Lindsey Buckingham, Ray Davies, Tony Bennett, Roy Harper Joseph Calleja, André Rieu And Dolly Parton feature in a raft of new music programmes on Sky Arts this Autumn
Roy Harper: Man & Myth - a brand new documentary featuring exclusive interviews with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant
Lindsey Buckingham, Ray Davies and Tony Bennett interviewed in new music talk show Talks Music
André Rieu: Welcome To My World – a brand new series featuring the biggest classical music talent in the world
Benicassim, Rewind and Darbar Festival highlights 2013
Joseph Calleja: A Night in Malta
Sky Arts unveils an unmissable season of music programmes this autumn, including a brand new and exclusive documentary on the legendary folk rock singer Roy Harper, featuring interviews with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and Johnny Marr, and a spectacular concert performance by rising Opera star Joseph Calleja (Joseph Calleja: A Night in Malta). In addition, Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham, Ray Davies and Tony Bennett are confirmed to appear on Sky Arts’ new intimate interview series Talks Music, hosted by Malcolm Gerrie.
In addition, Sky Arts will also offer customers exclusive coverage of the world’s finest Indian classical music at London’s 8th annual Darbar Festival, festival highlights from Benicassim and Rewind the UK premiere of innovative US music series, Live From The Artist’s Den and an intriguing music series from one of country music’s living idols, Dolly Parton: Song By Song.
”Music is at the heart of what we do at Sky Arts, whether our customers love contemporary or classical, documentary or performance, there is something for everyone in this autumn line-up,” comments James Hunt, Director of Sky Arts. “From the enchanting sound of Joseph Calleja who is regarded as the new Pavarotti, learning about folk star Roy Harper via Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, and in-depth interviews with icons such as Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham, Ray Davies and Tony Bennett, it’s such an honour to have a dynamic breadth of names appearing in our programming“.
Festival Highlights - Weekends at 9pm from Saturday 14th September Sky Arts 1 HD
Sky Arts 1 viewers will be able to take in the biggest acts, headlines and sets from the main stages of Benicassim and Rewind.The highlights from Spain’s Benicassim (14th & 15th Sept) will include, Dizzie Rascal, Kaiser Chiefs, Hurts, Primal Scream and Arctic Monkeys, while dialling back the clock are some of the biggest bands of the 80s including ABC, The Pointer Sisters, Billy Ocean, Heaven 17, ASWAD, Chesney Hawks and The B-52's, who played to legions of fans at Rewind (21st & 22nd Sept).
Joseph Calleja: A Night in Malta - Sunday 15 September 8pm Sky Arts 2 HD
Rising opera star Joseph Calleja performs a live concert in Malta. Dubbed the event of the year on the island, the Maltese tenor sings in front of the city of Floriana's famous St Publius Church at The Granaries, thrilling a crowd of more than 25,000 with renditions of Cinema Paradiso, Caruso, 'O Sole Mio, No puede ser, Con te Partiro, La Vie en Rose and Miserere. Calleja is accompanied by the Island’s National Orchestra, as well as special guests including Italian bluesman Zucchero and Rebecca Ferguson who joins him for a serene performance of Amazing Grace and Can't Help Falling in Love.
Dolly Parton: Song By Song - Tuesday 24 September 7pm Sky Arts 1 HD
In the UK premiere of this US series, country singing sensation Dolly Parton looks back at her most famous songs, discussing their inspiration, impact, legacy and accolades. Over six episodes, she reveals her resilience, drive and savvy business moves and she reflects on how she came to be seen as a gay activist and her transition from country to pop. The series features contributing interviews from Lily Tomlin, Kenny Rogers, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley and Miley Cyrus.
Roy Harper: Man & Myth - Wednesday 25 September 9pm Sky Arts 1 HD
The critically acclaimed British singer-songwriter Roy Harper appears in this exclusive new documentary film. Shot mainly at his home in the Irish countryside near Cork, it traces his intriguing career as he records new material. Man and Myth is Harper's first studio album for 13 years. Examining the work that made him famous, respected and much loved, this film includes special interviews with fellow legendary musicians Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and Johnny Marr.
