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With the rare chance to attend what was essentially a music festival right on my doorstep, I felt it was my duty to catch every single act on the main stage at Radio 2 in the Park.
Immersed in the crowd for most of the weekend, things got tough with the relentless rain on Sunday. But with nowhere to take cover anyway besides the DJ stage, I braved the elements alongside my friends and it was worth it. Here’s the photographic evidence…
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Saturday
Travis: Travis kicked off the festival with Sing, which was their highest-charting single back in 2001. With it’s big-band brass, new single Gaslight was a highlight. Despite having enough hits of their own – Turn was noticeably absent – the band decided to pay tribute to fellow Scottish band Aztec Camera, with an admittedly great cover of Somewhere In My Heart. A special moment came when the entire band gathered around singer Fran Healy for an acoustic rendition of Flowers In The Window, before closing their set with Why Does It Always Rain On Me – cursing the following day’s weather.
Shaznay Lewis Shaznay Lewis followed with a powerful set that blended solo material with beloved All Saints classics. The crowd was especially thrilled by Never Ever, the iconic hit she co-wrote in 1996. Her set also included a cover of George Michael’sFreedom, which was popular with the crowd. Shazney closed with the set’s highlight, the All Saints number one hit Pure Shores which she also co-wrote, alongside producer William Orbit.
Pixie Lott: Pixie’s set was full of energy, as she mixed her 2010s hits with new material. Radio 2 presenter Rylan – who originally found fame on the X Factor – joined as a special guest vocalist for Cry Me Out. Pixie also took a playful turn by covering Shaboozey’s A Bar Song (Tipsy), cleverly renaming it Park Song to suit the festival venue.
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Craig David: Craig David quickly got the crowd moving with his R&B and UK garage hits, delivering an energetic set filled with fan favourites like 7 Days and Fill Me In. His live performance was one of the most crowd-pleasing moments of the day. He also sang his new song In Your Hands, which includes a chorus lifted from “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.” It’s strange, and it instantly transported many back several decades to school assemblies. But it worked and was “Proper Bo”, as they used to say.
Kim Wilde: 80s pop icon Kim Wilde’s rocking and synth filled set included hits such as the classic Kids In America and You Came. It was a highly visual set with costume changes and you could tell her die hard fans loved it – they were singing back every word.
Snow Patrol: Snow Patrol wowed with a festival-perfect set. Filled with sing-along moments and emotive tracks like Run and Chasing Cars, the already buzzing atmosphere of the event shifted up a level. The band also played two new songs, All and The Beginning. 30 minutes was not enough and the band left the stage after playing just six songs. Criminal.
Sugababes: With the original line-up of the band back together – the trio formed when they were just 13 in 1998 – the Sugababes delivered one of the standout performances of the weekend. Siobhán, Mutya and Keish harmonised impeccably as they sang hit after hit. With a powerful and rocking live band behind them, fan-favourite songs like Push The Button, Overload and About You Now have never sounded better.
Sting: Headliner Sting captivated the crowd from the very first note, launching into classics from both his solo career and his days with The Police. Opening with Message in a Bottle and If I Ever Lose My Faith In You, Sting had the audience in the palm of his hand. As the night drew to a close with Every Breath You Take and Roxanne, the festival-goers were left wondering how Sunday could possibly top such an iconic performance. It was a tremendous coup for Preston that such a legendary name was secured for the event.
Read more: Opinion: Preston’s cultural challenge and the opportunity after BBC Radio 2 In The Park
Sunday
Haircut 100: 80s pop rock band Haircut 100 opened the second day, getting people dancing despite the heavens opening. Songs included Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl), their debut single from 1981 and the Unloving Plum, which is their first new song in 40 years.
Delta Goodrem: The Australian singer-songwriter lit up the stage with her infectious positivity, despite worsening weather. Thrilled to be back in the UK, she impressed with both her powerful vocals and piano skills. She delighted with a playful medley tribute to her soap star roots, covering the Neighbours theme song, Kylie’s Locomotion, and Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn. It was a surprisingly rock-influenced set. At one point, she stood on her piano, while her band teased musical snippets from bands like AC/DC. Her dynamic set kept the crowd engaged, rain and all.
Paul Heaton Paul Heaton’s set, accompanied by the talented Rianne Downey, was a nostalgic journey through his career with The Beautiful South, The Housemartins, and his solo work. Joined by singer Rianne Downey, he performed popular songs like Perfect Ten and a radio-friendly Don’t Marry Her. The full band joined in an impressive vocal acapella version of Caravan of Love that closed with a personalised, sung “thank you” to the crowd. Considering Paul’s recent headlining of the Thursday night at Kendal Calling to a huge crowd, the set likely felt both short and early to fans.
Shed Seven: Shed Seven, celebrating nearly three decades together, delivered a big, brassy performance. Singer Rick Witter joked partway through the set to young people in the crowd up at the front, saying “do you even remember 1996? No, neither do we” before launching into a song from their Britpop days. With their big, anthemic sound the band performed songs such as Chasing Rainbows and Going For Gold.
Gabrielle: Gabrielle’s performance stood out for her radiant positivity and her outstanding live vocals. Out of Reach and Dreams were memorable as was her performance of Rise, her number one single from 2000. A number of people were heard saying it was their highlight of their day so far.
Sister Sledge: With a large number of singers and dancers joining Kathy Sledge on stage, the band delivered a set of infectious disco that climaxed with what felt like a 15 minute version of We Are Family. I didn’t feel like it would ever end, yet also didn’t feel like I wanted it to end.
Read more: Opinion: BBC Radio 2 In The Park ‘was my first ever festival’ – here’s what I made of it
Manic Street Preachers: Much like Snow Patrol on the previous day, the Manics delivered a headline worthy set. They are a band known for their heavy lyricism. Yet frontman James Dean Bradfield was clearly in his element and loving being there, exuding enthusiasm throughout the performance. His infectious energy kept the crowd on their feet, even in the rain, and he had everyone laughing with a spontaneous, tongue-in-cheek cover of Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head. There was barely a moment when Bradfield wasn’t bouncing around, leaving much of the singing to a captive fanbase of Manics fans at the front, who happily belted out every word alongside him. It was a dynamic, fan-driven performance that captured the spirit of the festival.
Scott Mills and Rylan: They weren’t billed, but this DJ set felt as much a main stage act as anything else as the duo (largely Scott, with Rylan there as hype man) weaved together a set of playful remixes of pop songs. It was starting to get cold, and the dancing almost certainly kept everyone from freezing or leaving while the extensive staging for the Pet Shop Boys was set up. I did not get a photo, as I was on the opposite side of the stage. You’ll just have to take my word that I was there.
Pet Shop Boys: Closing the festival, Pet Shop Boys delivered an extravagant and immersive performance, complete with dazzling stage designs and lighting. The staging grew from a few numbers with just core band members Neil and Chris at the front of the stage, to an electrifying full band and intense chorography with a large number of on stage dancers. Their set was packed with hits, with It’s A Sin standing out as a massive highlight of the weekend. It was the perfect ending to the event and worth it to everyone who ensured the poor weather.
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