Adele is just one of the many acts to be performing

Adele is just one of the many acts to be performing

The BBC Electric Proms looks set to be one of the places to be this month. With exciting festivals taking place in London and Liverpool from Wednesday 22nd to Sunday 26th October 2008, over 60 acts will perform at the event, which is bigger than ever before and now in its third year.

The festival – dedicated to creating new moments in music – will see legendary American songwriter and performer Burt Bacharach open proceedings at the Roundhouse in London on Wednesday 22nd October when he performs with the BBC Concert Orchestra accompanied by three guest vocalists, Adele, Beth Rowley and Jamie Cullum. Razorlight will treat audiences to the first play of their new material in Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall on Saturday 25th October.

To mark the 30th anniversary of Saturday Night Fever topping the charts in the UK, Robin Gibb will perform alongside guests including Sam Sparro and Sharleen Spiteri with the BBC Concert Orchestra in London’s Roundhouse. The show will be musically directed by Anne Dudley, the Oscar-winning composer, arranger and producer.

John Peel Night will debut in the legendary DJ’s spiritual hometown of Liverpool, featuring punk electronica outfit 2 Hot 2 Sweat, experimental grime producer Milanese and Sheffield-based quintet Rolo Tomassi. Steve Lamacq will also host an afternoon dedicated to exploring the rich musical heritage of the city by presenting his 6Music show from BBC Radio Merseyside with special guests.

Festival Director Lorna Clarke commented, “This is the third year of the BBC Electric Proms and it is great to be able to celebrate by bringing the event to Liverpool, making it a dual city event for the first time. The BBC Electric Proms is committed to new moments in music, and we are delighted to be hosting an increased line up of unique collaborators and inimitable performances which will be very memorable to audiences, whether they are live in the venue or watching or listening via the BBC.”

Elsewhere in Liverpool, the European Capital of Culture, the BBC Electric Proms will host their first ever show dedicated to under 18s, featuring artists including Esser, Thomas Tantrum and Kitty Daisy and Lewis. The BBC Electric Proms will also extend its commitment to new music by hosting two nights of new and cutting edge artists in London’s Barfly including Red Light Company, Amazing Baby, Micachu, Bashy, Ny and Chase & Status.

The Pool with Dave Monks will also see Howard Eliott Payne and his sister Candie Payne perform a unique set at BBC Radio Merseyside to complement performances from acts already announced, Wave Machines and The Maybes with highlights from the BBC Electric Proms in Liverpool.

Keane will introduce their new edgier, harder sound to an intimate crowd in London at KOKO where the three-piece will be joined by extra musicians and a string quartet.

Cecil Sharp House, home of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, will be the scene for a stripped down Goldfrapp show accompanied by strings and choir in a unique set built for the one-off performance. Steeleye Span’s Maddy Prior will also play Cecil Sharp House alongside friends and collaborators June Tabor and Tim Hart.

More than 60 artists will appear at the BBC Electric Proms 2008 and each performance will aim to create a new music experience including The Last Shadow Puppets, The Streets, Nitin Sawhney and Tony Christie.