Electric Light Orchestra fans are guessing who could open for the band at their farewell show next year.
Jeff Lynne, 76, confirmed the band would bow out with a final performance at Hyde Park in London next year. Those who are attending the gig in July are now wondering who could open for the band.
While there is no confirmation as to opening acts yet, some are hopeful of a legendary performer with ties to ELO could provide some music for the warm-up acts. Taking to the ELO Reddit forum, a user asked: “Opening act in the UK? Anyone know or have a guess as to who it will be?”
One user replied: “Don’t wanna get everyone’s hopes up but Roy Wood is forming a new band, hopefully by next year. He did say last week that if he was asked, he’d be the warm up act.”
Wood, who was a key member in the early years of the Electric Light Orchestra and later formed the band Wizzard, known for their hit Christmas song, I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, is set to return to music and record a new album. Fans of the Lynne-led ELO are hoping to see him open at the Hyde Park show.
Another wrote: “Unsure if he’ll be an opening act in Manchester/Birmingham, but I can see him appearing as a support at Hyde Park.” A third replied: “That would be a dream come true.”
Other guesses were made as to who could feature on the bill for ELO’s farewell show, with a few tipping the US tour’s opening act as a possible part of the Hyde Park performance. One user wrote: “At the 2nd show at LA Rooney said ‘see you guys next year’ so maybe then it’s them.”
Speculation continued as the band Big Horizon were tipped as a potential opener, with one user guessing: “Most likely Big Horizon. They just released they’re new album and it just seems right for it to be them.”
Lynne confirmed the Hyde Park date will be the final performance from Electric Light Orchestra as he looks to call time on the band a decade after reforming the act. In a statement confirming the show, Lynne said: “My return to touring began at Hyde Park in 2014. It seems like the perfect place to do our final show. We couldn’t be more excited to share this special night in London with our UK fans. As the song goes, ‘We’re gonna do it One More Time‘.”
Jim King, chief executive of European festivals at AEG Presents, said: “Jeff Lynne’s ELO are loved the world over. The live shows are nothing short of extraordinary and a testament to the incredible catalogue of hits we’ve enjoyed for over 50 years.
“Hosting their final performance at BST Hyde Park is a true honour, especially thirty years after their first festival show in the same park. We’re excited to be part of this special moment in music history.”
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