Pria Rai
BBC Newsbeat presenter at Big Weekend, Luton

Jasmine Takhar has long been backing British Asian talent and she’s passionate – and at times lost for words – talking to us about what it means to see a strong representation of those acts on the line up here.

The BBC Introducing presenter and host of the Official British Asian chart show on BBC Asian Network has said she was “excited seeing the line-up”.

Jasmine will be on the Introducing Stage presenting Asian acts such as Deeps and Saloni, with singer Shehxna performing on Sunday.

There will also be sets from Asian Network DJs Panjabi Hit Squad (Dance) with AJD and DJ Kizzi on the Main Stage over the weekend.

“We still get stereotyped for making styles of music. When people see an Asian face, they think it’s Bhangra or Bollywood,” Jasmine tells BBC Newsbeat.

“And I want people to see from today there is so much British Asian talent making different genres of music.“

They’ll mix Western culture with sounds from their heritage and culture.

“It's such an important moment for the culture that we're seeing this change happen. I think in years to come, we're gonna be talking about this,” Jasmine says.

Manish Pandey
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend, Luton

My tea’s gone cold and I’m wondering why…

Nathan Dawe has a very long, anticipatory intro into Better Off Alone.

Everyone starts singing “Do you think you’re better off alone?!”

And then we hear a remix of Thank You (Not So Bad) - which lots of people obviously know the lyrics to.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent

The old adage used to be “dance like no-one’s watching” but over in the New Music tent, it’s more a case of, “dance like you’re making a TikTok”.

As drum and bass DJ Dimension kicks off his set with the 50 Cent-interpolating DJ Turn It Up, everyone’s throwing shapes with their phones in selfie mode.

But by the time he drops a remix of Tatu’s sapphic classic All The Things She Said, all the phones have been tucked away for a proper race-up.

And it’s only 17:30.

Pace yourselves, Luton!

Manish Pandey
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend

Plenty of remixes, including on Sabrina Carpenter’s hit Espresso, which we’ll get to hear on Sunday.

The crowd woops with every remixed song. Nathan Dawe is impressed with the crowd.

He’s not wrong.

Who needs caffeine when you have this crowd.

Young performers in Luton have been filmed performing a spoken word piece to be shown on screens at Radio 1's Big Weekend.

Made in collaboration with BBC Three Counties Radio, We're Proud of Luton features 15 young people from Next Generation Youth Theatre (NGYT) based in the town.

Words were written by the group to represent what they thought of the town and they were then filmed performing them around Luton.

The finished film will be played on large screens at the main stage and new music stage during the festival at Stockwood Park.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent

He might just be the most-experienced performer on the Big Weekend stage today.

Nathan Dawe started DJ-ing at the age of eight, playing every school disco he could manage before transitioning to club nights and remixing other artists.

Since 2018, however, he’s been an artist in his own right – scoring top 10 hits with bright, club-centric pop hits like Lighter (with KSI), 21 Reasons and 0800 Heaven (both with Ella Henderson).

This is his first set of 2024. Let’s see if brings out any guest vocalists. It’s not like we haven’t seen Ella hanging around backstage already…

Andrew Rogers
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend

Laura, Ellie, Levi and Damon travelled to Luton yesterday, so they could have a day to recover.

You’ll notice the funky neon colours, and it has a practical purpose too.

“To see each other from a distance,” they say.

They tell us they are hoping to catch a glimpse of Radio 1 Breakfast presenter Greg James.

If you haven't been flexing those dance moves yet, then get ready to bring them out when Dimension takes to the new music stage. His set is scheduled for 17:30 BST and should be about to start.

The DJ, real name Robert Etheridge, is known for his high-energy sets and Luton is ready for him.

Fingers crossed he will play last year's track DJ Turn It Up.

Pria Rai
BBC Newsbeat presenter at Big Weekend, Luton

We’re backstage now with Ella Henderson, before her performance this evening and she is “buzzing”.

Ella also reveals a slight problem. Her set is currently “too long” and she has to cut a song, but she tells Newsbeat she hasn’t decided which one yet.

And what about a surprise guest during her performance?

We’ve heard rumours of Rudimental, which she doesn’t deny, only saying she “hasn’t seen them in ages”.

“I can’t wait to see everyone, it’s going to be an amazing set.”

And here’s a selfie she took just for us.

Image source, PA

It's the football club that's literally on its neighbour's doorsteps - so naturally it's become a social media meme.

If you're at the festival and out exploring Luton, one of the town's infamous landmarks is just a short walk from the centre.

Away from Stockwood Park, in the Bury Park area, is the home of Luton Town FC's Kenilworth Stadium.

The grounds are famous for having one of its entrances in an unexpected location - in a row of terraced houses.

The Oak Road turnstiles are snuggly wedged among people's homes with front doors flanking each side.

