Home / World / Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025: Top selections for Liverpool – together with Sam Fender
Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025: Top selections for Liverpool – together with Sam Fender

Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025: Top selections for Liverpool – together with Sam Fender

Calum Leslie

Newsreader, BBC Newsbeat

BBC Sam Fender in a chequered open shirt with light blue guitar on stage.BBC

Sam Fender is without doubt one of the major highlights

Radio 1’s Big Weekend is ready to get stepping into Sefton Park, Liverpool.

Each yr the station rounds up a few of the most up to date artists on this planet and will get them in combination for 3 days of song in a UK town.

But with about 100 acts throughout 4 phases, there is a lot to absorb.

So BBC Newsbeat spoke to DJs Greg James, Sian Eleri and Jack Saunders to get their most sensible recommendations on what to be careful for.

Greg James pointers Sam Fender for a Big Weekend spotlight

Radio 1 Breakfast host Greg James says Sam Fender’s major degree headline slot on Saturday will likely be “incredibly significant”.

“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.”

Official UK Chart Show host Jack says the weekend is an opportunity for him to look at artists he is interviewed acting.

“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.”

Getty Images A crowd of mostly young, female festival-goers at Radio 1's Big Weekend. Many are holding phones up, recording a performance. One girl can be seen sitting atop an unseen friend's shoulders, waving her right hand and smiling.Getty Images

Big Weekend takes position in a unique UK town every yr – in 2024 it was once Luton’s flip

Future Artists host Sian says dance act Barry Can’t Swim is her large tip.

The Scottish DJ, actual title Joshua Spence Mainnie, was once nominated for final yr’s Mercury Music Prize and a bunch of different 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.

“It’s the best gig of your life. It’s colourful. It’s vibrant. The vibes are there,” says Sian, who is additionally hoping to listen to “secret unreleased bits” from Barry’s upcoming album.

Under the radar

Getty Images A young woman sings into a microphone. She's wearing an all-black suit with matching tie. Her long, straight brown hair spills down her back and she wears a selection of gold jewellery - multiple rings, hooped earrings and studs.Getty Images

Sian Eleri says up-and-coming singer Sienna Spiro is one to look at

“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.

“I feel that Big Weekend has a tendency to do this.

“We put artists on the radio and back them from the early days… you can chart their progress.”

Greg says it is smartly price being attentive to lesser-known artists ahead of they transform the following large factor.

And a type of Sian is backing is “phenomenal” singer-songwriter Sienna Spiro, who performs the BBC Introducing degree on Saturday.

“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.

“She is indubitably a type of artists who is 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.

“She’s clearly been on the most sensible of many expenses with Little Mix, however in her personal proper as a solo artist is a fully other proposition,” says Jack.

“We have handiest noticed her do it on the Brit Awards to this point, so Big Weekend will likely be a large second for her.”

Magic moments

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, “simply ahead of Brat summer time took dangle of the sector”.

“It felt like one thing was once truly effervescent beneath the outside along with her,” he says.

“And we were given it simply ahead of it went mad.”

Sian’s memory is a little more personal.

“My first Big Weekend, 2010, in Bangor, after I went as a punter,” she says.

“I used to be an enormous Vampire Weekend fan on the time… I used to be entrance and centre, leaning up in opposition to the boundaries, having the time of my existence.

“I’ve still got rubbish pictures on a digital camera that I took with me at the time.

“I’ll by no means fail to remember that second,” she says. “I used to be dropping my thoughts.”

Make the most of the festival

Getty Images Greg James DJing at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Luton in 2024. He's wearing a white bucket hat, which has the words "Long Boi" written on it, along with three black and white drawings of ducks. He is wearing sunglasses, and a blue t-shirt.Getty Images

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.

But Sian’s staying optimistic.

“I do not wish to jinx it, nevertheless it has been sunny each and every unmarried yr,” she says.

“So carry solar cream, carry hats.”

Some wellies might be a good shout, too.

“Look after your self. Keep a watch on every different. Get some water going. Just be good and feature a great time,” says Sian.

If you’re looking to make the most of the music, the Radio 1 crew have some tips.

“Look on the conflict 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 wish to have to look essentially the most, and which you’d be OK with lacking,” he says.

“And do not depart it till you get to the competition.”

Greg says you shouldn’t be too strict with your schedule, though.

“Go and spot some stuff you’ve got by no means heard of as a result of the ones other folks will transform the following large issues,” he says.

“And then you’ll be able to pass: ‘Yeah, however I noticed them 5 years in the past in Sefton Park on a tiny degree’.

“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.”

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