Jools plays it again in new Later series
Later Live - with Jools Holland
BBC Two, 10pm
BACK in October 1992, a few thousand curious viewers tuned into the opening edition of a new late-night music series on BBC Two. And it’s unlikely that any of the people watching The Neville Brothers, The Christians, Nu Colours and D’influence showcasing their latest tracks that evening would have realised they were witnessing the start of something quite so lasting and special.
But here we are, 25 years, 51 series and 369 episodes later, and Jools Holland is back again with a new run of his music showcase.
As usual, the bandleader will be linking live performances with his cringeworthy puns and amiable chat, and of course, occasionally joining in and playing jazzy piano with his guests.
Kicking off the new series are headliners Snow Patrol, who first performed on Later... 13 years ago and have gone on to make three more appearances since.
Formed at the University of Dundee in 1993 by lead singer Gary Lightbody, the band rose to prominence in the early-mid 2000s as part of the post-britpop movement.
After signing to major label Polydor in 2002, their third album, Final Straw, saw them rise to national fame before 2006’s Eyes Open, and its hit single, Chasing Cars, propelled the band to greater international success.
The record topped the UK Albums Chart and was the best-selling British album of the year, shifting six million copies. In 2008, the band returned with their fifth studio album, A Hundred Million Suns and, in 2011, released a sixth, Fallen Empires, before going on a long hiatus.
Now, the anthemic quartet are back promoting their seventh album, Wildness, which was released in January.
Also on tonight’s bill are south London post-punk band performs tracks from his fourth album, Heaven Before All Hell Breaks Loose, which mixes soul and ragga influences.
And, now in their 50th year on the road, the Bay Area’s mighty Tower Of Power finally make their BBC TV debut with their soul-funk brass attack mixing 70s classics and songs from a new album, Soul Side of Town.
Finally, teenage singer-songwriter Jade Bird from Northumberland, who captured hearts and minds at SXSW this year, makes her TV debut performing solo.