Preview: BBC Radio 1, Big Weekend 2016

The crowd during the Radio 1 Big Weekend, held in Earlham Park, Norwich. Picture by: Matt Crossick / PA Archive/Press Association Images

Over the years BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend has become a staple in the UK’s festival calendar as the largest free ticketed event marking the start of festival season attracting some of the biggest names in music as well as hundreds of thousands of fans. With 2 packed days of music and a different location each year, it’s clear to see why it has become a firm favourite with festival goers.

This year looks to be no different to previous years which have seen the festival visit major cities including; Norwich, Glasgow, Londonderry, Hackney and, of course, Sunderland.

Tickets are expected to be in high demand again for 2016 when they become available to order via the Radio 1 Website after the full line up has been announced on March 21.

Radio 1 Breakfast show DJs Nick Grimshaw and Adele Roberts announced that this year’s music spectacular will take place in none other than Powderham Castle, Exeter. The manor house surrounded by beautiful Devon countryside will play host to some of the biggest stars in music across four stages spread over an entire weekend of May 28 and May 29.

As well as announcing the location, Grimshaw also offered fans a prelude into what was to expect this year by revealing the first four acts and one of two big headline acts set to perform in Exeter.

Bring Me The Horizon

The first hotly anticipated act to be announced for Big Weekend this year is Sheffield based rock band Bring Me The Horizon.

The band consisting of Oliver Sykes, Matt Kean, Lee Malia, Matt Nicholls and Jordan Fish released their fifth studio album That’s The Spirit in August last year which peaked at number 2 in the UK Charts.

This is the first time the band have played at Radio 1s big weekend so promises to be one of the most anticipated sets.

Chase and Status

The next act to be announced were Electronic music production duo Saul Milton and Will Kennard better known as Chase and Status.

Over the course of their career the pair have appeared at some of the biggest festivals around the country including Download Festival and Reading and Leeds as well as Global gathering.

While considered to be festival veterans the pair have never failed to deliver outstanding sets time and time again and will no doubt create a fantastic atmosphere at Powderham Castle this year.

Craig David

Big Weekend this year also sees the return of the legendary Mr Craig David who made a comeback to the music industry at the start of this year with a surprisingly new and fresh sound.

His track When The Baseline Drops, a collaborative track with rapper Big Narstie, charted at number 15 in the UK bringing him firmly back into the charts for the first time since 2007 as his highest charting single- is sure to go down a storm in Exeter this summer.

Ellie Goulding

The penultimate teaser act on the bill to be announced was Hereford born singer/songwriter Ellie Goulding. Toward the end of last year Goulding debuted two new tracks On My Mind and Army from her third studio album Delirium which was well received upon its release in November.

Over the years she has also performed at some of the UK’s largest festivals as well as having performed at Big Weekend twice in the past. Netherless she is back to perform for a third time and will undoubtly be another hotly anticipated act by many a fan.

Coldplay

The final act to be announced the first headliners of Big Weekend are the one and only Coldplay. Having performed at their fair share of festivals over the years and always putting on an amazing performance they are undoubtly going to be the most anticipated act on the bill this year.

Their latest album A Head Full Of Dreams – the seventh studio album produced by the band- is questionably some of the best recent material I have heard.

This gig is undoublty special for the band with singer Chris Martin having told Grimmy it means a lot to play this year in the town where he was born and raised.

In a quote on the Powderham Castle website, The Earl of Devon, said: “It is awesome that Radio 1 has chosen Powderham for Big Weekend 2016. The castle has entertained a lot over the centuries but it has never seen a weekend like this. We are thrilled to bring one of the biggest free music festivals to the region.”

As well as Big Weekend Radio 1 and BBC Learning will again collaborate to host the Radio 1 academy in the area which aims to inspire 16 to 19-year-olds to take the next step in their careers through masterclasses and Q&As throughout April.

The main event will be broadcast live on Radio 1 and streamed via the Radio 1 BBC I player channel

For more information visit the Radio 1 Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e2f9rz.