Festival fans are being encouraged to act quickly when Saturday and Sunday tickets for BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Sunderland go on sale at 5pm tomorrow (11th).
Demand for the flagship event is expected to be high, with tickets likely to sell out fast following the announcement of major headliners. Zara Larsson, Lola Young, Ellie Goulding and Louis Tomlinson will take to the stage on Saturday 23 May, while Olivia Dean, CMAT, Dermot Kennedy, Niall Horan and Kehlani are set to headline on Sunday 24 May.
This completes the line-up for all three days of the festival after world famous DJs Fatboy Slim and Sonny Fodera were last week named as headliners for Friday 22 May’s Dance Party line-up. They will be joined on the main stage by FISHER, Clementine Douglas and MK.
Myles Smith, Ezra Collective, Nothing But Thieves, Skye Newman, James Blake and Mitski have also been named among the first in around 100 acts set to perform at the three day festival when it comes to Herrington Country Park over the weekend of Friday 22 – Sunday 24 May.
Councillor Michael Mordey, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said:
“We can’t wait to welcome BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend and to our city.
“It’s going to be an incredibly exciting three days, with everyone from the biggest names in music to new and emerging artists heading to Sunderland for what promises to be an unforgettable start to the festival season.
“Hosting this flagship event is a fantastic opportunity to build on our growing reputation as an events city, our vibrant music scene and our Music City status. It will also shine a light on all the wonderful things about Sunderland and our wider region.
“It’s brilliant for our young people who will have the chance to see some of the biggest artists in the world heading to their home city, as well as taking the opportunity to get involved in everything going on around the festival.
“The Big Weekend will also provide a multi-million pound boost to our economy, with around 100,000 fans expected to attend over the weekend and increased visitor numbers and spend in our local restaurants, cafes, hotels and bars, at the same time as creating a real buzz in our city.”
Sunderland City Council is working alongside the North East Combined Authority to ensure that this year’s Big Weekend is one of the major events of the summer and a fantastic experience for everyone attending.
Funding from the North East Mayor’s Office will enable the Big Weekend and accompanying fringe activities to achieve maximum reach and exposure, at the same time as strengthening the North East’s position as a world class major event host.
Mayor Kim McGuinness, said:
“Fat Boy Slim, Zara Larson and Olivia Dean headlining is just outstanding. But for me, it’s all about the homegrown talent on BBC Introducing’s stage.
“Seeing our own people carve out their careers on the big stage is the best motivation for our future generation of musicians.
“Sam Fender was on the Future Sounds stage in 2022. Just look at him now.
“This is why we’re investing in creative talents, in small venues, and music infrastructure.
“If you want a career in music, you don’t need to move to London. We’ll prove that.”
Local residents get priority when tickets go on sale at 5pm tomorrow, with 30% of the 31,000 general admission tickets for each day reserved for Sunderland City Council residents. A further 60% are reserved for residents of the wider North East Combined Authority Region. The remaining 10% of General Admission tickets will be available for anyone in the UK to purchase.
General admission tickets for Friday 22 May are £34.50 with VIP tickets priced at £86. Ticket prices for Saturday 23 May and Sunday 24 May are £44.50 for General Admission and £106 for VIP tickets for each day.
The booking process is being handled by Ticketmaster – the only official ticketing agent for Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
Festival goers are being urged to plan their journeys now to make sure everything goes smoothly on the day.
The best way to travel is by using the official shuttle buses from one of the key transport hubs at Park Lane Interchange in Sunderland, Heworth Metro Station in Gateshead and Durham Park and Ride Belmont.
They’re direct, quick and take the stress out of getting to the event allowing you to make the most of your time there. But they must be pre-booked in advance so it makes sense to book them at the same time as buying your tickets. To find out more: https://bigweekendtravel.com/
To keep up to date with the latest on the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend in Sunderland, including transport information, how to buy tickets and make the most of your time in Sunderland during the Big Weekend and useful FAQs, visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/backstage/bigweekend
