Joining Jools, for his 21st Annual Hootenanny, will be a host of musical stars from all walks of life, from the success stories of the last 12 months through to the hit makers from across the decades.
Classic British songwriter and leader of The Kinks, Ray Davies performs three of their classic sing-a-long numbers with Jools and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra; one of the big success stories of 2013, East London outfit Rudimental will have you dancing your way into the New Year with three of their big songs from their best-selling debut LP ‘Home’ including ‘Feel The Love’ and ‘Waiting All Night’ - they will be joined by some of their guest vocalists including Ella Eyre and Emeli Sandé.
Also joining Jools and the Orchestra will be legendary singer with The Gap Band and recent Kanye West collaborator Charlie Wilson. He will be performing a couple of Gap Band classics including dance floor favourite ‘Oops Upside Your Head’ and ‘Outstanding’ plus his recent smash ‘There Goes My Baby’.
New soul star of the year, Birmingham’s Laura Mvula will be performing her hit single ‘Green Garden’ along with a Nina Simone classic.
From Lancashire, the soul voice that took the world by storm in the late 80s, Lisa Stansfield, will join Jools on a couple of numbers including her much loved song ‘All Around The World’.
From California, they were crowned ‘The Sound of 2013', sisters Este, Danielle and Alana, aka HAIM, with songs from their best-selling debut album ‘Days Are Gone’, plus their take on a Fleetwood Mac number.
Identical twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reid, aka The Proclaimers, will get the room and the nation singing along to their warm hearted anthems which were recently celebrated in UK film ‘Sunshine On Leith’.
Another new star that emerged in 2013, from Settle, Yorkshire, John Newman, will join Jools and the R&B Orchestra on his summer No 1 ‘Love Me Again’, along with a Ray Charles number; and also on the bill is Jamaican singer Dawn Penn who will perform her classic reggae tune ‘You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)’ as well as joining Madness saxophonist Lee Thompson on his Ska Orchestra’s latest tune ‘Bangarang 2’.
A success story all over the world, The Lumineers, who are based in Denver, Colorado, will be in the studio to perform tracks from their best-selling self-titled debut LP including one of the songs of the year in ‘Ho Hey’.
Concluding the line-up are former Spice Girl, Melanie C, who will join Jools & Orchestra on a couple of numbers including a Stevie Wonder classic along with soul singer extraordinaire Ruby Turner.
Add in reflections on the departing year and predictions for 2014 from an always interesting mix of talent from all over the UK, plus the Pipes & Drums of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards taking us into the New Year the traditional way and you have the kind of New Year's Eve party that you could only get courtesy of Mr Jools Holland.
The show was recorded at Maidstone Television Studios in Kent on 11th December and will be shown on 31st December, BBC TWO from 11:30pm-1:30am (GMT)
Producers: Alison Howe, Mark Cooper / Director: Janet Fraser Crook.