Paul McCartney is to kick off the annual series of concerts benefiting the Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall.
The Beatles legend will hit the stage for a special concert on March 29, followed by concerts by Example (March 30), Pulp (March 31), Jessie J (April 1), an evening of comedy hosted by Jason Manford plus special guests (April 2), and Florence + the Machine (April 3).
In an intimate preview of his first UK arena tour in April, Brit nominated artist Example, will headline on Friday 30 March. Example’s Gold selling album, Playing the Shadows, released last year, went straight to number one as well as achieving two number-one singles with Changed the Way You Kiss Me and Stay Awake. This year he will be embarking on a sell out UK arena tour as well as working on his fourth studio album.
Pulp, the band that defined the sound of a generation with classic albums including His ‘N’ Hers, This is Hardcore and Mercury Music Prize winner Different Class, will perform on Saturday 31 March. Recently awarded the Teenage Cancer Trust Outstanding Contribution to Music NME Award, the original line up (Nick Banks, Jarvis Cocker, Candida Doyle, Steve Mackey and Mark Webber) will perform some of their greatest hits from the last two decades.
After selling one million records in the UK, 2011 Brit Winner and three time Brit Award nominee for 2012, Jessie J returns to Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall as headliner on Sunday 1 April. Already a global pop phenomenon and international hit songwriter, Jessie’s multi octave voice and sky high heels are now earning her a reputation as one of the world’s leading live performers. Set list favourites include her number one hit singles ‘Price Tag’ and ‘Domino’ from her platinum selling debut album ‘Who You Are.’
For those that love to belly laugh at outrageous one-liners, unpredictable jokes and quick-witted stories, the multi-award winning and effortlessly entertaining Jason Manford returns to Teenage Cancer Trust’s shows for the third time. He will host an evening of comedy on Monday 2 April. Special guests to be announced soon.
The unsurpassable Florence + the Machine will play an explosive grand finale on Tuesday 3 April. This is an unmissable chance to see Florence + the Machine in the intimate setting of the Royal Albert Hall, whose grand design perfectly complements the band’s huge sound. The Brit Award winner and Grammy nominee’s set will feature hits from one of the best selling albums of 2009 and 2010, Lungs, including Kiss With A Fist and Dog Days Are Over, and Ceremonials, which debuted at number one in October 2011 and has already gone onto sell 1.8 million copies around the world. This will be Florence’s second performance for Teenage Cancer Trust after playing alongside Antony and the Johnsons in 2009.
Teenage Cancer Trust’s longstanding patron and The Who front man, Roger Daltrey CBE, has been the driving force behind these concerts for over a decade. Roger said, "Every year my team and I work really hard to make these concerts for Teenage Cancer Trust something special. This year is no exception and the line up of artists donating their time and talent is incredible, I hope there’s something for everyone.
“I’m proud to be a patron of Teenage Cancer Trust. I’ve been involved for nearly 20 years, and this is the twelfth year we’ve staged these shows. I might be a rock star, but I’m also a dad. I know teenagers aren’t children, and they’re certainly not quite adults either. They’re a group all on their own and they need to be recognized as that. The work Teenage Cancer Trust does building hospitals wards that don’t feel like hospitals and bringing these young people with cancer together is invaluable. So to all parents out there, these are your teenagers, support this charity.”
Eleven years of concerts have raised over £14 million for Teenage Cancer Trust, making a real difference to the lives of thousands of young people with cancer. All money raised has helped the charity to build more specialist teenage cancer units in NHS hospitals across the UK, allowing young people to be treated together with others their own age, in an environment suited to their needs.
Tickets, from £25.00 (plus booking fee), will be available from 9.30am on Friday 24 February 2012 and can be purchased from the following outlets: www.gigsandtours.com 0844 811 0051 www.ticketmaster.co.uk 0844 844 0444, www.royalalberthall.com 0845 401 5030, www.hmvtickets.com 0843 221 0100, and in selected HMV stores.
Support acts will be announced soon, see www.teenagecancertrust.org for details.
This year’s shows are supported by Capital FM, XFM and NME. American Airlines will be providing transatlantic flights for the show’s artists.
For hospitality bookings and information, email hospitality@teenagecancertrust.org
