Stand By Me – ‘Bob Harris – A Celebration Of Life In Music’ Live Show Announced
An extraordinary line-up of artists spanning rock, folk, country and pop will come together on Wednesday 2 December 2026 at the Royal Albert Hall for “Stand By Me: Bob Harris – A Celebration of Life In Music’ – a landmark concert honouring broadcasting legend Bob Harris.
The one-night-only show will see performances from Roger Daltrey, Paul Weller, Robert Plant with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian, Rick Wakeman, Carly Pearce, Chris Difford, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Judie Tzuke, Kate Rusby, The Shires, Kezia Gill and Toby Lee, many of whom have worked with or been championed by Bob across his decades-long broadcasting career. With more guests to be announced.
Bob Harris, known affectionately as “Whispering Bob,” has spent more than five decades at the heart of British music broadcasting, from presenting the original Sounds of the 70s, and the iconic BBC TV show The Old Grey Whistle Test, to championing new Country and Americana talent through Bob Harris Country on BBC Radio 2. Awarded an OBE in 2011 for services to music broadcasting, he has built lifelong friendships with many of the artists he first supported in the earliest days of their careers – relationships that lie at the very heart of this once-in-a-lifetime concert.
Speaking about the concert, Bob Harris said:
“I’ve been blessed and honoured to have been there with all these artists right at the beginning of their careers, so we all have long working relationships and deep friendships. I truly love the Royal Albert Hall too. I first began attending concerts there in 1968, and it is, to me, the most beautiful and prestigious venue in Britain. So I feel so honoured to have these wonderful artists with me onstage at my favourite venue. Bringing this music together for ‘Stand By Me’ is the realisation of a dream.”
With more performers still to be announced, the evening will also feature celebrated broadcasting and music figures on stage to present the show and share their memories of Bob. There will be some incredible archive footage from Bob’s career shown on the big screen, and Bob himself will be in the audience to enjoy the celebration.
About Bob Harris
Bob Harris OBE is one of British broadcasting’s most enduring and best-loved voices. Born in Northampton in 1946, he co-founded the listings magazine Time Out in 1968 before joining the BBC in 1970, where he presented the original Sounds of the 70s on BBC Radio 1 and went on to front the influential music show The Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC Two. His distinctive, gentle delivery gave him his famous nickname and made him a champion of new artists at pivotal early moments in their careers.
Harris has spent more than five decades on air, including a long tenure at BBC Radio 2 fronting Bob Harris Country and the revived Sounds of the 70s, and has been a driving force behind the UK’s Country and Americana music scene, hosting C2C: Country to Country Festival every year since its launch in 2013. He was appointed OBE in 2011 for services to music broadcasting, the same year he received the Americana Music Association’s Trailblazer Award, and he has also been honoured with a UK Radio Hall of Fame induction, a MOJO Medal and multiple Sony Awards. He is the author of two memoirs, The Whispering Years and Still Whispering After All These Years.
Bob has been open about his ongoing battle with prostate cancer, and earlier this year he had to step back from his weekly Radio 2 shows while dealing with a health setback. While his treatment is still very much ongoing, he continues to work on various programmes and projects whenever he can. He’s said “Radio 2 have been supportive beyond words.”
Event Details:
Show: Stand By Me: Bob Harris – A Celebration of Life In Music
Date: Wednesday 2 December 2026
Venue: Royal Albert Hall, London
Line–up: Roger Daltrey, Paul Weller, Robert Plant with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian, Rick Wakeman, Carly Pearce, Chris Difford, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Judie Tzuke, Kate Rusby, The Shires, Kezia Gill and Toby Lee
MD: Ethan Johns
House band: Jeremy Stacey (Drums), Neil Cowley (Bass Guitar), Nick Pini (Keys), Mollie Marriot (BVs), Siobhan Maher Kennedy (BVs)
Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By SJM Concerts PR
Tickets: https://gigst.rs/BHLIM (On sale Friday 7th August at 10am)
Date: Wednesday 2nd December 2026
Doors / Start time: 7.30pm
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