Speaking on air during rehearsals, Spiteri discussed the group’s preparation for their opening set at City Park, where the station’s flagship annual music festival runs from 11 to 13 September 2026. “I’m match fit because I’ve had a couple of days’ rehearsals,” Spiteri said. “We’re kicking the whole weekend off, which we’re very much looking forward to, so everybody’s got to get ready to party.”
The festival weekend opens with a Friday DJ Pre-Party featuring sets from Radio 2 presenters including Sara Cox, DJ Spoony, Gary Davies, Michelle Visage, and Rylan, ahead of a weekend of live music.
The festival celebrations began with a special broadcast hosted by Jo Whiley from Stirling’s Tolbooth venue. The show highlighted Scottish musical talent in partnership with BBC Introducing Scotland, featuring live performances and interviews with emerging artists Fright Years, Alice Faye, and James Emmanuel.
Edinburgh four-piece Fright Years performed their track “Never Been Wrong” alongside a cover of Simple Minds’ “Waterfront,” while Glasgow singer-songwriter Alice Faye, winner of BBC Introducing in Scotland 2026, performed “Some Brief Encounter” and covered Lulu’s arrangement of “I Started a Joke.” Nigerian-born, Edinburgh-based artist James Emmanuel performed “Brothers & Sisters” alongside a cover of Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman.”
“We’re all about celebrating BBC Introducing and all the music that’s come out of Scotland,” Whiley noted during the broadcast. “It’s about celebrating the local music scene and the incredibly important work that BBC Introducing does to support independent, up-and-coming artists.”
The broadcast also featured contributions from BBC Introducing in Scotland presenter Stephanie Cheape, Stirling Council venue manager Tara McLoughlin, and student broadcasters from Air3 Radio at the University of Stirling.
Full interview segments and live sets from the weekend broadcasts are available to stream on BBC Sounds.
