BeebRock - The BBC4/BBC3/BBC2/BBC1 Music Programmes thread

Ol' Donie

Now we're talking!!

Woooo!

Ol' Donie

Jesus, it's not hard to see why Beatlemania happened.

Mediocre would be a very kind way to describe most of this crap.

Ol' Donie

Man, Peter and Gordon were made for the stage.

Not!

Skid X

How come the BBC have taped over all their early Beatles Television recordings, but they kept all their Peter and Gordon Crackerjack performances?

Ol' Donie

I've said before i never really got The Stones, but in context the ruled.

Ol' Donie

Ol' Donie wrote: »

I've said before i never really got The Stones, but in context the ruled.

Same with me, The Who and The Kinks are my favs from that era.

Skid X

Hello there, here are a few bits and pieces which might be on your Television between now and next Monday. The Christmas wind up gathers pace as we see a rare new TOTP2 and an even rarer outing for Val Doonican. If you like Johnny Cash and you have Sky Arts then you should check out their Friday Night listings (details at the bottom) ...


Wednesday BBC4

8pm & 12.40am Christmas with Val Doonican
A performance by the presenter, plus seasonal music and guest appearances by newsreader Jan Leeming, virtuoso percussionist Evelyn Glennie, snooker star Dennis Taylor and the Arts Educational School Choir. First broadcast in 1986

11.10pm Big Hits: TOTP 1964 to 1975
A selection of performances from the first years of Top of the Pops, featuring the Rolling Stones, Peter Sarstedt, Tom Jones, Stevie Wonder, Julie Driscoll, George McCrae, Queen, the Kinks, Procol Harum, Suzi Quatro, the Foundations, Stealers Wheel, the Seekers and Status Quo




Friday BBC4

7.30pm Diamonds are Forever: The Don Black Songbook
Don Black, the lyricist behind a huge collection of popular hit songs including Diamonds Are Forever, Born Free, Ben and Love Changes Everything, shares an insight into his life's work with Michael Grade. Recorded at the Royal Festival Hall in London, emminent musicians including Brian May, Eliza Doolittle, Frances Ruffelle, Gary Wilmot, Gregory Porter, Katie Melua, Kerry Ellis, Laura Wright, Marc Almond, Maria Friedman, Marti Webb, Michael Ball, Richard Stilgoe and the group Only Men Aloud perform a selection of his songs

9pm & 1.30am The Joy of The Bee Gees
A profile of the legendary pop group, following their journey from child stars on the Australian variety circuit to becoming UK pop chart competitors of the Beatles in the late sixties. The documentary analyses the highlights of the three Gibb brothers' careers, including the success of the Saturday Night Fever album, the creation of their `medallion man' trademark look, their triumphant 1987 comeback, and their work with famed fellow performers, such as Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross. Featuring interviews by Barry Gibb, John Lydon, Guy Chambers, Mykaell Riley, Alexis Petridis and Ana Matronic

10pm & 2am Bee Gees at The BBC and beyond
A compilation of classic performances by the legendary pop trio from the BBC archive. Including renditions of the brothers' most popular hits, sixties appearances on European TV singing I Started a Joke, footage from a Top of the Pops staging of World, and some later concerts from the nineties

Midnight Disco at the BBC
Archive performances of disco classics by acts including Chic, Rose Royce, Labelle, Gladys Knight and Village People, from shows such as Top of the Pops, The Old Grey Whistle Test and Later with Jools Holland



Friday TG4

11.05pm The Dubliners Ar Staitse
A 1978 performance by the band, including such favourites as The Town I Loved So Well and Lord of the Dance



Friday BBC1 NI

Midnight Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek Live!
The unlikely duo take to the stage to perform a selection of jazz standards, including It Don't Mean a Thing, Sophisticated Lady, Let's Face the Music and Dance, Anything Goes and Cheek to Cheek, which appear on their recent collaborative CD. The show was filmed in front of a New York audience earlier this year and features Tony and Gaga backed by a 39-piece orchestra, as the voice of the veteran crooner marries with that of the global pop star



