Mitch Mansfield, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

Wet Leg's 25-minute delay gave us time to run over to the New Music stage to catch the end of Flo.

If anyone loves rain at a festival, it’s acts playing in the tents - guaranteed to attract a big crowd. The sun seems to have made a reappearance in Sefton Park now, though.

This R&B trio - inspired by 00s groups like Destiny’s Child - were always going to be a draw.

It’s a throwback with a fresh spin, and the harmonies are immaculate.

Mitch Mansfield, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

After a lot of running around for the techs, Wet Leg have arrived - and the sun is back too.

They are kicking things off with their catchy new single, Catch These Fists.

As a reminder, you can watch and listen along by clicking Watch live at the top of this page.

Eleanor Doyle, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

As we wait for Wet Leg to take to the Main Stage, I caught up with Self Esteem backstage ahead of her set on the New Music Stage at 18:45 - which you can watch right here on this page.

She tells me: “I’m feeling so excited - it’s the first set I’ve played in over a year now… it’s my live show reimagined from a theatre space."

"I’m gonna give it my all, live in the moment," she vows, adding she's so glad Big Weekend is in Liverpool this year.

“It’s wonderful - I haven’t played here in ages."

Mitch Mansfield, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

In the crowd ponchos are being donned.

The rain is starting to fall as we wait for a delayed Wet Leg. Clue is in the name, I guess.

Mitch Mansfield, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

How do you follow-up one of the biggest debut albums of the last decade? With Wet Leg, we’re about to find out.

The Isle of Wight indie rock band had unprecedented success off the back of their self-titled album in 2022, featuring the now iconic Chaise Longue.

Initially a duo - with Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers both on guitar and vocals, joined by a touring band - the group are now describing themselves as a full-time five-piece, ahead of the release of their sophomore record Moisturizer in July.

This performance will give us more clues into the new Wet Leg era.

With the first single called Catch These Fists, don’t expect them to have dialled things down.

Shaun Dacosta, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

It’s a return to Merseyside for Wet Leg’s Rhian Teasdale, who are up next on the Main Stage.

The singer was born in Formby - just down the road from here in Liverpool and says she’s “home” and it “feels really good” to be around people who say "bath" rather than "barth".

She then moved to the Isle of Wight at a young age - a part of the band’s identity. Bassist Ellis Durand says his mum’s side of the family are “scousers” and a “couple of them are here today”.

Lauren Howell, BBC Radio Merseyside
Reporting from BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

Skye Newman came out onto the BBC Introducing stage to loud chants of "Skye, Skye, Skye".

There’s quite the crowd for the artist Radio One has dubbed "the UK’s next biggest pop star".

As she launched into her current UK Top 40 single Hairdresser, she was met with extremely loud cheers.

She followed that up with Family Matters, a single released just last week. The audience was singing every lyric back to her.

Mitch Mansfield, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

Fans hoping to hear Jorja Smith’s Walsall accent come through on Crush - her recent viral feature with AJ Tracey - might feel a little…crushed.

But nobody seems too bothered, even as it clouds over and we feel the first drops of rain today. The singer’s voice was on point, as she commanded the stage with her characteristic, low-key confidence.

When the line-up was announced without any female headliners, some wondered if Smith should have been given the opportunity.

Perhaps her laid-back, pop-driven blend of R&B and garage isn’t quite the right energy to close a festival - despite her popularity - but it felt perfect for this Sunday afternoon.

Mitch Mansfield, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

When this year’s Main Stage headliners were announced, fans and journalists were quick to point out that they're all white and male acts.

The BBC defended the line-up, telling us at the time that female artists would make up around 60% of it - insisting that “Radio 1 will continue to advocate” for diversity and representation in the industry.

From Tate McRae to Haim on the Main Stage - and Joy Crookes to JADE in the New Music tent - some are seeing today as one for the girls.

These acts might not be closing the Main Stage this time, but as we have already seen today, don’t be surprised if they steal the show.

Shaun Dacosta, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

The rain is on and off here at Sefton Park - but that’s not stopping the crowd from watching Jorja Smith dominate the sound waves on the Main Stage.

Jacob tells us the last time he saw Smith was at Leeds Festival and that she always brings “good energy.”

“She is a baddie and her stage presence is unbelievable,” Belle, also in the crowd, says as she takes a break from dancing. She tells me to “look at her on the stage” and how “multi-talented” she is.

