If you’d have said five years ago that superstar DJ Pete Tong was bringing his world-famous classics set to the Flag Market this May Bank Holiday, most people would have thought that you were having a laugh.
Added to that, Britpop big names Embrace bringing their anthems as Sunday’s headliners, the city’s well and truly geared up for a party to end all parties!
Brothers Danny and Richard McNamara formed Embrace on the other side of the Pennines (but we won’t hold that against them) and are revered for tracks including ‘All You Good Good People’, ‘Good Will Out’, and ‘Ashes’. Critically acclaimed across the board, the NME declared their first album “One of the great debut albums of the decade”.
Since then, Embrace have gone on to score three No. 1 albums and six Top 10 singles, selling millions of records albums in the process.
Pete Tong is renowned as one of the best DJs on the planet – he’s the GOAT, the UK’s original superstar DJ, mixing dance anthems with contemporary classics to produce something for everyone.
And having these two names headlining Preston’s biggest party weekend really whets the appetite for what is possible for the city.
Mark Whittle, from Preston’s BID, who are organising the event, alongside Preston City Council, said: “We’ve upped our game this year, securing Pete Tong for Preston Weekender just shows what the city’s capable of doing, when we work together with ambition. Pete’s chosen Preston over every other northern town and city, in what will be his only show of the spring or summer.
Embrace aren’t doing a lot of full-band shows this year, so we’re ‘proper chuffed’ to have secured them to headline Sunday’s gig.
“The Weekender is one of the biggest events in the city’s calendar and to say there’s a buzz around the city would be an understatement. As well as Pete, Embrace, plus Sam Divine, Elvana and Ferocious Dog, we have outstanding local supporting and performing at the event… we can’t have a show in Preston, without putting Preston in the show!”