News provides impartial and trustworthy journalism for free, Sky Arts is the UK’s only dedicated free-to-air arts channel making the arts accessible for everyone and Sky Sports, our leading sports broadcasting service brings customers some of the biggest and best global sporting events from the Premier League to Formula 1 and everything in between. Our new TV and movie studio, Sky Studios Elstree, which will open in 2022, is expected to create over 2,000 new jobs and generate an additional £3 billion of production investment in the UK over the first five years.
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