Foo Fighters headline Radio 1's Big Weekend in Carlisle

Foo Fighters have headlined the first night of this year's BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend in Carlisle.

The US rockers played an 80-minute greatest hits set to finish off a day that also saw performances from Black Eyed Peas, Tinie Tempah and Plan B.

Lady Gaga headlines the second day of Europe's biggest free ticketed music festival with another 20,000 fans expected.

The two-day event is being held at Carlisle Airfield.

Speaking from the stage last night, Foo Fighters' lead singer Dave Grohl joked: "We've got a hundred songs, we've been going for 16 years and we've only got an hour."

Their set, which overran by 20 minutes, included tracks such as The Pretender.

They also played Times Like These, Monkey Wrench, Learn To Fly, Rope and a cover of Queen's Tie Your Mother Down.

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

'Absolutely amazing'

Fans filtering off the site after 10 hours of music were impressed by what they'd seen.

Mark Hedley, 25, from Carlisle said: "The gig was amazing and incredible. Classics plus new songs. Dave Grohl was on top form as always."

Mark, Lauren and Laura all loved watching the Foo Fighters live

Lauren Davies, 23, from Carlisle added: "It was so much fun bouncing about. It was amazing the mix of old and new stuff they did. The highlight was Monkey Wrench."

Laura Battersby, 19, from Carlisle said: "I'm a massive Foos fan but I'd not seen them before live and they were absolutely amazing. They made Radio 1's Big Weekend, for the Saturday at least."

Earlier in the evening Black Eyed Peas warmed up the crowd for the headliners with a hit-packed set which included Boom Boom Pow, The Time (Dirty Bit) and I Gotta Feeling.

With a relatively stripped down stage show, just a DJ backed them, the foursome received a warm reception.

'Really grateful'

Before them London rapper Tinie Tempah celebrated his return to Radio 1's Big Weekend after making his debut last year in Bangor.

Speaking to Newsbeat as he came off stage he said: "I've not really been in England much this year and like the main thing I was looking forward to was Radio 1's Big Weekend.

Tinie Tempah played six songs finishing with number one, Pass Out

"I was just curious to see who was going to be there and what kind of crowd was going to be here. It's such an important event to me so I'm happy."

Newly-employed X Factor US judge Nicole Scherzinger played a short 15-minute set in the mid afternoon and was watched by her boyfriend Lewis Hamilton.

"I like that we get to go visit places that don't have these big shows," she said. "They don't come too often but then you really get to meet people and they're so quaint and really grateful that you're here. It's good to be a part of it."

The first day of the two-day free music festival also included performances from Nicole Scherzinger, Plan B, Chase & Status, Swedish House Mafia and Friendly Fires.

Arctic Monkeys opened the event by appearing as unbilled secret special guests on the main stage.

Going Gaga

Bruno Mars opened the main stage of the event on the second day with a 35-minute set which included recent hits like Grenades and Just The Way You Are.

Tania and her friend from Carlisle tried to keep dry on a wet final day

The Wombats and Olly Murs have also played sets on the main stage.

But the final night is all about Lady Gaga's headline appearance.

Tania Blair, 24, from Carlisle said: "She's outrageous and everyone loves her. It's a big opportunity for anyone around here to see her.

"She makes it OK to be different. She makes it cool. It's just the best thing which has happened around here. We would never normally get a chance to see something like this.

"Maybe instead of a meat dress she'll wear a Cumberland sausage."

Holly Watson, 15, from Whitehaven agreed: "She's huge and she's come to Cumbria. You just didn't think she'd come over here to see us. We never get things like this around here."

With another packed schedule of music The Script, Katy B, Taio Cruz, My Chemical Romance and The Strokes will also play.

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