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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Kings of Leon complete Silverstone F1 concert bill
Kings of Leon have been announced as headliners of the 2024 Formula 1 British Grand Prix opening concert.
The US rock band will perform on Thursday 4 July, kicking off the four-day festival line-up which will also feature Stormzy (Friday), Pete Tong Presents Ibiza Classics (Saturday) and Rudimental (Sunday).
The live music offering is provided at no extra cost to British GP ticket holders.
“We are incredibly excited to have global icons Kings of Leon join our line-up for the 2024 British Grand Prix,” says Silverstone’s commercial director Nick Read. “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.”
The famous motor racing circuit expanded its music arena, which now accommodates up to 45,000 people, to host Calvin Harris, Jax Jones, Black Eyed Peas and Tom Grennan this summer.
Silverstone’s director of music Jamie Scott spoke to IQ earlier this year about launching a new era of live music at the famous racetrack.
“The idea is to put the music on an equal par with the racing and get great British talent”
“The idea is to put the music on an equal par with the racing and get great British talent on there,” he said. “So, you won’t just be coming to watch the race, you’re going to be coming for days of entertainment.
“Like every world sport now, Formula 1 is all about entertainment and the experience; it is on the tip of everyone’s tongue because of what it means to people, and it is now connecting with a younger demographic [via Netflix series] Drive to Survive, and this feels like a great way to start.”
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.
Held since 2009, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has become renowned for its Yasalam After-Race Concerts, which have starred acts such as Beyoncé, Prince, Paul McCartney, Britney Spears, Jay-Z, Eminem, Muse, Kanye West, Blur, Rihanna, Pink and Depeche Mode.
This month’s 15th edition includes performances by Foo Fighters, Shania Twain, Tiësto, Chris Brown and Ava Max at Yas Island from 23-26 November.
Last year’s Miami Grand Prix brought acts such as Post Malone, Maluma and The Chainsmokers to Miami Gardens, while 2023’s inaugural Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix will kick off with a showcase featuring artists including J Balvin, Journey, Keith Urban, and Steve Aoki.
Set for Wednesday, 15 November, the event will precede the first-ever Vegas GP weekend, with the opening ceremony spanning seven stages and including performances from will.i.am, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Bishop Briggs, Swedish House Mafia, along with appearances by the Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil.
“It was important for us to create an opening ceremony that balances the spirit of Las Vegas with the global excitement that Formula 1 and these incredible drivers bring to each host city,” said Renee Wilm, Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. CEO.
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Inside Silverstone’s new era of live music
Silverstone director of music Jamie Scott has spoken to IQ about launching a new era of live music at the famous racetrack for next month’s Formula 1 Aramco British Grand Prix.
Scott, who was appointed to the role last year, has curated four nights of live music and entertainment for the iconic motor racing circuit, starting with a Best of British launch party headed by Calvin Harris, Jess Glynne and Cat Burns on 6 July.
The weekend slots will then be headlined by Jax Jones (7 July) and Black Eyed Peas (8 July), with Tom Grennan closing proceedings following the Grand Prix on 9 July.
Grammy-nominated and Ivor Novello Award-winning songwriter and producer Scott recruited Library Productions, which manages Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, to create bespoke staging for the expanded music arena, which now accommodates up to 45,000 people.
“The whole music area has been redeveloped and the capacity doubled to 45,000, which shows huge intent,” Scott tells IQ. “The idea is to put the music on an equal par with the racing and get great British talent on there. So, you won’t just be coming to watch the race, you’re going to be coming for days of entertainment. Hopefully we get a great race and people feel on the Sunday that they’ve been to an all-encompassing four days.
“The British Grand Prix is steeped in heritage – we’ve got three British racing drivers in the top 10 in the world – so it’s a huge time in British motorsport and we wanted to equal that with the music. Like every world sport now, Formula 1 is all about entertainment and the experience; it is on the tip of everyone’s tongue because of what it means to people, and it is now connecting with a younger demographic [via Netflix series] Drive to Survive, and this feels like a great way to start.”
