BBC RADIO 1'S BIG WEEKEND 2024 - SATURDAY // STOCKWOOD PARK, LUTON
Fresh from the dance-tinged Friday lineup, throngs of music lovers made their way to Stockwell Park in Luton to enjoy a day of curated pop. Across a selection of 4 stages, attendees were treated to an eclectic mix of genres which left many beaming faces by the day's end.
★★★★★ (5/5)
RAYE HEADLINING BBC RADIO 1’S BIG WEEKEND ON DAY TWO (SATURDAY)
PHOTOCREDIT: BBC IMAGES
Acts such as Issey Cross brought energetic dance pop to the BBC introducing stage, capturing a huge audience.
Nearby, Cat Burns packed out the new music stage as she sailed through her tunes based on anxiety, love and life. A dazzling performance of ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ by Wheatus evoked one of the largest sing-alongs of the weekend.
Singer-songwriter Griff sprinted into her set with the heartbreak dance anthem ‘black hole’ which demonstrated her blend of ethereal vocals, wistful instrumentals and club beats. Her set seemed tailor-made for the sunny weekend as the crowd found it impossible to not dance to the exemplary set. “Vertigo” proved a summit of the high points in this whimsical set.
DYLAN brought one of the rockiest sets of Saturday. Guitars wailed and bass lines shook the ground to vindicated songs on self-important ex-lovers. She commanded the stage to the packed tent of attendees. The stratospheric chorus of forever re-energised a crowd cooked by the hot summer sun.
Following this, Rag n Bone Man played to a packed main stage with his soulful vocals and mega hits. The grit in his voice captivated those in attendance as he flourished every song with his throaty growl.
Nigerian superstar Tems filled her venue on the new music stage with a jubilant audience that was enamoured throughout. Rhythmic beats brought some of the most fun dancing from the crowd of the day.
Luton-born Myles Smith brought one of the most densely packed audiences to the BBC introducing stage. His acoustic stylings and warm vocals were warmly received by the crowd. The track “My Home” was dedicated to his hometown which went down a storm in the summer rays.
Baroque pop-rock from The Last Dinner Party packed out the new music stage, with crowds dedicated to catching one of the fastest-rising stars in the scene. The strong showing from such a new act hints at future headliners as they develop a rapidly growing fan base.
British rap superstar Aitch brought his undeniable enthusiasm. Grabbing hold of the audience for the entirety of his set. In all ways presenting an artist who cannot be ignored.
Hyperpop icon Charlie XCX headlined the new music stage. With a scalpel-sharp set that included large amounts of her new album Brat (out June 7th). For her set, Stockwell Park changed its green foliage for neon-drenched club lighting. Already an established act in British pop the teasers from Brat show that Charlie still has plenty of room to grow as an artist, sampling new sounds, eras and textures. Fan favourites “Vroom Vroom” and “I Love It” proved to be the perfect set closers.
Saturday was then capped off by the impeccable Raye who, fresh from her stellar performance at the Brit’s and a headlining show at London’s O2 arena, set out a masterclass in why she has become one of the most soulful acts in modern pop.
Ode to the Blues “The Thrill Is Gone” showed some of the inspirations that went into the unique sound Raye debuts. Infusing soulful vocals and jazz instrumentals with an urgency that has helped propel it to new audiences. A performance of the mega-hit “Prada” helped to show the breadth of musical styles to which she can add her vocal prowess. An unexpected highlight of the set proved to be a snippet from the soon-to-be-released 7-minute epic ‘Genesis’ (released June 7th).
With the end of Raye’s set, Saturday at Luton’s big weekend was coming to an end. A day that had been filled with an eclectic mix of some of the best talent in modern music. One of the greatest strengths of the big weekend, and festivals in general, is the ability to walk a few minutes between stages and discover your new favourite song/artist. From the lineup that strutted the stage today, there were certainly many discoveries made.
Catch all the action from Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Luton across BBC TV, radio and online.