Beverley Knight, the renowned singer and actress, is set to honor the legendary works of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Sam Cooke during the upcoming Soul Revolution Prom. She will be accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra, led by conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, along with guest artists Annahstasia, James Emmanuel, Jacob Lusk, Reginald Mobley, Tony Momrelle, and the LJ Singers choir.
Following the success of 2023’s Northern Soul Prom and 2024’s Disco Prom, the BBC Concert Orchestra continues to explore orchestral interpretations of diverse musical genres. Co-curated and presented by Trevor Nelson of BBC Radio 2, BBC Proms: Soul Revolution celebrates spirituals, gospel, and soul music, rooted in the US Civil Rights movement.
Knight expressed her pride in participating: “I’m thrilled to be part of this year’s BBC Proms: Soul Revolution at the Royal Albert Hall. It’s crucial to highlight songs of protest by some of the most iconic Black artists, especially now. The themes of struggle and triumph have long been central to modern Black art, and I’m honored to perform these powerful songs alongside such remarkable talent.”
Trevor Nelson, making his Proms presenting debut, added: “I’m particularly excited that Beverley Knight is a part of this event. Our careers have run parallel for years, and I’ve always supported her incredible talent. She is a true national treasure who captivates audiences.”
Knight previously graced the BBC Proms stage in 2017 for The Sound of Soul: Stax Records, performing alongside Sir Tom Jones, Booker T. Jones, Sam Moore, and Jools Holland.
Now in its second week, the BBC Proms 2025 season runs for eight weeks, featuring 86 concerts, including 25 that will be televised. More than 200,000 tickets for events at the Royal Albert Hall and other UK venues have already been sold. The recent BBC Proms in the North East attracted over 6,000 attendees, with more than 4,500 experiencing a Prom for the very first time. The season enjoyed record-breaking online engagement, with over half a million streams and notable increases in accounts and viewing hours. Current Proms available on BBC iPlayer include the First Night of the Proms, Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, Vivaldi and Bach, and The Great American Songbook featuring Samara Joy.
BBC Proms: Soul Revolution will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and available on Sounds for 30 days. It will also air on BBC Radio 2 on Sunday, August 24, at 8 PM, be filmed for TV to air on BBC Two on Sunday, August 30, and will be accessible on BBC iPlayer for 12 months.
Event Details:
- Venue: Royal Albert Hall
- Date: Sunday, August 3, 7:30 PM
- Broadcast: Live on BBC Radio 3, BBC Sounds, and BBC Radio 2 on August 24 at 8 PM; on BBC Two and iPlayer on August 30.
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