Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025: Top picks for Liverpool

Radio 1’s Big Weekend is about to get entering into Sefton Park, Liverpool.

Each 12 months the station rounds up among the hottest artists on this planet and will get them collectively for 3 days of music in a UK metropolis.

But with about 100 acts throughout 4 phases, there’s so much to absorb.

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

Radio 1 Breakfast host Greg James says Sam Fender’s primary stage headline slot on Saturday will probably be “extremely important”.

“He’s an artist that Radio 1 has supported from day one,” says Greg.

“We all knew that one thing particular may occur 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 performing.

“Joy Crookes is an artist who I’ve by no means seen stay earlier than who I really like to hang around with on the radio,” he says.

“She’s a lot enjoyable. Her music is so soulful, so euphoric and he or she is simply a good time and I feel her set’s going to be a good time.”

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

The Scottish DJ, actual identify Joshua Spence Mainnie, was nominated for final 12 months’s Mercury Music Prize and a bunch of different awards for his debut, When Do We Land?.

“I’ve been fortunate sufficient to see him stay a few occasions now and each single time he delivers,” she says.

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

“The complete level of Big Weekend is that now we have massive headliners,” says Greg.

“But we even have the New Music Stage after which now we have the Introducing stage, which finds the following Sam Fender.

“I feel that Big Weekend tends to try this.

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

Greg says it is properly price listening to lesser-known artists earlier than they turn out to be the following massive factor.

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

“She’s a type of vocalists who stops you in your tracks,” says Sian.

“Imagine if I’d found Adele, for instance, all these years in the past, I’d really feel the identical method as I do about Sienna Spiro.

“She is unquestionably a type of 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 invoice on Sunday.

“She’s clearly been on the prime of many payments with Little Mix, however in her personal proper as a solo artist is a very completely different proposition,” says Jack.

“We have solely seen her do it on the Brit Awards up to now, so Big Weekend will probably be an enormous second for her.”

Like any pageant, Big Weekend is all about these moments that you will keep in mind for years to return.

Greg remembers Charli XCX’s efficiency final 12 months, in Luton, on the New Music Stage, “simply earlier than Brat summer time took maintain of the world”.

“It felt like one thing was actually effervescent underneath the floor together with her,” he says.

“And we received it simply earlier than it went mad.”

Sian’s reminiscence is a bit more private.

“My first Big Weekend, 2010, in Bangor, once 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 towards the obstacles, having the time of my life.

“I’ve nonetheless received garbage photos on a digital digital camera that I took with me on the time.

“I’ll always remember that second,” she says. “I used to be dropping my thoughts.”

If you are really heading right down to Sefton Park, the climate forecast is wanting… combined.

Saturday, particularly, is threatening to be soggy, with showers predicted for a lot of the day.

But Sian’s staying optimistic.

“I do not need to jinx it, however it has been sunny each single 12 months,” she says.

“So deliver solar cream, deliver hats.”

Some wellies is perhaps an excellent shout, too.

“Look after your self. Keep an eye fixed on one another. Get some water going. Just be smart and have an excellent time,” says Sian.

If you are seeking to take advantage of the music, the Radio 1 crew have some ideas.

“Look on the conflict finder,” says Jack, referring to the instrument that tells you whether or not two artists you need to see are enjoying on the identical time.

“Work out which artists you need to see probably the most, and which you’d be OK with lacking,” he says.

“And do not go away it till you get to the pageant.”

Greg says you should not be too strict along with your schedule, although.

“Go and see some stuff you’ve got by no means heard of as a result of these individuals will turn out to be the following massive issues,” he says.

“And then you may go: ‘Yeah, however I noticed them 5 years in the past in Sefton Park on a tiny stage’.

“So go and be there, the handful of individuals within the crowd for a brand new band or a brand new artist. That’s fairly a cool factor.”

“But do not overplan. Have a few headliners to go to. But then simply get misplaced.”

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or hear again here.