Arctic Monkeys start Radio 1's Big Weekend in Carlisle

Arctic Monkeys have kicked off this year's BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend in Carlisle with a surprise appearance.

Billed as special guests the Sheffield foursome opened the event's main stage with a 45-minute set.

Opening with The View From The Afternoon, the band mixed songs from their career including new single Don't Sit Down 'Cause I Moved Your Chair, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.

Speaking to the crowd lead singer Alex Turner said: "Nice to see everyone."

Arctic Monkeys' fourth album, Suck And It See, will be released on 6 June.

Elsewhere, Wretch 32 kicked off the music on the In New Music We Trust stage with a set which featured his top five single Traktor and a cover of Adele's Someone Like You. He was also joined on stage by rapper Example.

Forty-thousand music fans will see artists like Foo Fighters and Lady Gaga play across two days.

Twenty-thousand ticket holders queued before doors opened at the free music event being held in Cumbria.

The two-day festival will also see performances from the likes of Jessie J, Ellie Goulding, Nicole Scherzinger, Plan B and Black Eyed Peas.

US rockers Foo Fighters headline the main stage later.

Tomorrow (Sunday 15 May) will feature performances from Bruno Mars, My Chemical Romance and The Strokes.

Lady Gaga will close the event with a one-hour set on Sunday evening.

Listen to all the performances from Carlisle at Radio 1's Big Weekend

Music clash

Over the course of the weekend more than 60 artists will be performing across the site's four stages - the main stage, in new music we trust, outdoor stage and the BBC introducing tent.

Craig wants to listen to rock while girlfriend Charlotte likes dance music

Charlotte Clarke, 23, from Carlisle is there with her boyfriend Craig Jefferson, 30, also from Cumbria.

"I'm so excited. I'm looking forward to seeing Foo Fighters later on, a bit of rock 'n' roll. I'm the rocker," she said.

Craig added: "I really want to see the dance stuff. Chase & Status and Swedish House Mafia. There is a bit of a clash so we don't know who we're going to see tonight yet."

Stephanie Harty, 27, from Carlisle got tickets through Radio 1's online ballot. She's brought along her 14-year-old sister Charlotte.

"It's the best thing that's ever happened in Carlisle. When I heard it was coming here I didn't believe it. When I got tickets it was even better.

"Everyone has been talking about it around town because nothing ever happens around here."

Scattered showers

Speaking to Newsbeat before the event kicked off Danny O'Donoghue, lead singer of The Script, said he was looking forward to returning after playing at the event in Swindon two years ago.

"Not many people had seen us play live at that stage," he said. "Since then we've got some big shows under our belts.

Stephanie Harty (left) from Carlisle got tickets through Radio 1's online ballot

"We're primed. We've got one hell of a show in store."

Katy B, who will perform this afternoon, said she was impressed that the event brings music for free to an often-overlooked part of the country.

"I think it's amazing," she said. "Sometimes, especially when you're of a certain age and you're not working and prices of festivals are rising every single year, I love that it's free."

Weather for the event is predicted to be mixed with scattered showers anticipated for both days.

In the week running up to the event Radio 1 DJs Chris Moyles and Greg James have been broadcasting live from a country house in Cumbria.

Having visited places including Maidstone and Swindon in the past, last year's BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend was held in Bangor, north Wales.

It featured performances from Florence & The Machine, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Cheryl Cole and Dizzee Rascal.

You can watch BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend on BBC Three at 7pm tonight and on the red button from 4pm, tune into BBC Radio 1, visit the Big Weekend website or follow the latest on Twitter @BBCR1musicnews and @BBCR1.

See backstage pictures from Newsbeat's entertainment reporters Natalie Jamieson and Steve Holden on Twitter - @Radio1Natalie and @SteveH1982