A guaranteed spectacular climax to Friday nightpublished at 22:07 British Summer Time 24 May

22:07 BST 24 May

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent

In the middle of a drum and bass revival, here come two of the scene’s lynchpins – Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status).

The band have had a stunning 12 months, with hits like Disconnect and Baddadan leading to a Brit Award for producers of the year.

Their list of collaborators is astonishing – encompassing everyone from Rihanna and Kano to Sam Fender and Dizzee Rascal.

Renowned for their kinetic, frenetic stage shows, this is guaranteed to be a spectacular climax to the first day of the Big Weekend.

Hollie Cole
Live digital reporter

Stockwood Park is in total darkness now as the crowds cheer for Chase & Status.

Electro music is vibrating across the field and white lights are flashing in the night. The pulsing beat is getting faster, faster, and faster.

The crowd is jumping up and down in the strobe lighting to the song Selecta with rapper Stefflon Don.

Chase & Status have everyone in the palm of their hand - the party is theirs.

Andrew Rogers
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend, Luton

Here we go.

The strobes are on and everyone’s heading to the front.

Tonight's headliners have landed on the Main Stage.

The night's still young - so if you're just joining our live coverage of BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, then welcome!

We've got electronic duo Chase & Duo starting their headline set in Luton soon.

They'll be taking to the Main Stage at about 21:50 BST, so stick with us as we bring the Friday night party to you.

You can watch live by pressing the play button at the top of the page, and stick with us here for the latest updates and reaction.

Pria Rai
BBC Newsbeat presenter at Big Weekend, Luton

The main headliners tonight are Chase & Status. And we caught up with them backstage.

The first time they played at Radio 1's Big Weekend was 2009, and they remembered that when we quizzed them.

So what’s the secret to the longevity?

“I think it’s basically being a fan of current music and looking to the future,” says Will (Status).

As for any surprises tonight, wait and see, says Saul (Chase).

“We’ve got lots of the family here tonight, blessed to have a lot of guest vocalists,” he adds.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent

While Rudimental were storming the Main Stage, people who hung back at the BBC Introducing area have just received a special treat.

Shortly after 21:00, rising indie star Rachel Chinouriri made a surprise appearance, playing songs from her recent debut album What A Devastating Turn Of Events.

She’s one of the most exciting new artists around - with fans including Adele and Florence Pugh (who starred in her video for Never Need Me).

Rachel got her start on BBC Introducing eight years ago - when BBC London gave her her first ever radio play - and she’s back tonight to repay the favour.

“This is my first festival of the summer, so get closer, get closer, get closer,” she grins.

The crowd is small to start with - but with Rudimental about to wrap up their set, it’s only going to grow bigger.

Hollie Cole
Live digital reporter

Those groove jazz-like tunes from earlier have turned into all out party mode.

Rudimental have definitely changed gear with Ella Eyre taking to the stage to sing Waiting All Night.

The group finish their gig to loud applause from the crowd as the sun sets over Luton.

"And don't worry, Luton's coming back up," they say as they leave the stage, referencing Luton Town Football Club going back down from the Premier League to the Championship league.

Manish Pandey
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend, Luton

“Shall we do one more?”

I don’t think there was a single person saying “no”.

Rudimental oblige with Waiting All Night, and the crowd responds with loud singing and energetic dancing.

Manish Pandey
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend, Luton

Feeling the love - an absolute classic comes on.

The phones are out and people are singing along.

Feel the Love has been a staple of my personal playlist for many, many years.

Massive tune.

We've just been hearing that trains from Luton to Rainham, which stop at numerous stations in London, have been experiencing disruption this evening caused by a tree blocking the railway.

Thameslink posted on X, external, formerly known as Twitter, earlier saying that some lines at St Albans City are blocked and other trainlines are affected.

Make sure to check your travel plans to Luton if you're heading to or from Radio 1's Big Weekend.

Manish Pandey
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend, Luton

Rudimental ask the crowd if there are "any ravers out there"?

A resounding YES from those here.

There is so much bouncing to the beat from people around me, that drinks are being knocked over.

Some people are having the absolute time of their lives.

And who can blame them!

Manish Pandey
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend, Luton

“We’re going to break some rules…” Rudimental say to their audience.

The crowd are then asked to get up on people's shoulders to enjoy These Days.

Men, women, kids are all following their instructions.

