Pete Tong to become first DJ to play F1 grid
Pete Tong MBE will become the first DJ to play on the grid at Silverstone racing circuit when he performs at this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
The historic set will take place on Sunday 7 July ahead of the Formula 1 race– and a day after the legendary British DJ performs on the mainstage for Pete Tong presents Ibiza Classics with Jules Buckley and The Essential Orchestra.
Tong’s Saturday set is part of a four-day live music offering also headlined by Kings Of Leon (Thursday 4 July), Stormzy (Friday 5) and Rudimental (Sunday 7).
Additional acts include The Snuts (Thursday), Self Esteem (Thursday), Jordss (Friday), Ghetts (Friday), Arielle Free (Saturday) and Anna De Ferran (Sunday).
The famous motor racing circuit this year has reconfigured its music arena for an increased capacity of 60,000, plus enhanced viewing and a bigger stage.
“It’s fair to say the 2024 British Grand Prix is going to be bigger and better than ever before”
Last year’s British Grand Prix attracted record crowds of 480,000 people and featured performances from Calvin Harris, Tom Grennan, Cat Burns, Jess Glynne, Black Eyed Peas and Jax Jones.
The live music offering is provided at no extra cost to British GP ticket holders.
“Our long-term ambition has always been to attract the biggest and best artists in the world to Silverstone to put on a spectacular show for the British fans,” says Silverstone’s commercial director Nick Read.
“With Kings of Leon, Stormzy, Pete Tong and Rudimental on this year’s line-up, it’s fair to say the 2024 British Grand Prix is going to be bigger and better than ever before! We knew we had a massive job on our hands following the great success of last year’s music offering, so we are thrilled to be able to take things up another notch.”
The 2024 British Grand Prix’s entertainment offering also includes a comedy stage on Friday and Saturday night, with Russell Kane, Troy Hawke, and Al Murray confirmed to perform.
A 10,000-capacity Big Top stage will feature immersive family entertainment, while a new 2,000-capacity fan zone will broadcast England and selective Euros matches.
Formula 1, which was acquired by Live Nation shareholder Liberty Media in 2017, has increasingly utilised live music as part of its Grand Prix weekend festivities.
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Pete Tong to play London’s O2 arena this December
Pete Tong, along with The Heritage Orchestra and its founder Jules Buckley, will bring live music back to London’s O2 for the first time since the advent of the pandemic in March.
The BBC Radio 1 DJ and co will perform Ibiza classics without an audience, taking full advantage of the floor space afforded by the 21,000-capacity venue.
Fans will be able to watch ‘O Come, All Ye Ravers’ on 19 December via LIVENow and tickets will be free for O2 customers and upwards of £10 for others.
Pete Tong presents Ibiza Classics with The Heritage Orchestra and Jules Buckley was held at the O2 for the first time in December 2016 and has returned to sell-out crowds each year since. The live event will return to the O2 with a live audience on 4 and 5 December 2021.
“We’re going to perform from the floor of the O2 arena and broadcast it right into your homes”
“We are very excited that Pete Tong, The Heritage Orchestra and Jules Buckley are returning to the O2 with their Ibiza Classics show for a fifth consecutive year – no pandemic will get in the way of this annual tradition,” says Christian D’Acuna, the O2 programming director.
“It will be the first time the O2 has had any live music performed in the venue since March and despite there being no fans in the venue, it’s great to return to live with one of our favourite shows. We can’t wait to tune in on Saturday 19 December and look forward to the return of fans for next years confirmed Pete Tong Ibiza Classics shows at the O2.”
Pete Tong says: “2020, our whole year has been lost – no tours, no shows, no exceptions! We can’t be together in clubs or concert arenas but we can still put on a show for you. We’re going to perform from the floor of the O2 arena and broadcast it right into your homes. The rave will be back one day but for now, we are going to make the most of what we have!”
Early bird tickets go on general sale at 9 am on 27 November from the O2’s website. O2 customers can get their tickets for free via the Priority app from 9 am tomorrow (26 November) until the afternoon on the day of the event.
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