Niamh, meanwhile, reckons it’s “absolute vibes, on vibes, on vibes.”

Mitch Mansfield, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

Is Jorja Smith here to Crush?

There was some disappointment last night that the Walsall singer didn’t appear with AJ Tracey for a live performance of their recent collaboration.

No sign of AJ just yet.

Carrying on with her set, a tech issue forced a restart of a new song. Smith was unfazed - and neither were the crowd.

Back to the Main Stage where Jorja Smith has just strolled onto greet the crowd and the Walsall singer has opened with Try Me.

You can watch Smith's performance by clicking Watch live at the top of this page.

Manish Pandey, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

I’ve ventured over to the New Music Tent to see Joy Crookes.

There is a pretty healthy crowd - though definitely not spilling out of the tent like a couple of the performances were yesterday.

Quite early in her set Crookes played one of her most familiar hits Feet Don’t Fail Me Now - it was one that most in the crowd knew and sang along.

The camera on the big screen panned to a sign from someone which read: “Meant to be revising mathematics but I’m here instead…”

Crookes stopped during her third song and said she needed to start again because the smoke machine used for the previous song left her in a coughing fit.

“Sorry about that, but I was choking. Thank you so much for the support,” she told the crowd who cheered back.

Mitch Mansfield, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

Over on the Introducing Stage - Fat Dog are making a claim for the oddest act of the weekend.

Their quirky dance-punk fusion isn’t the kind of thing you often hear on Radio 1, but they’ve been breaking through to edges of the mainstream with their infectious and appropriately-titled debut album, Woof.

The lead single from that record, King of the Slugs, has the crowd here jumping.

It’s an unexpected introduction for some making their way in through the nearby festival gates, but it’s what the Introducing Stage is all about.

Eleanor Doyle, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

Lola Young’s Messy might have put her on the map, but today at Big Weekend in Liverpool she proved she was so much more than just that one song.

The south London singer brought confidence and grit to the Main Stage – even after admitting she was feeling “nervous".

That duality and mix of both things is what fans connect with so strongly.

Almost everyone I spoke to in one way or another said they liked how authentic and real she is.

In her lyrics, in her clothes, in her words and in her outlook. From the stripped-back emotion of Chill Out to the defiance of Conceited, Lola’s performance gave a variety that fans valued.

The crowd loved Messy, but came away with more than just One Thing when they saw Lola Young today.

Claire Bryan, BBC Radio Merseyside
Reporting from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

Friends Devon, Brooke, Cal, Paige and Charlotte have come from London, Ireland and Wales to be reunited for the festival and have just watched Lola Young.

They tell me: “This is our first time in Liverpool and we have loved it!

"Lola has been the highlight so far and we can’t wait for Jorja Smith.”

Eleanor Doyle, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

I caught Ella and Maria as they were debriefing after Lola Young's performance a moment ago.

Ella describes Young as authentic, relatable and "so real".

"I love Lola Young, that was amazing. Bringing the energy! Great stage presence," she says.

“My favourite song was Conceited," Maria adds.

Eleanor Doyle, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

Lola Young sings her viral hit Messy - it's the one fans have been waiting for.

Her message to the crowd: “You are enough.”

Sam tells me: “This is everyone, this is us, everyone’s a bit messy.”

Eleanor Doyle, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

Tech gremlins struck just before Lola Young played her song One Thing - but she launched straight into it like a true pro.

Two Izzy’s are dancing away to my side.

“Lola Young is the fresh voice of our generation - she’s THE voice of our generation," blonde Izzy says.

Meanwhile, the other Izzy says: “New song - one word - incredible. It’s a viral song it’ll be huge."

Shaun Dacosta, BBC Newsbeat
Reporting from Radio 1's Big Weekend in Liverpool

Briefly away from the Main Stage, there are big claps and cheers from the audience at the New Music Stage as indie band Hard Life ask whether “the OG fans are in the building”.

The group changed their name from "Easy Life" after the brand owners of airline EasyJet threatened legal action.

Singer Murray Matravers’s vocals are crisp, melodic and clear as he delivers Skeletons - a song you might have heard if you played Fifa 22.

Next - they bring out Radio 1’s Jack Saunders to hype up the crowd, which joins in with the singing.

A reminder, you can watch and listen along to the New Music Stage here.