Electric Proms

Florence and the Machine perform for BBC Electric Proms 2009 in partnership with BBC New Music Shorts and 6 Music. Earlier this year, filmmakers were asked to submit ideas for an inventive and original short film inspired by the music of Florence and the Machine and Metronomy. BBC New Music shorts has commissioned Keith McCarthy to make a short film inspired by Florence and the Machine's 'Dog Days Are Over'. With her darkly romantic songs and hugely charismatic stage presence, Florence Welch harks back to British eccentrics like Kate Bush, Siouxsie Sioux and Annie Lennox. 2009's Mercury Prize-nominated debut album Lungs is a through the looking glass-fantasy - one where tribal drums and Florence's distinctive, powerful voice soundtrack gothic fables of love, lust and coffin-making. For BBC Electric Proms, Florence and the Machine and Metronomy perform in the Roundhouse's Studio Theatre, after the big screen premier of the films inspired by their music.

BBC Electric Proms was proud to present a true British legend. Dame Shirley Bassey graced the Roundhouse stage with a unique performance celebrating 50 years at the top of show business. Dame Shirley will be joined on stage by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Mike Dixon, performing some of her most famous tracks alongside new songs from her forthcoming album, 'The Performance'. The show will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2. Britain's most successful female artist ever, Dame Shirley Bassey is rightly famous for her commanding renditions of classics Big Spender, Light My Fire and Something. Her Bond themes - Goldfinger, Moonraker and Diamonds Are Forever - are perhaps the finest in the series. This evergreen artist continues to influence a new generation of musicians. In 2007, at Glastonbury festival, Arctic Monkeys paid tribute to the Dame performing a version of Diamonds Are Forever. The same song was reworked by Kanye West for his hit Diamonds From Sierra Leone. At the Roundhouse, Dame Shirley Bassey was joined by Tom Baxter, Richard Hawley and the Manic Street Preachers' James Dean Bradfield. Dame Shirley treated the Roundhouse to numbers from her much-loved songbook whilst premiering new work. Said the artist, "What I'm most looking forward to at the BBC Electric Proms is performing songs from my new album 'The Performance' for the first time - it really will be a special moment for me." It is worth noting that this was Dame Shirley Bassey's only live show this year. BBC Electric Proms is delighted that she chose to celebrate 50 years of song with this very special intimate concert.