// Radio 1's big Weekend

13th May 2011 16:28:24

As a youth in Leicester I can remember the One Big Sunday hosted by Radio 1 on Victoria Park and it was a pretty good day out, and really quite memorable being as at that time Kylie Minogue, Coldplay and Dido to name just three performers, were all completely huge at that point and still are artists with huge legacies. Well the event itself now has its own legacy in the Big Weekend festivals, and they seem to have just grown and grown, not only in size, but credibility and stature. This year’s festival continues the events reputation for an eclectic mix of bright shining prospects, established heavy hitters and the leftfield avant garde.

The festival expanded to four stages in 2008 in the advent of the BBC Introducing stage which, showcases new music and takes pride in highlighting local talent as well as the more coveted unsigned acts. This year the terrifically named Planes Vs Birds come from the local area of Carlisle and may well be worth keeping an eye out for. Yaaks have also been doing the rounds on buzz-ground and have been tipped for at least a moderate amount of attention sometime soon with their lo-fi jangled pop.

The weekender also comes with its heavyweights and this year is no different, The Strokes, a favourite here at Pilot towers, who in 2001 changed the face of music, style and culture, (if you own a pair of skinny jeans it was down to Albert Hammond Jnr et all) and are closing the ‘In New Music We Trust‘ stage on the Saturday night. Other big-hitters include My Chemichal Romance and Lady Gaga, who will definitely hoping for another memorable performance, but maybe for differing reasons than her accidentally on purpose slip at The Brits in 2010. Another A-lister noted for his look as much as musical talent is Tinie Tempah, his swaggered style is so well known now it’s almost clichéd, checking G Shock Watches and maybe a delusion Darped knit for sure. Bruno Mars having smashed 2010 into tiny well crafted golden nuggets with ‘Greande’ being the highest selling single of the last year. His instantly recognisable style that fit’s relaxed shirt’s such as the Replay Patchwork check over a printed tee, and I think that the Relay Maestro crew suitably fits the bill here, translates really well. That is of course not forgetting his trademark pork pie hat to complete the look.

My personal tips to look out for, and I hope you are listening carefully, will start with friendly fires. The Herts’ based lads have hit-up their disco rave-up magic almost non-stop for three years now following the huge success of their self titled debut; look out for ‘Skeleton Boy’ for a certain crowd pleaser. On a similar tip Two Door Cinema club have followed in Friendly Fires footsteps and to the untrained ear may even be the same band. However, this is no bad thing as both are excellent!

Previously tipped on Netclothing.net, The Vaccines are sure to get the biggest reception for an act yet to crack the mainstream, all I can say is get behind the saviours of guitar music before someone beats you to it! ‘Post Break Up Sex’ being the big bum mover, well bum, arms and feet!

If you like things big then Nero is another not to be missed, the soon to be huge dubstep technician came to fame from a string of remixes including a devastating take on ‘Blinded By The Lights’ and so rightly has been a name on everyone’s lips in 2011.

Along with all the original talent there is entertaining head to heads from the Radio 1 DJs and with it Moyles Vs Westwood is always a hit even if it may be taken tongue in cheek as a bit of a jolly boys outing. So if like me you haven’t secured a ticket either by hook or by crook then I hope you will join me on the red button and on the airways. Enjoy.