Saturday Channel 4

8pm Rewind The Christmas Hits
With new performances, surprise reunions and candid interviews, this 90-minute special uncovers the stories behind the UK's favourite festive hits through the decades. From the Pogues' Fairytale of New York and Boney M's calypso disco track Mary's Boy Child, to novelty chart-toppers like Mr Blobby and ad-driven cover versions, the programme unwraps a musical genre as unpredictable as the British weather. Featuring contributions by Melanie C, Midge Ure, Status Quo, Heaven 17, Tony Mortimer and Shane MacGowan among many others, a musical collaboration between Slade and the Darkness, and X Factor winner Joe McElderry reliving the moment he missed out on the all-important Christmas number one, thanks to the Rage Against the Machine social media campaign



Saturday BBC4

10.40pm The Old Grey Whistle Test
Archive performances from the BBC music series, featuring Elton John, David Bowie, Captain Beefheart, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Curtis Mayfield, New York Dolls, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Brinsley Schwarz, Gil Scott-Heron, Blondie, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Jam, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop, Cher and Greg Allman, Argent, Steppenwolf, Lindisfarne, Dr Feelgood and Johnny Winter


12.10am Kings of Rock n Roll
Celebration of the musical icons of the 1950s, including Bill Haley and the Comets, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley. Featuring some of the more scandalous tales of the era, from Jerry Lee Lewis' marriage to his 13-year-old cousin to the original sexually explicit lyrics of Little Richard's hit Tutti Frutti. Featuring archive footage of the performers and contributions by celebrities including Tom Jones, Paul McCartney, Cliff Richard, Jack White, Jools Holland, Hank Marvin, John Waters and Minnie Driver, who reveal how the songs of the era have inspired them


1.10am Rock n Roll Britannia
A look back at the beginnings of British rock 'n' roll, when acts such as the Shadows and Johnny Kidd and the Pirates helped to lay the foundations of an enduring musical culture. Including the current line-up of the Quarrymen - forerunners of the Beatles - performing Rock Island Line, and contributions by Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, Joe Brown and Bruce Welch



Sunday BBC4

9pm & 12.15am Sammy Davis Jnr - The Kid in the Middle
Documentary charting the rise and fall of dancer, singer and actor Sammy Davis Jr, who made his debut at the age of five and was a key member of the Rat Pack. The entertainer overcame racial prejudice and became known as a civil rights campaigner, marching alongside Martin Luther King in the 1960s, but remains something of an enigma - a workaholic and spendaholic who put his career before his family and died leaving them millions of dollars in debt. Featuring contributions by family and friends including Paul Anka, Engelbert Humperdinck, the Rev Jesse Jackson and Ben Vereen. Narrated by Lynne Seymour


10pm & 11.45pm An Evening with Sammy Davis Jnr
A compilation of the singer, actor and dancer's performances for the BBC, filmed in the 1960s, featuring classic songs including My Funny Valentine and Once in a Lifetime. The entertainer demonstrates his impersonations of well-known stars of the era, with cameras capturing him also being quick on the draw with a pistol


11pm Better Midler: The Divine Miss M
Alan Yentob meets Bette Midler in New York, almost five decades after she began her rise from nightclub act to Hollywood star. At the age of 20, the woman who would become known as `the Divine Miss M' went from working in a pineapple-canning factory in Honolulu, Hawaii, to a role in the 1967 Broadway hit Fiddler on the Roof, and has never looked back. She recalls those early days, as well as the nightclubs and bathhouses of the 1970s, and how she finally made it to the top of the film industry, the combination of a raucous wit and soulful voice making her an outrageous but captivating all-round entertainer



Sunday TG4

1.05am Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man
An interview with the renowned Canadian singer-songwriter at his home in Los Angeles details the intricacies of his distinctive brand of music, and his unique outlook on life. Archive footage and photographs from Cohen's private collection illustrate high points from his career, and Bono, the Edge, Nick Cave, Jarvis Cocker and Rufus and Martha Wainwright provide contributions in the form of performances recorded at 2005 concert celebrating Leonard's songs



Monday BBC2

7.30pm TOTP2 Christmas 2014
Mark Radcliffe returns with another trawl through the archives of Top of the Pops, introducing a feast of festive delights from the BBC vaults including performances by Blur, Pretenders, the Bluebells, Katie Melua, Paul McCartney and Kurtis Blow. There's a classic rendition of Baby It's Cold Outside by Cerys Matthews and Tom Jones, as well as perennial yuletide favourites from the likes of Slade, Wham!, Wizzard, East 17, Mud, the Jackson 5 and Johnny Mathis, and rarely seen footage of Kate Bush extolling the delights of December and the festive season


