News

Stevie Wonder Celebrates His 60th Birthday At Hard Rock Calling

• 25th Mar 2010

Hard Rock International is getting ready to throw Stevie Wonder the biggest 60th birthday party ever when he headlines Hard Rock Calling on Saturday 26 June in Hyde Park this summer.

50,000 fans are expected to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Stevie as he celebrates six decades on planet earth this year. His headlining performance in Hyde Park confirmed for 26 June will be a celebration of the man and his music.

A galaxy of stars have lined up to perform on the same bill as Stevie including Jamiroquai, James Morrison, and Corinne Bailey Rae. Tickets will go on sale for Saturday 26 June at 9am on Friday 26 March.

Stevie Wonder will be celebrating in style with this memorable headline performance at this year’s Hard Rock Calling performing hit after hit from his incredible career. Having sold out The O2 Arena London twice last year and with more than thirty Top 10 hits and two dozen GRAMMY® Awards and countless humanitarian accolades, he will return to London for his first ever open-air London festival. Having inspired a generation of breakthrough acts across four decades, his performance at Hard Rock Calling 2010 will be one of the high points of the summer.

Having sold more than 35 million albums worldwide Jamiroquai is one of the UK’s biggest musical exports. Citing Stevie Wonder as a musical hero of his, Jay Kay will take to the Hard Rock Calling stage for his first performance in the UK in many years. Currently in the process of recording his eighth studio album, Jamiroquai will bring his special blend of pop, rock and electronica to Hyde Park for what is bound to be a very memorable performance.

Joining the line-up on Saturday will be BRIT Award winning singer/songwriter James Morrison who returns to Hard Rock Calling for the second consecutive year. James commented on being part of this incredible weekend, “Stevie Wonder is one of those rare artists who only come along once in a lifetime and who many will try to emulate and imitate but will never better. Alongside Michael Jackson, Stevie started so many musical trends. His vocal style, his melodies and his amazing musicianship cross all boundaries. Stevie is, and always will be, a legend and I'm honoured and excited to be playing with him in Hyde Park. Ever since I started listening to him as a kid, he has given me so much musical inspiration and he really opened my eyes to what can be created with pure feel and emotion in music. It's going to be an amazing day, Stevie, myself, the beautiful and amazing spirit of Corinne and the funky Jay Kay.’”

After a hiatus of nearly two years GRAMMY and BRIT Award-nominated Corinne Bailey Rae released her much-anticipated second album ‘The Sea’ in January and will take to the Hard Rock Calling stage for her first festival performance this year.

“I’m so excited to be playing with Stevie! I have been lucky enough to watch him play from the side of the stage before and it was amazing. His songs and his voice are so beautiful, it's a real honour to be chosen to support him” – Corinne Bailey Rae

With the headliners for all three days now announced Pearl Jam, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder all join a long line of rock ‘n’ roll greats that have graced the Hard Rock Calling Stage in this iconic location – including Bruce Springsteen, The Who, Aerosmith, The Police, Neil Young and The Killers amongst others.

Hard Rock Calling 2010 is shaping up to be the London festival to go to this summer, bringing fans the best music by top artists.