mxdwn.co.uk » BBC Two https://www.mxdwn.co.uk all that matters in music in the UK Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:37:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1 Ring in the New Year with Jools Holland’s 2024/2025 Hootenanny https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/ring-in-the-new-year-with-jools-hollands-20242025-hootenanny/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/ring-in-the-new-year-with-jools-hollands-20242025-hootenanny/#comments Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:13:26 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=104852 Catch the iconic Jules Holland’s Hootenanny on December 31 at 11:30pm on BBC Two, featuring an exciting lineup of performances including The Boomtown Rats, CMAT, JADE, and Jungle.

First airing in 1993, Jules Holland’s Hootenanny has become a staple of British New Year’s Eve celebrations. The program is hosted by the renowned pianist, bandleader, and broadcaster, Jools Holland. It blends a lively party atmosphere with outstanding live music spanning a diverse array of genres such as pop, rock, jazz, soul, blues, and folk. 

At the heart of the show is Holland’s own Rhythm & Blues Orchestra who perform alongside a mix of both legendary and emerging artists. Interspersed with the musical performances are celebrity interviews, short comedy sketches, and traditional elements like the rendition of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and the countdown to the new year.

Over the years, the Hootenanny has hosted music royalty such as Paul McCartney, Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Prince. While pre-recorded weeks in advance, the show is presented as a live event and delivers an authentic celebratory vibe to welcome in the New Year.  

This year, The Boomtown Rats are among the many acts performing on the show. Known for their high-energy performances and socially conscious lyrics, the iconic Irish band rose to fame during the late 1970s and 1980s. Their hits like ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ and ‘Rat Trap’ place them among the new wave movement that blended punk rock with pop influences. After reuniting in 2013, they’ve continued to release new music and captivate audiences. 

Another Irish act to take the stage on New Years Eve in CMAT, or Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson. Blending country, pop, and indie influences the Irish singer-songwriter is known for her quirky, confessional songwriting style and theatrical performances. Her debut album, ‘If My Wife Knew I’d Be Dead’, released in 2022, features standout tracks like ‘I Don’t Really Care for You’ and ‘Every Bottle (Is My Boyfriend)’ which fans can hope to hear this New Years Eve. 

Formerly a member of one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, Little Mix, JADE has embarked on a promising solo career. Little Mix achieved immense success with six studio albums and numerous chart-topping singles before their hiatus in 2022. Jade has since released three solo songs in 2024 – ‘Fantasy’, ‘Midnight Cowboy’, and ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ – and hints at new music to be released next year.

The British modern soul and funk collective, Jungle, will also join Jools Holland on stage. Founded by Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland in 2013, Jungle is known for their infectious grooves and genre-defying sound. Their music is characterised by funky basslines, soaring falsettos, and danceable rhythms and has revitalised funk and soul for a new generation. The band were even nominated at the 2014 Mercury Awards for their self-titled debut album ‘Jungle’.

Other performers include Death South, Kathy Sledge, Ruby Turner, and Toby Lee, who will join Holland in the count down to 2025.

 

Jools’ Annual Hootenanny continues to be synonymous with New Year’s Eve in the UK, offering a musical alternative to conventional countdowns. With its blend of timeless traditions, star-studded performances, and comedic moments, it remains a joyous way to welcome the new year. 

Tomorrow, it will be available to watch on BBC Two, and festivities will continue until 1:30am New Years Day.

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/ring-in-the-new-year-with-jools-hollands-20242025-hootenanny/feed/ 0 Louis Theroux Confirms Interviews With Pete Doherty And RAYE For Second Series Of Hit Show https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/louis-theroux-confirms-interviews-with-pete-doherty-and-raye-for-second-series-of-hit-show/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/louis-theroux-confirms-interviews-with-pete-doherty-and-raye-for-second-series-of-hit-show/#comments Thu, 21 Sep 2023 12:38:03 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=65151 Famed British journalist Louis Theroux is gearing up for a second series of his hit show Louis Theroux Interviews, airing on BBC Two and iPlayer later this year. The lineup for the new series features the potential for some fascinating conversations including episodes with Libertines frontman Pete Doherty and London based pop star RAYE.

The successful series is set to return later this year, with a further six episodes which will see Theroux utilising his signature and distinctive documentary style to interview some of the worlds most interesting and current personalities. Two of the six conversations will feature British musical artists Pete Doherty and RAYE, who will both sit down with Theroux for a look at their lives and careers.

Theroux travels to Normandy, France where Doherty currently resides to speak about the singer’s past troubles with drugs, his influential music career and his hopes for the future. The episode will also see Theroux join Doherty and the rest of The Libertines on tour. In his interview with RAYE, Theroux digs deeper into the singer’s split with her record label, her Glastonbury performance and her Ivor Novello award triumph.

Commenting on the second series of his show, Theroux said, “Working with the team on these six new programmes has been an enormous pleasure. The six guests are all distinctive and brilliant in different ways, all of them people who have endured setbacks and huge successes, and who have something to share with the world based on their journeys through life. We have tried to build on the success of the first six Louis Theroux Interviews, while pushing further this time into terrain that is gritty and difficult, exploring subjects like mental health, brushes with the law, and political controversy.”

The documentarian further elaborated, “Like the first six Louis Theroux Interviews, each show mixes stylish master interviews with behind-the-scenes moments and actuality shot on location, so viewers have the double pleasure of a thoughtful in-depth conversation alongside a revealing look into the lives of the contributors: in the locker room post-fight with Anthony Joshua, Raye’s dressing room before her Glastonbury set, Joan Collins’ house in the south of France. The tone of the shows is always open-minded and generous-hearted, while hopefully being funny, and always mindful of the need to keep viewers interested. I like them, and I’m notoriously hard to please.”


