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| Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025: Top picks for Liverpool - including Sam Fender | Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025: Top picks for Liverpool - including Sam Fender |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Sam Fender is one of Saturday's main highlights | |
| Radio 1's Big Weekend is about to get going in Sefton Park, Liverpool. | Radio 1's Big Weekend is about to get going in Sefton Park, Liverpool. |
| Each year the station rounds up some of the hottest artists in the world and gets them together for three days of music in a UK city. | Each year the station rounds up some of the hottest artists in the world and gets them together for three days of music in a UK city. |
| But with about 100 acts across four stages, there's a lot to take in. | But with about 100 acts across four stages, there's a lot to take in. |
| So BBC Newsbeat spoke to DJs Greg James, Sian Eleri and Jack Saunders to get their top tips on what to watch out for. | So BBC Newsbeat spoke to DJs Greg James, Sian Eleri and Jack Saunders to get their top tips on what to watch out for. |
| 'It's the best gig of your life' | |
| Radio 1 Breakfast host Greg James says Sam Fender's main stage headline slot on Saturday will be "incredibly significant". | Radio 1 Breakfast host Greg James says Sam Fender's main stage headline slot on Saturday will be "incredibly significant". |
| "He's an artist that Radio 1 has supported from day one," says Greg. | "He's an artist that Radio 1 has supported from day one," says Greg. |
| "We all knew that something special could happen with him, and it has." | "We all knew that something special could happen with him, and it has." |
| Official UK Chart Show host Jack says the weekend is a chance for him to watch artists he's interviewed performing. | Official UK Chart Show host Jack says the weekend is a chance for him to watch artists he's interviewed performing. |
| "Joy Crookes is an artist who I've never seen live before who I love to hang out with on the radio," he says. | "Joy Crookes is an artist who I've never seen live before who I love to hang out with on the radio," he says. |
| "She's so much fun. Her music is so soulful, so euphoric and she is just a great time and I think her set's going to be a great time." | "She's so much fun. Her music is so soulful, so euphoric and she is just a great time and I think her set's going to be a great time." |
| Big Weekend takes place in a different UK city each year - in 2024 it was Luton's turn | Big Weekend takes place in a different UK city each year - in 2024 it was Luton's turn |
| Future Artists host Sian says dance act Barry Can't Swim is her big tip. | Future Artists host Sian says dance act Barry Can't Swim is her big tip. |
| The Scottish DJ, real name Joshua Spence Mainnie, was nominated for last year's Mercury Music Prize and a host of other awards for his debut, When Do We Land?. | The Scottish DJ, real name Joshua Spence Mainnie, was nominated for last year's Mercury Music Prize and a host of other awards for his debut, When Do We Land?. |
| "I've been lucky enough to see him live a couple of times now and every single time he delivers," she says. | "I've been lucky enough to see him live a couple of times now and every single time he delivers," she says. |
| "It's the best gig of your life. It's colourful. It's vibrant. The vibes are there," says Sian, who's also hoping to hear "secret unreleased bits" from Barry's upcoming album. | "It's the best gig of your life. It's colourful. It's vibrant. The vibes are there," says Sian, who's also hoping to hear "secret unreleased bits" from Barry's upcoming album. |
| Under the radar | Under the radar |
| Sian Eleri says up-and-coming singer Sienna Spiro is one to watch | Sian Eleri says up-and-coming singer Sienna Spiro is one to watch |
| "The whole point of Big Weekend is that we have big headliners," says Greg. | "The whole point of Big Weekend is that we have big headliners," says Greg. |
| "But we also have the New Music Stage and then we have the Introducing stage, which finds the next Sam Fender. | "But we also have the New Music Stage and then we have the Introducing stage, which finds the next Sam Fender. |
| "I think that Big Weekend tends to do that. | "I think that Big Weekend tends to do that. |
| "We put artists on the radio and back them from the early days... you can chart their progress." | "We put artists on the radio and back them from the early days... you can chart their progress." |
| Greg says it's well worth paying attention to lesser-known artists before they become the next big thing. | Greg says it's well worth paying attention to lesser-known artists before they become the next big thing. |
| And one of those Sian is backing is "phenomenal" singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro, who plays the BBC Introducing stage on Saturday. | And one of those Sian is backing is "phenomenal" singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro, who plays the BBC Introducing stage on Saturday. |
| "She's one of those vocalists who stops you in your tracks," says Sian. | "She's one of those vocalists who stops you in your tracks," says Sian. |
| "Imagine if I'd discovered Adele, for example, all those years ago, I would feel the same way as I do about Sienna Spiro. | "Imagine if I'd discovered Adele, for example, all those years ago, I would feel the same way as I do about Sienna Spiro. |