10.30pm Brian Pern: A Life in Rock (Monday, not Tuesday this week)
The musician records a charity record in aid of bi-polar polar bears, but there are conditions from his label about its content. He must make the album commercial, Christmassy and full of cutting-edge duets with big stars - none of which comes easy to him. Meanwhile, Brian's health problems also come to a head after he learns he has invested millions into an aggressive tax-avoidance scheme and HM Revenue & Customs wants its money back. Spoof music documentary, starring Simon Day, with Anna Maxwell Martin and Roger Allam. Last in the series



Elsewhere, Friday Night is an epic Johnny Cash Night on Sky Arts1 - two of his legendary Christmas specials, two documentaries and two concerts, one being the legendary Folson Prison show. Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis pop up, which isn't a bad support list (It's the Million Dollar Quartet reunited, with Roy Orbison coming in as Substitute for Elvis, who passed away that year). http://www.locatetv.com/uk/listings/sky-arts-1#19-Dec-2014

Music film of the week is probably Ray (ITV3, Sunday 10.30pm)

Ol' Donie

The Effin Bee Gees? Late Late better be good this week, that's all I'm saying.

Bits of Sat night look pretty worthwhile. Good old Captain Beefheart, my knowledge of him comes exclusively from BBC4.

Ray is well worth a watch.

Nice one, Skid.

Harry Palmr

Monday BBC2

7.30pm TOTP2 Christmas 2014
Mark Radcliffe returns with another trawl through the archives of Top of the Pops, introducing a feast of festive delights from the BBC vaults including performances by Blur, Pretenders, the Bluebells, Katie Melua, Paul McCartney and Kurtis Blow. There's a classic rendition of Baby It's Cold Outside by Cerys Matthews and Tom Jones, as well as perennial yuletide favourites from the likes of Slade, Wham!, Wizzard, East 17, Mud, the Jackson 5 and Johnny Mathis, and rarely seen footage of Kate Bush extolling the delights of December and the festive season

Guilty pleasures ahoy.

Harry Palmr

bump for Brian Pern at 10.30

Harry Palmr

Brilliant brilliant brilliant!

If this is not back for a third series I'll write to the controller of BBC Two kidnap Brian Pern.

FloatingVoter

Cruella Da Vinci:D
Crosby, Stills and Nash estate agents putting his house on the market.:D

Chrissie Hynde taking the piss out of how may rock gods she's gone through.

Mel C as the most sensible person in the room.

...not to mention a solid explanation of why the sound of a cash register appears on so many Christmas hits.

Classic.

Skid X

Love it.

Everything is done so well. Even the captions are really well thought out. Hope they do more soon.

Skid X

Here are some listings for the next few days, but more importantly I would like to wish everyone (regulars, now and thenners, lurkers and anyone else who ever drops in here) a very Happy Christmas

Tuesday BBC4
11.25 Only Yesterday: The Carpenters' Story
An insight into the lives of the 1970s pop duo the Carpenters, whose wholesome brother-and-sister image hid a destructive secret. Behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with friends, family and surviving band member Richard, trace the story that ended in the untimely death of Karen Carpenter in 1983

12.25 Northern Soul: Living For The Weekend
A look at the rise, fall and rebirth of the music and dance movement that took place across the north of England during the 1970s. Archive footage and vivid first-hand accounts reveal the dynamic culture of fashions, dance moves and musical obsessions that were all fuelled by a unique style of black American soul music based on heavy beats. With contributions by Richard Searling, Ian Levine, Colin Kurtis, Kev Roberts, Pete Waterman, Peter Stringfellow and others



Tuesday ITV
10.40 Kylie: Kiss Me Once
Highlights from the Australian pop princess's current tour, recorded at Glasgow's Hydro arena on November 12. The concert features some of her greatest hits, including Spinning Around, On a Night Like This and the multi-million selling single Can't Get You Out of My Head, alongside songs from her latest album



Tuesday TG4
1am Song for Ireland
A gala concert celebrating Irish music, recorded at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of Celtic Connections 2012. Featuring performances by singers and musicians including Eleanor McEvoy, Finbar Furey, Cara Dillon, Luka Bloom, Brian Kennedy and Seamus O Beaglaoich



Christmas Eve BBC4
8pm Happy Holidays with Bing and Frank
Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra's festive special from 1957, originally broadcast as an edition of The Frank Sinatra Show and its only instalment filmed in colour. Songs include Away in a Manger, The Christmas Song, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and White Christmas

9.30pm Top of The Pop Christmas Special 1979
Christmas special, featuring Lena Martell, Janet Kay, BA Robertson, Cliff Richard, Boney M, Gary Numan and the Tubeway Army, Squeeze, Buggles, Ian Dury, Blondie, Racey, Elvis Costello, Roxy Music and Dr Hook. Plus, a dance performance by Legs & Co

11pm & 1.45am Frank Sinatra: The Voice of a Century
Profile of the legendary performer, nicknamed Ol' Blue Eyes, best known for such songs as My Way and Strangers in the Night. Featuring interviews with his friends and family that uncover aspects of his rich personal life, which included four marriages, Las Vegas business interests and alleged association with the Mafia



Christmas Day BBC4
10.30pm Top Of The Pops Christmas Special 1978
Noel Edmonds presents a festive edition of the music show, featuring acts including Darts, Abba, Boney M, Kate Bush, Brotherhood of Man, Father Abraham, Bee Gees, Brian and Michael, Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band, Wings, Showaddywaddy, Rose Royce and Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta

11.30pm Top of The Pops Christmas Special 1979
Christmas special, featuring Lena Martell, Janet Kay, BA Robertson, Cliff Richard, Boney M, Gary Numan and the Tubeway Army, Squeeze, Buggles, Ian Dury, Blondie, Racey, Elvis Costello, Roxy Music and Dr Hook. Plus, a dance performance by Legs & Co

12.35am Only Yesterday: The Carpenters' Story (as above)



Christmas Day RTE2
1.05am The Rocky Horror Picture Show
A young strait-laced couple stranded by a storm take shelter in an eerie castle, where they are enticed into the weird world of a menagerie of debauched characters - presided over by a mad sex-crazed transvestite scientist - and undergo a startling transformation as they let go of their inhibitions. Cult musical, with Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and the show's creator Richard O'Brien

Christmas Day TG4
10.10pm Liam Clancy, Mo Chara
Documentary paying tribute to Irish folk singer and actor Liam Clancy. The programme includes never-before-seen interviews with the musician, and there are also contributions by his friends and family who share their stories and memories of him

1.05am Song for Ireland
The concluding part of a gala concert of Irish and international singers celebrating Ireland and its music, recorded at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall during the Celtic Connections festival in 2012. Includes performances by Eleanor McEvoy, Finbar Furey, Cara Dillon and Luka Bloom. Presented by Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh



Christmas Day BBC1
2pm Top of The Pops Christmas Special 2014
Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates present the seasonal countdown of the year's most successful chart acts, featuring Ed Sheeran, Tom Odell, and Clean Bandit with Jess Glynne. George Ezra performs Budapest, the single that helped propel him to stardom, Take That return to the TOTP studio as a three-piece, and others taking to the stage include Ella Henderson, Sigma, Rixton, the Vamps, Mr Probz and Gorgon City featuring MNEK



St Stephens's's Day BBC4
10.50pm Britain's Most Dangerous Songs: Listen to the Banned
The stories of 10 songs, dating from the 1930s to the present day, that were considered unsuitable by the BBC for broadcasting on its radio and television stations. Tunes include Lola by the Kinks, Jackie by Scott Walker and (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang by Heaven 17, though it is perhaps surprising that Bing Crosby and the Munchkins are among the other performers on the list. The reasons why these records were censored reveals much of the changing controversies around youth culture. Contributors include Carrie Grant, Paul Morley, Stuart Maconie, Glen Matlock, Mike Read and Jon Robb

11.50pm More Dangerous Songs: And the Banned played on
A compilation of songs that have previously been banned by the BBC, including Lola by rockers the Kinks, singer-songwriter Scott Walker's Jackie and (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang by synthpop band Heaven 17


12.50am Frank Sinatra: The Voice of The Century (as above)

Welsh Megaman

Hit Me!
Hit Me!
HIT ME!!

Welsh Megaman

Legs And Co. can 'Ring My Bell' anytime.

*sits back smugly*

HeidiHeidi

Happy Christmas to you, Skid, and to everyone else on this thread who a) pointed me in the direction of BBC4, and b) who made me aware of stuff that I'd have undoubtedly missed otherwise.

Season's Greetings to y'all, may there be many more mega music moments in 2015

Harry Palmr

Merry Christmas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXCEdrnaFlY

HeidiHeidi

***** special request for all you eagle-eyed BBC4 watchers ***********

If you happen to see the Billy Joel programmes coming up again (there was a documentary about the trip to Russia, then the concert in Leningrad), could you please let me know on here? A pal of mine, who's an equal Billy nut, missed them first time round and they're not on the player any more apparently.

Cheers!

Ol' Donie

Beebrock national anthem Oliver's Army on right now!

Merry Christmas Beebrock thread!

:-):-)

brian_t

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

***** special request for all you eagle-eyed BBC4 watchers ***********

If you happen to see the Billy Joel programmes coming up again (there was a documentary about the trip to Russia, then the concert in Leningrad), could you please let me know on here? A pal of mine, who's an equal Billy nut, missed them first time round and they're not on the player any more apparently.

Cheers!

Neither of those programmes but he is one of the acts on "Singer-Songwriters at the BBC" part 2 on Wed 7th January
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015j8g7

There is also Video Killed the Radio Star on Sky Arts 1 Fri 2nd Jan
Directors behind the music videos to Uptown Girl, The Downeaster 'Alexa' and Allentown discuss their famous collaborations with Billy Joel.

Skid X

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

***** special request for all you eagle-eyed BBC4 watchers ***********

If you happen to see the Billy Joel programmes coming up again (there was a documentary about the trip to Russia, then the concert in Leningrad), could you please let me know on here? A pal of mine, who's an equal Billy nut, missed them first time round and they're not on the player any more apparently.

Cheers!

No bother, HeidiHeidi I will keep an eye out for them.

Quiet enough night tonight. The best of Later with Imelda May is on RTE1 at 11.20 and BBC4 has some country repeats.

I was watching the TOTP 25th anniversary show from 1989 earlier on, some nice TOTP footage and memories (also contains Savile but you can't rewrite history).

Skid X

Lots of musical type programming on the way in the next few days, between repeats and New Year's Eve it's all going on.


Monday BBC Four

11.45pm The Joy of The Guitar Riff
Documentary exploring the impact of the guitar riff on popular music over the past 60 years, including a look at how it became the foundation rock 'n' roll was built on. With stories from Brian May, Dave Davies, Hank Marvin, Joan Jett, Nile Rodgers, Tony Iommi, Robert Fripp, Johnny Marr, Nancy Wilson, Kevin Shields, Ryan Jarman, Tom Morello and more. Narrated by Lauren Laverne

12.45am Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music
Robert Elfstrom's 1969 musical documentary charting the career of Johnny Cash, and capturing `the Man in Black' at the peak of his career. The country singer is seen performing with his new bride June Carter Cash, as well as in a rare duet with Bob Dylan. The film-maker also presents a behind-the-scenes look at the influential American musician as he interacts with friends, family, and aspiring young musicians

1.45am Glen Campbell The Rhinestone Cowboy
An insight into the life of country music star Glen Campbell, documenting his remarkable journey from an impoverished childhood to worldwide fame and success as a guitarist and singer with records including Wichita Lineman and Rhinestone Cowboy. Featuring contributions by family, friends and colleagues including Jimmy Webb, Micky Dolenz and Bob Harris



Monday TG4

12.50am Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance
Mark Kidel directs a profile of the singer-songwriter, who began his career as part of London's pub rock scene in the early 1970s and later became associated with the British new wave movement later that decade. The story is picked up from the star's childhood under the influence of his father, Ross McManus, a Catholic education that left a big impression on him, and his overnight success with the Attractions. The musician talks openly about the shaping of his career and life, and revisits the places where he grew up



Tuesday BBC Four

11.25pm Kenny Rogers: Cards on The Table
Documentary chronicling Rogers' career and the golden era of country music he helped usher in, reflecting on how he rose to become a superstar selling over 120 million albums worldwide. Making use of a candid interview with the performer, the film also looks at his success in other fields, including tennis and photography. Contributors include singer, songwriter and producer Kim Carnes, actor and musician Mickey Jones and long-time friend Lionel Richie

