BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend is on its way to Liverpool – and here’s everything you need to know

BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend is on its way to Liverpool!

There’s just days to go until the city welcomes some of the biggest names in music and as the countdown begins – and the excitement grows – here’s everything you need to know…

What is BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend?

Radio 1’s Big Weekend is the station’s flagship live music event, bringing together a diverse lineup of international and UK artists, with established headliners and emerging names, for a weekend of live music. 

When is the festival on?

The three-day festival is on from this Friday, May 23, to Sunday, May 25. Gates open at 2pm on Friday, and 11am on Saturday and Sunday. Last entry on all days is 8.45pm, and events on all three days will finish by 10pm.

Where is the Big Weekend taking place?

It’s all happening at Sefton Park.

How many stages are there going to be?

The Big Weekend festival will have four stages: Radio 1 Main Stage, Radio 1 New Music Stage, Radio 1 Dance and BBC Introducing, with different performers on each day.

Who’s on each day?

FRIDAY, MAY 23

Main Stage: Biffy Clyro; James Hype; Natasha Bedingfield; Tom Grennan; The Wombats; Radio 1 Anthems with Dean McCullough; Radio 1 Anthems with Nat & Vicky; Radio 1 Anthems with Rickie & Melvin, and Radio 1 Anthems with Sam & Danni.

New Music Stage: Barry Can’t Swim; Confidence Man; D.O.D; Jazzy; Katy B; Nia Archives, and Prospa.

Radio 1 Dance Stage: Charlie Hedges; Fish56Octagon; Girls Don’t Sync; Kettama; Martha, and Paige Tomlinson.

BBC Introducing Stage: Crawlers; Esme Emerson; JayaHadADream; Leonie Biney, and Tonia. 

SATURDAY, MAY 24

Main Stage: Blossoms; Myles Smith; Sam Fender; Sugababes; Tom Odell; Wolf Alice; Radio 1 Anthems with Charlie Hedges; Radio 1 Anthems with Dean McCullough; Radio 1 Anthems with Jeremiah Asiamah; Radio 1 Anthems with Sam & Danni, and Radio 1 Anthems with Maia Beth.

New Music Stage: Aitch B2B AJ Tracey; Artemas; Good Neighbours; Inhaler, and Jordan Adetunji.

Radio 1 Dance Stage: Arielle Free; Charlotte Plank; Connor Coates; Danny Howard; Phoebe I-H, and Sarah Story.

BBC Introducing Stage: Erin LeCount; Jetta; KOJ; Liang Lawrence;  LUVCAT; Mackenzy Mackay; Sienne Spiro, and Superlate.

SUNDAY, MAY 25

Main Stage: HAIM; Jorja Smith; Lola Young; Mumford & Sons; Tate McRae; Wet Leg; Radio 1 Anthems with Areille Free; Radio 1 Anthems with Dean McCullough; Radio 1 Anthems with James Cusack; Radio 1 Anthems with Matt & Mollie, and Radio 1 Anthems with Rickie & Melvin.

New Music Stage: FLO; JADE; Joy Crookes; Self Esteem, and South Arcade.

Radio 1 Dance: Charlie Tee; ESSEL; Jeremiah Asiamah; Martha; Phoebe I-H, and Sarah Story.

BBC Introducing Stage: aimei媚; Courting; Dirty Nice; Fat Dog; Keyside; Le Boom; Paisleigh, and Pixey.

How can I find out what’s on when?

This year, Radio 1’s Big Weekend has got a new app that you can download from the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android) for updates, site maps, artist info, and to create your personal schedule using the full running order.

Can I still get tickets?

Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are sold out, but you can still get tickets for Friday via Ticketmaster.

Will there be food and drink at the festival?

There’ll be loads of food options including child-friendly, vegan, vegetarian and gluten free choices, much from locally-sourced traders offering things like homemade pizzas, plant based dishes, curries, burgers, fish & chips, loaded fries, and more. There will ice cream vendors and sweet treats available across the event site.

Hot and cold drinks will be available along with bars within the arena serving beers, ciders, wines and spirits, again some from local suppliers.

The festival vendors will operate a Challenge 25 Policy so you may be asked for ID when buying alcohol (that includes a valid passport; a valid EU photo card driving licence, or a photographic ID card with the National Proof of Age Standards Scheme – PASS – hologram).

Can I take my own food and drink?

You’re allowed to take food and one soft drink to the event for your own personal consumption, provided the drink is in an unopened, sealed plastic or paper container no bigger than 500ml. You can’t take alcohol into the event, or any drinks in cans or glass containers. 

How can I get there?

Without doubt, the best way to arrive at Big Weekend is on public transport – it’ll be the quickest and easiest way to make sure you get to the festival on time. 

Buses

Both Stagecoach and Arriva buses are available across the region with connecting buses to Sefton Park at Liverpool ONE bus station. 

From (Liverpool ONE Bus Station or Bootle Bus Station):

• Liverpool ONE Bus Station to Speke and reverse 82, 82a
• Liverpool ONE to Halewood 75, 80, 80a (JL Airport and reverse, 26, 27 (Sheil Road Circular to Sefton Park Road)
• Liverpool ONE 86a to John Lennon Airport and reverse.
• Queen Square to Ullet Road, 76.
• Bootle Bus Station to Aigburth Vale (Sefton Park) 68, 68A, 68B, 68E

For timetables go to the Merseytravel website.

Shuttle Buses

There will be a dedicated shuttle bus service for Big Weekend. Buses will operate from the city centre on Charlotte Street/Elliot Street to Croxteth Drive at the event site. The service will run every 30 minutes at the following times:

• Friday: From the city centre to the event 12pm-5pm. Return to the city centre from the event finishes at 11.30pm
• Saturday & Sunday: From the city centre to the event 9am-1pm. Return to the city centre from the event finishes at 11.30pm

Shuttle bus tickets cost £2 per single journey and can only be purchased on board. Advance purchase is not available.

Trains

The nearest stations to Sefton Park are St Michaels and Mossley Hill.

From Liverpool City Centre (Liverpool Central or Lime Street): 

• Board the Merseyrail Northern Line from Liverpool Central Station towards Hunts Cross and get off at St Michaels Station (15-minute walk to Sefton Park)
• Or, travel on the City Line from Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester, Warrington or Birmingham and get off at Mossley Hill Station (20 minute walk to Sefton Park) 

If you’re travelling from the Wirral Line, connect at Liverpool Central.

Find more information on the Merseyrail website or use the Merseyrail app to plan your journey.

Cycle

If you want to cycle there, there is safe cycle storage at St Michaels station, and bike racks will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at Livingstone North Car Park.

Walking

If you fancy getting your steps in, Sefton Park is around a 45 minute – 1 hour walk from Liverpool ONE Bus Station.

What can I take – and not take?

Stringent security measures will be in place at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, including the use of security wands and sniffer dogs. Large bags are not allowed to be taken into the festival but small bags – one per ticket holder – are allowed (W21cm x H30cm x D8cm, about the size of A4 paper). 

Find a full list of what you can and can’t take in, and prohibited items, on the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend website.

Will I still be able to use Sefton Park if I’m not going to the event?

Yes, organisers have said they want to create minimal disruption for regular park users and, don’t forget, the park covers 200 acres with the event site taking up only part of it. In the lead up to the event and during the breakdown there will be some restricted areas, but they reckon there’ll still be about 75% of the park accessible during the weekend without a ticket. 

Find more information on the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend website.

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