To celebrate the arrival of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Battersea Park is to stage a free weekend of music as London celebrates the arrival of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The park has been named along with five other venues across the capital that will host musical acts as part of BT River of Music.
The major event, part of the London 2012 Festival, takes place on six stages close to the River Thames on Saturday July 21 and Sunday July 22 - the weekend before the Olympic Games open.
Stages will represent the continents, with Asia in Battersea Park. Jubilee Gardens will host Africa, Trafalgar Square and Somerset House will represent Europe, the Americas will be at the Tower of London and Oceania at the Greenwich Old Royal Naval College.
Wandsworth Council’s cabinet member for environment, culture and community safety, Councillor Jonathan Cook, said: “We are immensely proud that Battersea Park has been chosen as one of only six venues to take part in what I am sure will be a fantastic musical celebration.
“The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games promise to be an incredible spectacle for the capital and to have BT River of Music take place in the borough just days before it begins is even more reason to be excited.”
Artists confirmed to perform across the six sites include Scissor Sisters, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Naturally 7, Baaba Maal, Angelique Kidjo, Zakir Hussain and Andy Sheppard.
Claire Whitaker, a director at Serious, the creator and producer of the event, said: “BT River of Music will be an incredible celebration of world-class live music the weekend before the start of the Games.
“We will be working with the most exciting artists from across the world, the very best of emerging British talent and staging some unique collaborations during the weekend.
“This will be once in a lifetime experience not to be missed and a fabulous occasion for the whole family to enjoy.”
Half a million people are expected to attend the two-day festival weekend across London.
The festival is free but some sites will require ticketed entry. Ticketing information will be announced in May 2012.
The London 2012 Festival is a 12 week UK-wide celebration featuring leading artists from around the world.
BT River of Music has been created and produced by Serious, sponsored by BT and funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, Arts Council England and British Council.
November 25, 2011