Adam Lambert to sing with Queen

Adam Lambert. AP Enlarge

LONDON -- Adam Lambert has nabbed his dream gig: Singing vocals for the British band Queen as they headline the second day of the U.K. rock festival Sonisphere 2012.

The former American Idol runner-up will step into the late Freddie Mercury’s shoes for the band’s July 7 set at Knebworth Park in Stevenage, north of London.

Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor confirmed the one-time collaboration Tuesday with Lambert, 30, a runner-up in season eight of the popular TV song competition.

The Sonisphere show marks the third time Lambert has sung with the landmark band, following an eight-minute set at the MTV Europe Awards in November to celebrate Queen’s Global Icon Award, and a 2009 performance of “We Are the Champions” on American Idol.

WGTE-FM adds new programs

Beginning in March, On Being with Krista Tippett and Echoes join the WGTE-FM, 91.3, broadcast lineup on Sundays.

Described as a cultural “phenomenon” by the New York Times, On Being with Krista Tippett (formerly Speaking of Faith) is a Peabody and Webby Award-winning weekly program that airs on more than 240 stations nationwide. The program engages listeners across the spectrum of belief and nonbelief in conversation about life’s deepest questions. On Being will air from 10 to 11 a.m. Sundays on FM 91.

Hosted by music journalist John Diliberto, Echoes creates a modern soundscape of music that draws from a multitude of cultures, traditions, and genres. The series bridges new instrumental, world fusion, new acoustic, impressionistic jazz, and inventive vocal styles. Echoes will air from 9 to 10 p.m. Sundays on FM 91, replacing Afropop Worldwide.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will be showcased from 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays as well. The Record Shelf, which currently airs at 8 p.m. Fridays, will be discontinued, and Pipedreams, which airs at 9 p.m. Fridays, will move to the 10 p.m. slot and be expanded to its full two-hour version.

WGTE-FM also announced the addition of Classics for Kids to the Saturday morning schedule. The program brings the world’s greatest classical composers to life through entertaining stories and engaging music. It will air Saturdays at 7 a.m. on FM 91.

Rounding out the classical music offerings on WGTE are Chamber Music Sundays, which feature a combination of live performances from three revolving radio series: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and WGTE’s own award-winning program Live from FM 91. Chamber Music Sundays will air from 11 a.m to noon.