12.25am Country Kings at the BBC
A chronological compilation of performances from the BBC archive by male country singers, ranging from the Everly Brothers and Jerry Lee Lewis to Garth Brooks and Willie Nelson. Featuring classic songs from studio shows by Glen Campbell, Charley Pride, George Hamilton IV, Kenny Rogers, Clint Black, Johnny Cash and Eric Church

1.25am Synth Britannia
An examination of the musical backdrop of the 1980s when synthpop was all the rage, having been popularised by bands including Depeche Mode, Ultravox and Soft Cell. The documentary also studies how this genre influenced the future of electronic music and groups such as Pet Shop Boys and New Order. Featuring interviews with Bernard Sumner, Gary Numan and Neil Tennant



Tuesday TG4

12.25am BB King The Life of Riley
The American blues singer-songwriter recounts his story of a rise to prominence in the music industry, earning him the title `King of the Blues'. Born into a world of oppression in the cotton plantations outside Berclair, Mississippi, he went on to assemble his own band under the guidance of Millard Lee and found widespread popularity with his Singin' the Blues album in the Elvis-charged swinging zeitgeist of 1956. His talent showed no bounds, and more than half a century later he released his 42nd studio album, One Kind Favor, by which time he was well into his eighties - and showing no sign of giving up. Filmed in locations across the States, as well as the United Kingdom, and featuring contributions by a range of fellow musicians including Eric Clapton, Bono, George Benson and Mick Hucknall. Narrated by Morgan Freeman



New Year's Eve BBC2

11.20pm Hootenany!
Jools Holland presents the 22nd edition of his New Year's Eve musical extravaganza, as he sees out 2014 with a host of stars. The line-up features British singer-songwriters Ed Sheeran, Paolo Nutini, Ellie Goulding, Paloma Faith and Joss Stone, while America is represented by 1960s pop singer Ronnie Spector, blues musician Boz Scaggs, soul singer William Bell and country band Hayseed Dixie. Plus, Clean Bandit with Jess Glynne perform their chart-topping single Rather Be and there are appearances by former Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson and Hootenanny regular Ruby Turner, while the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards play in the new year in traditional fashion

1.40am Glastonbury 2014
A selection of performances from the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, which was headlined by Arcade Fire, Metallica and Kasabian. Other artists taking to the site's many stages included Blondie, Bombay Bicycle Club, Disclosure, Dolly Parton, Ed Sheeran, Elbow, Ellie Goulding, Haim, Lily Allen, Kaiser Chiefs, Kodaline, Lana Del Rey and Robert Plant & The Sensational Shape Shifters



New Year's Eve BBC1

11.15pm Queen + Adam Lambert Rock Big Ben Live
Proving that you can never keep a good band down, veteran rockers Brian May and Roger Taylor join forces with flamboyant US singer Adam Lambert - the runner-up in the 2009 American Idol series - at the Central Hall in London's Westminster. Together they blast out a number of Queen classics to an excited 2,000-capacity crowd, only pausing to take a break for the chimes of Big Ben and the traditional fireworks display over the Thames.



New Year's Eve BBC Four

9pm The Joy of Abba
Documentary exploring how pop legends Abba raised the bar for their music genre in the 1970s and early 80s, popularising the sound of Swedish melancholy. The programme explores how the quartet of Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad came to dominate the British music charts with simple, catchy melodies, but also divided opinion due to the mass-produced prolificacy of their output

10pm Abba at The BBC
A collection of memorable performances by the group. Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad were thrust into the limelight in 1974 when Waterloo triumphed at the Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton, marking the start of their rise to fame. Various outings were captured by BBC cameras over the next few years and several are featured here alongside their Top of the Pops debut, archive interviews and fly-on-the-wall footage. There is also a chance to see the foursome on a 1982 edition of Noel Edmonds' Late, Late Breakfast Show, which was Abba's last televised appearance in the UK



New Year's Eve TG4

11.25pm Whelan's @ 25
A concert recorded at Whelan's for New Year's Eve, celebrating the live music venue, with performances by the Riptide Movement, Cathy Davey, Javin James, Paddy Casey, the Tri-Tones and more. Presented by Fiachna O Braonain and Una Mullally