The first series in Theroux’s acclaimed show featured interviews with leading British musical artists Stormzy, Rita Ora and Yungblud. All six episodes of the first series of Louis Theroux Interviews can currently be viewed on BBC iPlayer.

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/louis-theroux-confirms-interviews-with-pete-doherty-and-raye-for-second-series-of-hit-show/feed/ 0 BBC Two Series ‘Later…With Jools Holland’ Celebrates 30 Years With One-Off Event https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/bbc-two-series-later-with-jools-holland-celebrates-30-years-with-one-off-event/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/bbc-two-series-later-with-jools-holland-celebrates-30-years-with-one-off-event/#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2022 18:02:19 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=58898 This year sees the beloved BBC 2 series Later…With Jools Holland turn 30 years old, to celebrate the landmark birthday, a special concert will be held on Wednesday 5th October 2022. Entitled Later…With Jools Holland at 30, the event will be held at West London’s Eventim Apollo and will be filmed before an audience of 3,000. For those unable to attend the live concert, details concerning the show’s broadcast will be announced later this year. Much like the show’s traditional format, the concert will be helmed by Holland and will include a variety of special guests. Specific details concerning the star-studded lineup will be kept secret until the concert; organizers have promised an array of guests who have appeared throughout the series and new acts set to make their mark in the music industry.

Later…With Jools Holland first aired on 8th October 1992 and was initially intended to be a spin-off from the BBC 2 arts programme The Late Show, which in turn found popularity after the cancellation of The Old Grey Whistle Test. With over 60 series and over 450 episodes, Later…With Jools Holland is considered an institution within music and British culture. The programme soon became a favourite among die-hard music fans due to its variety of guests and ability to bring up-and-coming acts to the living rooms of the British public.

Many popular artists owe their blossoming careers to their UK television debuts courtesy of Later…With Jools Holland, the long list includes Amy Winehouse, Adele, Arctic Monkeys, Katy Perry, Alicia Keys, Kings of Leon, Kanye West, Metallica, Mary J Blige, Norah Jones, Taylor Swift, Stormzy and The Weeknd, plus numerous others. Please see below for a couple of Live…With Jools Holland‘s most iconic performances.

Speaking on the show’s upcoming anniversary, former Squeeze band member Holland has given the following statement, “It’s unbelievable that this year sees my show reach its thirtieth birthday. It’s a testament to the great power of music that we are still going strong , and are now the longest running international music show on earth . I’m delighted and honoured that we’re going to celebrate this monumental milestone with a special one-off event in the fabulous Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith the scene of so many legendary musical moments.”

Executive Producer Alison Howe has also given a statement,  “Later…reaching its 30th birthday is testament to Jools, all the incredible musicians who have supported us and our crew whose love and commitment of showcasing live music for the audience is unmatched. With our upcoming series, this special show and our 30th Annual Hootenanny, it’s going to be an incredible three months of live music.”

Director of Music, BBC Lorna Clarke states, “The BBC’s commitment to live music remains strong and in a year which has seen the return of live music performance, I’m hugely proud that after 30 incredible years, Later…with Jools Holland is still busy unearthing the superstars of tomorrow as well as featuring some of the world’s best-loved musicians, all to entertain the music-loving BBC viewers at home.”

A new series of the regular format of Later…With Jools Holland is also set to kick off this autumn, series 61 will be aired on 1st October 2022. The upcoming series will be available to watch on BBC Two and digitally via BBC iPlayer. Scheduled to appear with Holland are an array of guests from various eras and genres, confirmed to appear include Self Esteem, The 1975, Victoria Canal, Loyle Carner, Ural Thomas, Marcus Mumford, Burna Boy, The Big Moon, Phoenix and PVA.

Tickets for Later…With Jools Holland at 30 went on sale Friday 23rd September 2022 and can be purchased via this link.

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/bbc-two-series-later-with-jools-holland-celebrates-30-years-with-one-off-event/feed/ 0 Paloma Faith Releases ‘As I Am’ Documentary https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/paloma-faith-releases-as-i-am-documentary/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/paloma-faith-releases-as-i-am-documentary/#comments Sun, 28 Mar 2021 19:40:36 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=33247 Paloma Faith’s exclusive documentary was released on BBC Two over the weekend. The English singer-songwriter revealed her life behind the scenes as a female pop star in the cut-throat music industry. The songstress, known for her eccentric and retro style has won multiple awards for her soul and jazz blended pop. She released her fifth album Infinite Things in 2020. Faith shared that she learned how to engineer the entirety of the record herself before she penned it to be released due to restrictions caused by the global pandemic.

Faith is also an actress and had roles in films including St Trinian’s and Dread. She has also been a judge on The Voice UK.

More recently Faith has had a second child with partner Leyman Lahcine. As I Am follows Faith on her world tour as she balances music and motherhood. Paloma told the BBC: “I was very reluctant to let a camera into the very personal experience of working as a first-time mum but Jane Mingay who made the film is also a mother and a friend so I felt safe.” She added that “The result is very telling, exposed and at times emotional for me to watch.” 

Faith has always been an outspoken feminist and ally, in 2020 Faith signed an open letter condemning violence and discrimination against trans women. On the documentary, Faith told the BBC: “I hope it’s a testament to all working mothers out there. As a feminist, I don’t believe in aiming for patriarchal ideals in order to be a success. I believe in embracing our feminine strengths and abilities in order to try and navigate success in a male dominated and judged world. The film I hope gives some insight into this.” Faith took to social media to reach out to her fans just before the documentaries airing on BBC Two.

 

 

 

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You can watch Paloma Faith’s As I Am on BBCiPlayer here.

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