The club has been planning a move to a new stadium but construction has not begun and the project is now delayed.

Pria Rai
BBC Newsbeat presenter at Big Weekend, Luton

Friday is known as Dance Day at Big Weekend, and we have a whole Dance Stage for people to enjoy.

Radio 1 DJ Charlie Hedges will be playing dance anthems today, and has been telling BBC Newsbeat about the importance of dance music.

“It’s amazing. Not day two, not day three, we are starting the whole damn thing!”

“Because there’s such a community in dance music, and I’ve seen friends of mine over the years come to gigs of mine, who don’t even like dance music.

“For me there’s something about dance that brings us all together, and I don’t think you can beat it,” she adds.

Chart-topping drum and bass artist Kenya Grace is first up on the new music stage today. Her set's getting under way now and we're hoping she'll play her number one hit Strangers.

Dimension will be on stage at 17:30 BST, followed by American DJ and producer Diplo at 18:20.

Sonny Fodera is up at 19:05 - an Australian house music DJ and producer who's based in London now. He'll be bringing his antipodean vibes to the festival.

Hannah Laing, who hails from Dundee - where last year's Big Weekend took place, will be playing tunes from 19:45 before she hands over to Wilkinson at 20:15 to keep the party going.

New Music Stage headliner Eric Prydz brings his brand of dance music to Luton at 21:00. He won DJ of the Year in 2017 at the Electronic Music Awards.

Manish Pandey
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend, Luton

Image source, .

Becky Hill signs off saying she’s excited for people to listen to her new album - out next Friday.She also thanks Radio 1 for the support for her music, saying it “means the world”.And she ends with a couple of classics including Wish You Well - telling us to “jump jump jump” - so we do.

Andrew Rogers
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend, Luton

We’re just hours in and there’s already clearly one hot accessory here at Big Weekend 2024: The Long Boi bucket hat.

Don’t listen to Greg James’s Radio 1 Breakfast show? This one might need some explaining.

Essentially, Long Boi was the world’s tallest duck (allegedly) and a mascot of the University of York until his tragic death. Now he’s a national icon, thanks to Greg.

Tommy’s working one of the merch stands (and kindly offered to model one for Newsbeat).

He says they’re already flying - pun intended - off the shelves.

Image source, EPA

With three stages up and ready for artists to take to the mic, be prepared to hear from big names this weekend from different styles of music over the next couple days.

On Friday we can expect to hear from headliners Chase & Status on the main stage from about 21:50 BST, followed by Raye on Saturday and Coldplay on Sunday.

Other big names in the event include Espresso singer Sabrina Carpenter, the UK’s recent Eurovision contestant Olly Alexander, and London-born rapper AJ Tracey.

And the celebrity names don’t stop there: bop to Charlie XCX, sing along to Rag'n'Bone Man’s tunes, and party to former X Factor contestant Ella Henderson’s songs.

Looking for something new? Keep an ear out for acts on the BBC Music Introducing stage with some talented up-and-coming artists.

Press play at the top of this page to join the fun along with everyone else at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Luton.

Manish Pandey
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend, Luton

Raise your arms and lose control.

Becky Hill has a magnificent stage presence and captivates the crowd.

One of her iconic hits, Lose Control, blares out - everyone knows the words and cuts loose.

She shouts “sing” and the crowd finishes off the lyrics.

“As I’m your opening act, I’m here to warm you up. Are you warmed up?”

With the sun and back-to-back hits - of course we are!

Andrew Rogers
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend, Luton

Heather, Connie, Lola, Annabel, Beth, Hazel, Demi have travelled from Kettering to be at Radio 1's Big Weekend and were at the front of the queue today. They were also some of the first ones in.

Speaking pretty much in sync, they all say together that they are “excited” for Chase & Status, Rudimental and Ella Henderson.

Manish Pandey
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend, Luton

Crazy for Becky “Da-da-da-da, do-do…” the crowd sings along to Crazy What Love Can Do.

Becky Hill says we’re “not loud enough” so we go again.

Fair to say, it got louder.

Mark Savage
BBC Music correspondent

The reigning queen of chart-bound dance bangers, Becky Hill is here to get the party started.

She’s been making music since she was 14 and was initially spotted by BBC Introducing before becoming the breakout (and only?) star of The Voice, bossing season one after auditioning with John Legend’s Ordinary People.

Twelve years later, she arrives in Luton with a boatload of dance classics: From her first number one, Gecko (Overdrive) to last year’s Disconnect – which she made with tonight’s headliners Chase & Status.

Manish Pandey
BBC Newsbeat reporter at Big Weekend, Luton

Sun’s out, dance shoes on “it’s the first festival of the season and so good to be back,” Becky Hill tells the crowd, before she starts with Outside Of Love.

The sun is fully shining down on the large crowd, and people are jumping up and down.

Me included.