| "She is definitely one of those artists who's going to skyrocket, so be an early fan now." | "She is definitely one of those artists who's going to skyrocket, so be an early fan now." |
| Jack's shout is ex-Little Mix member Jade, who's topping the New Music stage bill on Sunday. | Jack's shout is ex-Little Mix member Jade, who's topping the New Music stage bill on Sunday. |
| "She's obviously been at the top of many bills with Little Mix, but in her own right as a solo artist is a completely different proposition," says Jack. | "She's obviously been at the top of many bills with Little Mix, but in her own right as a solo artist is a completely different proposition," says Jack. |
| "We have only seen her do it at the Brit Awards so far, so Big Weekend will be a big moment for her." | "We have only seen her do it at the Brit Awards so far, so Big Weekend will be a big moment for her." |
| Magic moments | Magic moments |
| Like any festival, Big Weekend is all about those moments that you'll remember for years to come. | Like any festival, Big Weekend is all about those moments that you'll remember for years to come. |
| Greg recalls Charli XCX's performance last year, in Luton, on the New Music Stage, "just before Brat summer took hold of the world". | Greg recalls Charli XCX's performance last year, in Luton, on the New Music Stage, "just before Brat summer took hold of the world". |
| "It felt like something was really bubbling under the surface with her," he says. | "It felt like something was really bubbling under the surface with her," he says. |
| "And we got it just before it went mad." | "And we got it just before it went mad." |
| Sian's memory is a little more personal. | Sian's memory is a little more personal. |
| "My first Big Weekend, 2010, in Bangor, when I went as a punter," she says. | "My first Big Weekend, 2010, in Bangor, when I went as a punter," she says. |
| "I was a huge Vampire Weekend fan at the time... I was front and centre, leaning up against the barriers, having the time of my life. | "I was a huge Vampire Weekend fan at the time... I was front and centre, leaning up against the barriers, having the time of my life. |
| "I've still got rubbish pictures on a digital camera that I took with me at the time. | "I've still got rubbish pictures on a digital camera that I took with me at the time. |
| "I'll never forget that moment," she says. "I was losing my mind." | "I'll never forget that moment," she says. "I was losing my mind." |
| Make the most of the festival | Make the most of the festival |
| If you're actually heading down to Sefton Park, the weather forecast is looking... mixed. | If you're actually heading down to Sefton Park, the weather forecast is looking... mixed. |
| Saturday, in particular, is threatening to be soggy, with showers predicted for most of the day. | Saturday, in particular, is threatening to be soggy, with showers predicted for most of the day. |
| But Sian's staying optimistic. | But Sian's staying optimistic. |
| "I don't want to jinx it, but it has been sunny every single year," she says. | "I don't want to jinx it, but it has been sunny every single year," she says. |
| "So bring sun cream, bring hats." | "So bring sun cream, bring hats." |
| Some wellies might be a good shout, too. | Some wellies might be a good shout, too. |
| "Look after yourself. Keep an eye on each other. Get some water going. Just be sensible and have a good time," says Sian. | "Look after yourself. Keep an eye on each other. Get some water going. Just be sensible and have a good time," says Sian. |
| If you're looking to make the most of the music, the Radio 1 crew have some tips. | If you're looking to make the most of the music, the Radio 1 crew have some tips. |
| "Look at the clash finder," says Jack, referring to the tool that tells you whether two artists you want to see are playing at the same time. | "Look at the clash finder," says Jack, referring to the tool that tells you whether two artists you want to see are playing at the same time. |
| "Work out which artists you want to see the most, and which you would be OK with missing," he says. | "Work out which artists you want to see the most, and which you would be OK with missing," he says. |
| "And don't leave it until you get to the festival." | "And don't leave it until you get to the festival." |
| Greg says you shouldn't be too strict with your schedule, though. | Greg says you shouldn't be too strict with your schedule, though. |
| "Go and see some stuff you've never heard of because those people will become the next big things," he says. | "Go and see some stuff you've never heard of because those people will become the next big things," he says. |
| "And then you can go: 'Yeah, but I saw them five years ago in Sefton Park on a tiny stage'. | "And then you can go: 'Yeah, but I saw them five years ago in Sefton Park on a tiny stage'. |
| "So go and be there, the handful of people in the crowd for a new band or a new artist. That's quite a cool thing." | "So go and be there, the handful of people in the crowd for a new band or a new artist. That's quite a cool thing." |
| "But don't overplan. Have a couple of headliners to go to. But then just get lost." | "But don't overplan. Have a couple of headliners to go to. But then just get lost." |
| You can watch highlights from Radio 1's Big Weekend over the years on BBC iPlayer. | You can watch highlights from Radio 1's Big Weekend over the years on BBC iPlayer. |
| Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |