Jorja Smith, Beverley Knight and UB40 are among the artists confirmed to perform at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony.
The Games will end after 11 days of sporting action with a high-octane production celebrating the musical heritage of the West Midlands.
The closing ceremony, at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, will see performances by artists including Apache Indian, Beverley Knight, Dexys Midnight Runners, Goldie, Jacob Banks, Jaykae and Jorja Smith.
Laura Mvula, Ash, Mahalia and Musical Youth will also perform, along with Neelam Gill, Panjabi MC, Talulah-Eve, The Selecter and UB40.
Laura Mvula will perform as part of a segment of the new theater show Peaky Blinders (Yui Mok/PA)As a tribute to one of Birmingham’s major exports of the past decade, the closing ceremony will feature footage from the highly anticipated theater show Peaky Blinders: The Redemption Of Thomas Shelby.
British singer Mvula will give a special performance of a newly commissioned track inspired by Nick Cave’s Red Right Hand, the theme song for the TV series.
Written and adapted for the stage by show creator Steven Knight, the theatrical production will have its world premiere at Birmingham Hippodrome on September 27 as part of the Birmingham Festival 2022.
Martin Green, Creative Director of the Birmingham Games, said: “With this closing ceremony, we wanted to create a spectacular line-up of global artists from the West Midlands for an exhilarating musical production to conclude 11 unforgettable days of sport and culture.
“The blend of high-octane performance will celebrate the vibrant energy and cultural heritage of this incredible city, as we wrap up these spectacular Games on home soil.”
The closing ceremony will also include an official handover to the state of Victoria, Australia, which hosts the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The past 11 days have been a shining example of the power of sport in strengthening the bonds between our unique partnership of Commonwealth nations.
“I would like to thank the brilliant volunteers, the roaring crowds and all the athletes who have dived, hurdled or battled to victory for making this the best Commonwealth Games yet.
“And I am particularly proud of the city of Birmingham for being a fantastic first-time host and welcoming our Commonwealth friends with open arms – cementing the UK’s well-deserved reputation for hosting major sporting events on the world stage.
“The success of Birmingham 2022 will be measured not only in medals won or records broken, but also in the number of people who will be inspired to play sport as a result, and who will be able to thanks to this Government’s massive investment in the sport of mass in recent years.
“And when the athletes return home and the banners fall, it is the people of the West Midlands who will reap the benefits of the lasting economic legacy these Games have secured and which will drive trade, jobs and growth across the region for a generation to come.”
The closing ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and will mark the end of an event in which 4,500 Commonwealth athletes competed in 19 sports and eight para-sports.
The ceremony takes place at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium on Monday.