“Silverstone has massive intentions of being a 365 day-a-year leisure venue for great entertainment”
The live music offering will be provided at no extra cost to existing ticket holders.
“There is a lot of synergy between the British music industry and British motorsport, it just needed to be brought together,” suggests Scott. “We want to make Silverstone a place that global artists want to come and play. It has its own unique aura; it’s a beautiful place and it’s just about trying to elevate that and and lift the offerings for years to come.”
Live music has become a key part of the festivities at F1’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, which celebrates its 15th edition in November with Yasalam After-Race Concerts headlined by Foo Fighters, Tiësto and Ava Max at Yas Island.
Elsewhere, last year’s inaugural Miami Grand Prix brought acts such as Post Malone, Maluma and The Chainsmokers to Miami Gardens, while the 2023 Las Vegas edition in November has concerts by the likes of J Balvin, Major Lazer and Mark Ronson at the T-Mobile Zone at Sphere. Formula 1 was acquired by Live Nation shareholder Liberty Media in 2017.
“I think the inspiration and the intent has come from Formula 1 being under new ownership,” says Scott. “Clearly, the entertainment value is is an important aspect now with other races like Miami and Las Vegas. Silverstone obviously hosts the Formula 1, but it’s also got MotoGP and the Silverstone Classic and we want to enhance it again next year. It has massive intentions of being a 365 day-a-year leisure venue for great entertainment.”
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OVG launches International Venue Alliance
Oak View Group (OVG) today launched the International Venue Alliance, a network of independent entertainment and sports venues modelled on its US Arena and Stadium Alliance.
Its founding member is Silverstone Circuit, the ‘home of British motor racing’, including the Formula 1 (F1) and MotoGP grands prix, in Northamptonshire, UK. It joins the alliance after signing a deal that ensures the F1 British grand prix remains at the circuit until at least 2024.
Silverstone’s two-year agreement with OVG will draw on the latter’s live entertainment expertise to attract high-profile events, including concerts and festivals, to the circuit, as well as securing it an annual naming-rights partner.
OVG will also oversee corporate partnerships at prominent locations around the circuit, including the bridge connecting its hotel to the wing, its 4,000-capacity conference and exhibition space, the new luxury Residences at Silverstone and the soon-to-open Silverstone Experience Centre.
Oak View Group, a venue development, advisory and investment company co-founded by former AEG CEO Tim Leiweke and ex-Live Nation chairman Irving Azoff, launched its London-based overseas division, OVG International, at ILMC in March. The first OVG International project, Santa Giulia Arena in Milan, was announced in June as a joint venture with Live Nation. (Interestingly, Liberty Media, which owns a third of Live Nation, also owns Formula 1.)
Last month OVG also confirmed it is in discussions to build a new indoor arena in Manchester in northern England, in a challenge to SMG’s incumbent Manchester Arena.
“We’re looking forward to working alongside other like-minded venues as they join the International Venue Alliance”
Sam Piccione, president of OVG International, says: “We’re delighted to be in a position to help Silverstone deliver additional revenue as a founding member of Oak View Group’s International Venue Alliance.
“This iconic circuit has a rich motorsports history, and we’re looking forward to working with the Silverstone team to develop world-leading content, partnerships and experiences during this next exciting phase of their development.”
“With Silverstone’s extended five-year contract to host the British Grand Prix now in place, the opportunities for partnerships with British and global brands are limitless,” adds Nick Read, commercial director at Silverstone.
“We are excited to be working with Oak View Group’s world-class team to expand our partner portfolio and reach, and we’re looking forward to working alongside other like-minded venues as they join the OVG International Alliance.”
Piccione says he expects new members of the International Venue Alliance will be confirmed in the months ahead.
The alliance is modelled on OVG’s Arena and Stadium Alliance, an invitation-only partnership of 28 arenas in North America. Arena and Stadium Alliance members benefit from global sponsorship opportunities, additional events and content, and “efficiencies of scale that are otherwise only available to large groups”, according to OVG.
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