Over 5000 attended BBC Proms in Bristol across three days of events

Bristol Beacon hosted its second BBC Proms residency last weekend, welcoming over 5000 attendees across three days of events as part of the BBC’s Proms Across the UK.

Building on the success of the inaugural BBC Proms Bristol residency in 2024, the weekend featured five concerts - four at Bristol Beacon and one at St George’s Bristol - in addition to a series of free community and learning events. Four of the concerts were broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, with the fifth concert - a special live show of BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction with Verity Sharp - pre-recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3 this evening.

The residency celebrated the ever-growing music and festival scene in Bristol and the success of Bristol Beacon’s state-of-the-art performance spaces which are the result of its major renovation. Bristol Beacon welcomed local audiences in addition to attendees travelling from across Wales, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Worcestershire, Wiltshire and beyond.  

As part of BBC Proms Bristol, the Beacon hosted performances in its main performance space Beacon Hall by Charles Hazlewood’s Paraorchestra and folk duo The Breath, Britten Sinfonia, and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera in addition to a special live edition of BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction presented by Verity Sharp in the Lantern Hall. Beacon Hall’s stalls were removed to create a promming arena much like audiences can experience at the Royal Albert Hall. The expanded residency also featured a concert at St George’s Bristol with the Danish National Vocal Ensemble. Audiences of all ages enjoyed free events such as an afternoon of performances on the BBC Introducing stage, a Come and Sing event and a BBC Young Composers workshop.

Image - Paraorchestra, Charles Hazlewood and The Breath performing at Bristol Beacon as part of BBC Proms Bristol
Simon Wales, Chief Executive of Bristol Beacon, said: “Our second year of BBC Proms in Bristol really built on the inaugural series which took place last year. It's already feeling like a natural addition to Bristol's renowned summer festival programme. Bristol is a music city, and from innovative collaborations with our associate artists Paraorchestra to the BBC Introducing stage to the closing weekend concert with Welsh National Opera Orchestra it really felt like the Bristol programme and audiences brought something valuable and exciting to the magnificent occasion that is the BBC Proms. With such great opportunities for Bristol and West of England talent, the fantastic audiences from across the region and the high quality broadcasts and reviews across national media, our aim is to continue to establish BBC Proms in Bristol as part of the cultural calendar in the South West.”

Ahead of the BBC Proms Bristol weekend, BBC Radio 3 presenter Tom McKinney presented BBC Radio 3 Breakfast live from various locations across Gloucestershire and Somerset, culminating in the Bristol Beacon residency. The BBC Proms Bristol concerts were broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and can be accessed via BBC Sounds. The special edition of BBC Radio 3 Late Junction was recorded in Bristol last weekend and will be broadcast this evening on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds.