The BBC Proms, an annual celebration of orchestral music, is set to showcase a diverse range of artists this summer, including Guy Garvey of Elbow, Weyes Blood, and Gruff Rhys. This year's edition, running from July 17 to September 12, promises to be a unique blend of genres, with a focus on rock, indie, and alternative music. The opening weekend will feature a Prog Rock Prom, led by the legendary Carl Palmer and Peter Hammill, alongside Guy Garvey, Gruff Rhys, and Jane Weaver. The event will also pay tribute to iconic artists like Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Genesis, and Jethro Tull, performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra. The Proms will also bring an intimate late-night show with Weyes Blood, collaborating with Jules Buckley and his orchestra, adding a symphonic twist to her folk-pop style. The series will travel across the country, with The Unthanks headlining the first-ever Middlesbrough Prom, joined by English Teacher, Villagers' Conor O'Brien, and Radiohead's Philip Selway. Nadine Shah will collaborate with the Royal Northern Sinfonia in Gateshead, while corto.alto, Maddie Ashman, and ATFK will perform in Bristol. The Proms will also feature a special 'Round Midnight' edition hosted by Jamie Cullum, paying tribute to John Coltrane's music. The 'Bond and Beyond' show, a musical homage to James Bond films, will be hosted by Nick Mohammed and conducted by Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. Elbow's Guy Garvey recently revealed that the band is working on a new album, following their 2024 release 'Audio Vertigo' and 2025 EP 'Audio Vertigo Echo'. This new music will be their 11th studio album, with Garvey describing it as 'sonically ambitious'. The BBC Proms, as Hannah Donat, Director of Artistic Planning, emphasizes, is a celebration of the orchestra's versatility and relevance, offering a wide-ranging and eclectic line-up that promises to delight and surprise audiences.
