9 Things to watch out for this BBC Music Day

Check out the full video below of local indie heroes Blossoms giving a surprise, early morning pop up performance at Manchester Piccadilly Station live on BBC Breakfast, backed by the 40-strong Sense of Sound Choir and the RNCM Pop Choir. One onlooker summed things up as simply “amazing.”

1. Bargain Hunt Special: Pulp vs Happy Mondays

Jarvis and Candida of Pulp take on Happy Mondays’ Bez and Rowetta in a special edition of Bargain Hunt on BBC Music Day at 12.15pm on BBC One. You might think of Jarvis and Candida as aficionados of all things vintage, from Farfisa organs to velour cords, but have they reckoned with multiple-reality show contestant Rowetta and former political candidate Bez’s sheer drive to win? Find out on Friday whose bargain hunting is in a different class.

2. Sing!

There are few things in life children love as much as being loud, and on BBC Music Day, we’ll be encouraging them to put that volume to good use. Teachers will find a vocal warmup video on our Singing page aimed at getting everyone’s pipes primed – no practice necessary. It’s all about joining in, and with hundreds of schools signed up, it’s going to be a loud one.

3. Soul trains and music station to station

Kylie, one of our BBC Music Day Ambassadors, will be perking up commuters with specially recorded messages at the UK’s major train stations. Meanwhile, at stations around the country, singing groups and choirs will be entertaining passengers, including some special guests.

4. George Ezra reads Bedtime Stories

Bedtime Stories has had some distinguished musical guests in recent years, from Dolly Parton to Sir Elton John. George Ezra, dubbed ‘the nicest man in rock’n’roll’ by NME, is a natural for the job. Tune in to CBeebies at 6.50pm on BBC Music Day to find out which story he’ll be settling down with.

5. In Tune with The Wombats

At the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, rock band The Wombats learned to bring their creativity to any task, and Tune, on CBeebies, will see them take on their toughest songwriting challenge yet: crafting a new track inspired by objects they find on Blackpool’s beach. Overseeing them in their attempt will be former Sugababe, Heidi Range. Keep an eye on CBeebies at 5.00pm on BBC Music Day to see how they got on.

6. Music on the tram

In Manchester, the BBC Music Day Tram will play host to two of Manchester’s biggest female stars – to be revealed! In Birmingham, Pass the Mic will see the BBC Asian Network presenting a performance takeover by an all-female lineup of MCs and performers live on the Midlands Metro Tram network – listen in on BBC Asian Network from 7.00am.

7. Some very special buskers

As part of this year’s BBC Music Day focus is on celebrating women in music, Busk in London is planning all-female busking spots at some locations in the capital, with surprise pop-up performances by some special guests.

8. Nile Rodgers and Chic on All Request Friday

A song never sounds better than when someone’s played it as your request on the radio. Except, that is, when it’s being played by disco legends Chic, led by musical superhero, Nile Rodgers. And that’s just what’s happening on All Request Friday on BBC Radio 2, where Jo Whiley and Simon Mayo will be joined by Nile and the gang from 5.00pm on BBC Music Day.

9. Music Memories

A new digital platform for those living with dementia, BBC Music Memories harnesses the nostalgic power of music. Evidence shows that music can help people with dementia to reconnect to their most powerful memories, and on this website you can browse for music by genre and era, and create, save and print out your own personal playlists. On BBC Music Day, Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol, who recently wrote the song Soon, will introduce BBC Music Memories with a personal message on The One Show, from 7.00pm.