The Arts Hour Backstage: The Biggest Weekend
Soweto Kinch brings you behind the scenes revelations and live performances from the 91Èȱ¬â€™s four day festival of music
Jazz saxophonist and MC Soweto Kinch goes behind the scenes of The Biggest Weekend – the 91Èȱ¬â€™s largest ever popular music event, with over 100 artists taking part and a live audience of 175,000 people spread across four days and four cities in the UK’s four nations – Northern Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland.
Soweto is backstage at the English venue for The Biggest Weekend in the city of Coventry, where he meets leading musicians from around the world and hears them play live. He speaks to Beninese singer and activist Angelique Kidjo who proves her powerful voice works in all settings, by performing backed only by a guitarist and percussionist. British Bhangra star JK talks passionately about his Punjabi heritage and keeping the culture thriving in the UK. Montenegrin classical guitarist MiloÅ¡ explains his deep connection with his instrument and why good nail-care is so important for his playing. Jazz bands Dinosaur and GoGo Penguin reveal how they got their animal themed names. The 91Èȱ¬â€™s Katie Derham waltzes Soweto through her memories of Strictly Come Dancing and English violinist and singer Eliza Carthy reels off her reasons why folk music has an everlasting appeal.
Plus – Soweto finds out how such a huge concert comes together, talking to the team who get the artists where they need to be and the sound engineers responsible for broadcasting the music to the world, whilst still finding time for a ride around site on a backstage buggy.
Image: Eliza Carthy and The Wayward Band
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- Sun 10 Jun 2018 14:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service except News Internet
- Mon 11 Jun 2018 08:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service except News Internet
- Mon 11 Jun 2018 17:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service Australasia
- Mon 11 Jun 2018 23:06GMT91Èȱ¬ World Service except East Asia & News Internet
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The Arts Hour Backstage—The Arts Hour
Behind the scenes of global cultural events