Andrew Rogers
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend, Luton

Surprise!? It's Rachel Chinouriri.

How do you keep a secret set, secret?

Rachel Chinouriri - who was only revealed as tonight's BBC Introducing stage headliner this morning - says it's all in the stars.

"Me and my friends, we're quite good at keeping secrets. I'm a Scorpio so quite secretive," Rachel says.

For most of the day, though, she was "hiding in the traffic", in a journey that ended up taking her four hours.

She's very happy now though and says she's excited to play in front of the crowd here at Radio 1's Big Weekend - her first festival of the summer.

"I'm getting back into the festival vibe," she says.

Rachel Chinouriri will be on stage soon at 21:00 BST, closing the show for tonight.

Manish Pandey
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend, Luton

Rudimental are now playing fun games with the crowd… “Luton, you move when we move.”

The crowd is still… and then bursts into life.

It feels like the biggest crowd the Main Stage has seen so far today.

Everyone here is being urged to “raise the energy!”

Image source, DAWID WOJTOWICZ/BBC

An artist from Luton who is performing at Radio 1's Big Weekend has said she is thankful for the places in the town that helped her develop as an artist.

Lavz is performing on the BBC Introducing stage at Stockwood Park today.

The rapper, from the Marsh Farm area of Luton, praised nearby community centre Marsh House for giving her opportunities early in her career.

"I'm grateful for spaces like these that have allowed me to find my feet and be in a supportive environment as well," she said.

Image source, DAWID WOJTOWICZ/BBC

BBC Music Introducing is a platform which supports new musicians and helps get their music played on BBC Radio.

Lavz has appeared on BBC Three Counties Radio several times since she first registered on the platform in 2014 and the support led to a slot at the Reading and Leeds festivals in 2019.

The musician described Luton as "very special for everyone" because of how it embraces diverse groups.

Hollie Cole
Live digital reporter

The sun is setting and day is ending - but the night's just getting started for Big Weekend with Rudimental now taking to the stage.

Drums, brass, and cheers from the crowd, the group makes quite a jazzy start to their performance.

"Who's ready for some Rudimental right now?"

The crowd cheers back as they start with some smooth, groovy vocals. It's time to strap ourselves in for what Big Weekend has to offer us tonight.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent

If you’ve ever seen Rudimental in concert, you’ll know that the BBC Radio 1 team will have had to reinforce tonight’s stage: there’s about 200 of them, and they all bounce around like Tiggers on trampolines.

They’re big friends of Big Weekend – their second-ever gig was at the 2012 event in Hackney, before they’d even finished their debut album.

“We had to throw things together,” Piers Agget later recalled. “There were a few half-finished songs."

That won’t be a problem tonight. With a decade of hits under their belts, we’re guaranteed to hear club classics like Waiting All Night, Feel The Love, These Days, Die Young… The list goes on.

Image source, Jeff Overs/BBC

Luton has produced several recognisable faces (and voices) over the last few decades.

Turn on the TV and see Luton-born stars such as actress Emily Atack, documentarian Stacey Dooley and Chaser Paul Sinha.

EastEnders star Colin Salmon attended Ramridge Primary School and Ashcroft High School.

Image source, .

In 2015, former Challney High School pupil Nadiya Hussain won the sixth series of The Great British Bake Off.

Singer Paul Young was born in Luton and worked as an apprentice at the Vauxhall Motors factory.

David Arnold, who composed the music for the Daniel Craig Bond film Casino Royale, said he was proud to come from Luton.

And cricketer Monty Panesar used to hide his Luton roots but said in 2019 he was fed up the criticism the town gets.

Get ready as Rudimental play the Big Weekend's Main Stage at about 20:20, bringing their infectious sounds to Luton's Stockwood Park.

They obviously love BBC Radio 1's listeners, because the band was also part of the Big Weekend 2023 line-up in Dundee.

They're bound to play their breakout hit Feel the Love as well as crowd pleasers Not Giving In, Waiting All Night, Free and Powerless.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent

Hannah Laing has drawn a massive crowd to the New Music Stage.

There’s almost as many people watching (and dancing) at the big screens outside as there are crammed into the tent.

Inside, the Dundee DJ is playing her smash hit Party All The Time while the video wall behind her lights up with the phrase: “doof, doof, doof, doof.”

Not clear whether these subtitles are for the hard of hearing, or an unexpected reference to EastEnders.

Either way, I’m here for it.