12.25am Leonard Cohen live in Dublin
A 2013 concert performance at the O2 in Dublin by the singer-songwriter, which was part of his sold-out Old Ideas World Tour



New Year's Eve RTE1

10.55pm New Year's Eve live
From the House of Lords in Dublin, where Kathryn Thomas and Paddy McKenna are joined by special guests to count down the final moments of 2014 and welcome in a brand new year. Including highlights of the 3 NYE concert in College Green, featuring Kodaline

12.15am Ceiliuradh
A special evening of music and dance from the Royal Albert Hall, marking the historic occasion of the first State visit by the president of Ireland to the United Kingdom. Includes performances by artists from both Ireland and the UK



New Year's Day BBC Four

10.45pm The Clash New Year's Day 1977
Documentary featuring previously unseen footage of the Clash in concert at The Roxy club in Covent Garden, central London, on January 1, 1977. Filmed by Julien Temple, the recording offers an insight into Britain during the late 1970s and the rising popularity of punk. The programme also includes interviews with the band about their hopes and predictions for 1978

Midnight London Songs at the BBC
A collection of performances from the BBC archives celebrating the sights and sounds of London. The programme includes Petula Clark singing A Foggy Day in London Town in 1965, and Adele performing her love letter to the city, Hometown Glory, in October 2007. Also featuring the Jam, Eddy Grant, Tom Paxton and Lily Allen

1am Nat King Cole: Afraid of the Dark
A look into the private journals of the music legend, who overcame a period of racial segregation and prejudice in America to become one of the greatest jazz icons of all time. He was the only major black television star in Hollywood during his heyday - but, behind closed doors, those around him were thinking of a way to package him as a quasi white. A candid account of what really happened in and around his `fairytale' life is taken from his own written thoughts, interviews with his widow, Maria, and contributions by other family members and fellow musicians


New Year's Day RTE2

9pm Electric Picnic 2014 Highlights
A selection of highlights of the 2014 Electric Picnic festival, including main stage performances by indie group Foals, electronic pop duo Pet Shop Boys, funk-soul outfit Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini and musician Hozier. Presented by Eoghan McDermott, Jenny Greene, Al Porter and Blathnaid Treacy

10.30pm Marley
Premiere. Documentary about the life of Bob Marley, examining the reggae singer's rise to international fame and the way in which his music has continued to have an impact around the world since his death, particularly during times of political struggle. Featuring contributions from family members, bandmate Neville `Bunny Wailer' Livingston and fellow reggae artists Jimmy Cliff and Lee `Scratch' Perry

cml387

How come the BBC are scheduling Queen opposite Jools? Odd decision, but I suppose Queen were doing it anyway and the BBC might as well televise it.

Skid X

cml387 wrote: »

How come the BBC are scheduling Queen opposite Jools? Odd decision, but I suppose Queen were doing it anyway and the BBC might as well televise it.

Yeah, it's a shame to see them clashing. Gary Barlow did a New Year's Eve concert on BBC1 last year which was popular, I suppose the BBC1 Controller wants more of the same (although Jools & Co can't be happy to be up against Queen).

Welsh Megaman

There's naturally always going to be the sceptics wishing Queen would stop tarnishing the memory of Freddie and knock it on the head. This is the first chance for a large mainstream audience to see Adam Lambert perform on British terrestrial TV, before the sound of Freddie turning in his, er, I mean, Big Ben chiming

grey_so_what

Happy Happy New Year to the BEST THREAD OF EVERY YEAR!!...

Hugs and more hugs to ye all lads, thanks for the fun and laughs ever week....

May 2015 bring you your hearts desire - be it a guitar Donie, or a ticket to the best gig ever Skid or a new couch WM and all the rest of ye Beebrock's......xxxxxxxx

GSWxxxxxx

Ol' Donie

Happy new year dudes!

Hopefully it'll bring some new shows!

I'm always sad after new years, because I love Christmas, but a big part of me can't wait to get back to a normal Friday night!

Party on in 2015 buddies!

Donie

Skid X

Happy New Year!

Welsh Megaman

The Clash live footage should be interesting (tonight, 10.45pm on BBC Four).