André Rieu: Welcome To My World – Starts Saturday 26 October 8pm on Sky Arts 2 HD
In this exclusive brand new 10-part series, the biggest classical music talent in the world has invited Sky Arts’ cameras to capture never seen before aspects of his life through a combination of behind-the–scenes documentary and special heart-warming interviews. Special guests will join Andréalong the way; including singers Jermaine Jackson, crooner Trini Lopez and veteran’s sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn
Darbar Festival 2013 – From Monday 4th November 7pm Sky Arts 2 HD
Sky Arts is proud to partner with the 8th annual Darbar Festival which takes places at London’s Southbank centre this autumn. Sky Arts 2 will broadcast exclusive concert recordings from this special festival which brings together India’s two main music traditions - Hindustani (North Indian) and Carnatic (South Indian). The festival is the largest gathering of musicians outside of India and the event has been descried by Songlines as “Britain’s best festival of South Asian Music.”
Talks Music - From Monday 4th November 9pm Sky Arts 1 HD
Fleetwood Mac guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Buckingham, along with lead singer and songwriter of The Kinks of Ray Davies and legendary crooner Tony Bennett join the line-up for Talks Music, a unique and exclusive interview series which looks into the careers of some of the world’s most iconic music legends. The series will be hosted by TV-producer Malcolm Gerrie, whose credits include The Tube and The Brit Awards. The three music icons join the previously announced interviewees including Jeff Beck, Nile Rodgers, Boy George, Deborah Harry and Chris Stein.
Live From The Artist’s Den – December on Sky Arts 1 HD
Live from the Artists Den is an innovative US music show, best known for presenting extraordinary artists in non-traditional, often historic settings across the states. In premiere episodes, British singing sensation Adele performs to an intimate crowd at the Santa Monica Bay Womans Club, Mumford & Sons perform in the glamour of the 1920s Belasco Theater in LA and Ed Sheeran performs at New York’s Society for Ethical Culture. Other episodes will feature Ray Lamontagne, Elvis Costello, Robert Plant, Norah Jones, Tori Amos, Squeeze and The Killers.
The commitment to music programming on Sky Arts reflects Sky promise to deliver high-quality, exclusive programmes to customers, supported by a drive to increase investment in programming to £600 million by 2014, an increase of more than 50% over three years.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Dominic Collett Sky Arts Publicist, Sky Press Office
T: 0207 032 4892
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NOTES TO EDITOR
About Sky Arts
Sky Arts offers an eclectic mix of the best music, arts, biographies, chat shows, film, drama and comedy. Sky is the only broadcaster in the UK and Ireland with channels dedicated solely to the arts, with 48 hours of the best arts content from around the world across Sky Arts 1 and Sky Arts 2 daily. Sky Arts now reaches more than 6 million viewers every month.
Recent highlights include Playhouse Presents… a series of one-off comedies and dramas starring renowned talent including Jon Hamm, Daniel Radcliffe, Kylie Minogue, Anna Friel, Idriss Elba and Matt Smith. The channel was also responsible for resurrecting the much-loved South Bank Show and The South Bank Show Awards. Sky Arts also encourages new formats and methods for accessing the arts, working with the ENO and National Gallery to beam the world’s first live opera and first live opening night of an exhibition in 3D to cinemas across the UK and Ireland.
Sky Arts also seeks to connect with culture on the ground; creating and collaborating with the best of the arts in the UK and Ireland to bring new experiences to life. Sky Arts has collaborated with a number of arts organisations including the English National Ballet and has supported the Hay Festival as broadcast partner since 2006. The Sky Arts Ignition Series launched in in 2011 to invest in the arts landscape of the UK. The Series will seek to collaborate with six arts organisations over the next three years in the creation of brand new works; Sky Arts Ignition Series: Futures Fund will support five young artists with a bursary of £30,000 each, enabling Sky Arts to back the creation of new works of art as well as nurture emerging talent.
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About Sky
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