Jo Whiley's Radio 2 show to be broadcast from recently saved Preston Grassroots Music Venue

Jo Whiley's Radio 2 show to be broadcast from recently saved Preston Grassroots Music Venue

In the build-up to Radio 2 in the Park, the recently saved and much-loved Preston music venue, The Ferret, will be the backdrop for Jo Whiley's evening Radio 2 show.

The live broadcast will take place on Thursday 5 September and be co-hosted by William Wolstenholme, whilst simultaneously aired live on his Radio Lancashire show.

The Ferret and Jo Whiley are both synonymous with championing new and upcoming musicians, which makes this Grassroots Music Venue the perfect choice for this special show. Lancashire-based singer songwriter Bryony Jarman-Pinto, Lancaster electronic-pop trio LOWES, and Blackpool Indie-boyband VALA, will perform in front of an intimate audience of Radio 2 listeners.  

These three local acts were hand-picked from BBC Introducing's bank of artists and, in a new segment launching that night, one of the acts will be announced as Jo Whiley's first ever Spotlight BBC Introducing Act.

The show will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2, Radio Lancashire and BBC Sounds from 7pm - 9pm on Thursday 5 September.

The Ferret

In May 2024, after a gruelling campaign to 'Save The Ferret', the iconic music venue was placed into permanent protected status through Music Venue Properties 'Own Our Venues scheme'.

The 'Own Our Venues' campaign, launched by the charity Music Venue Trust (MVT) is built on the Community Share Model that has been paramount in saving and protecting many venues such as pubs, local post offices and sports grounds and The Ferret was one of nine venues that has benefited from this scheme.

During the campaign to raise the financial means needed to purchase the iconic music venue, in line with the Community Wealth Building model, Preston City Council helped the Grassroots Music Venue reach their goal by providing a loan of £150k.

Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader at Preston City Council, said:

 "We are delighted Jo Whiley will be broadcasting from Preston's Ferret in the run up to Radio 2 in the Park 2024. As a council we were proud to back the campaign to save The Ferret by investing in the venue which now has a long-term future in community ownership.

The reality is communities not having ownership of assets like The Ferret is an issue that cannot be ignored in terms of the sustainability of our creative economy. Helping save the Ferret is just one part of our Community Wealth Building agenda that promotes a local economy, putting more ownership in the hands of working people across our city."

Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building, (also known as The Preston Model), wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone.

The Ferret's stage has been graced by a huge variety of musicians at different stages of their careers from an unsigned Ed Sheeran to the likes of Royal Blood and Badly Drawn Boy.

Jo Whiley's radio show broadcasting live from the Ferret, is the perfect way to launch the many live performances that Prestonians and visitors to Moor Park will get to enjoy from Friday 6 September to Sunday 8 September at Radio 2 in the Park with headliners Sting (Saturday 7 September) and Pet Shop Boys (Sunday 8 September).

All tickets have been allocated through a ballot prior to the event, with no tickets available on the door.