Elton John is first act announced for BBC Electric Proms

As eFestivals predicted last week Elton John, and American singer-songwriter Leon Russell are the first acts announced for this year's BBC Electric Proms taking place from Thursday 28th to Saturday 30th of October 2010.

The two pianists will will share centre stage, and offers the audience a chance to see Elton John share the stage with the artist who inspired him as a young musician; singer songwriter Leon Russell.

Leon has written songs such as 'This Masquerade' and 'Delta Lady', as well as worked with the likes of The Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra and The Rolling Stones. Russell and Elton first worked together and toured the US in the early 1970s, but lost touch for many years. Then last November Elton, Leon, Bernie Taupin and producer T Bone Burnett started collaborating in an L.A. studio on a new album, The Union. Making the new record, Elton told Mojo magazine in August, "made me fall in love with a guy I fell in love with years ago, all over again."

As well as looking back at his roots, Elton's looking ahead by bringing on board two new names, Plan B, and Rumer to perform alongside him on the festival's opening night, Thursday 28th October 2010. The show will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 at 20:00 and then shown on BBC Two on Saturday 30 October, together with an exclusive documentary about his music and life.

BBC Electric Proms allows artists to perform something a bit different, whether it be a performance of rare tracks, a unique collaboration or a cross bridging of genres.

Acts for the other two special concerts at London's The Roundhouse have not yet been announced. Tickets are not on sale yet, and prices have not yet been confirmed.

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