Raye Captivates Big Weekend Crowd as Saturday Headliner at Radio 1’s Festival
Raye had a packed Big Weekend crowd captivated as she headlined on Saturday at Radio 1’s festival.
The “Escapism” singer followed performances by Aitch, Mabel, Rag’n’Bone Man, and Griff, who all took to the Main Stage throughout the day. Additionally, the New Music Stage featured performances from Charli XCX, Cat Burns, and The Last Dinner Party.
Raye admitted she was “excited and nervous” with a large audience watching both at Stockwood Park and at home. “It’s a really big deal,” she said before her set, recalling her first Big Weekend. “I was just a guest vocalist with Jax Jones years ago, and then again a guest vocalist with Joel Corry, and finally my first set last year to now. Oh, wow. When you’ve waited so long for opportunities like this, I would be kicking myself if I didn’t give it everything.”
Before Raye, the crowd was thrilled by the likes of Aitch and Mabel. Aitch told Newsbeat he was “very excited” to “do what I do best.” Despite coming from Wembley Stadium after watching the first 55 minutes of the FA Cup final between his beloved Manchester United and Manchester City, Aitch was ready to perform. “I’ve not done a show for a while; I’ve been stuck in the studio for a while,” he added, teasing “so much music coming out,” including some this month. “I’m ready to go crazy,” he said.
Charli XCX, who was supposed to be at Big Weekend in Coventry in 2022 but had to pull out due to illness, admitted being “very scared” before going on the New Music Stage. “Because I haven’t done a real proper show for a long time,” she told Newsbeat.
Sunday will see Coldplay as the headline act, with Sabrina Carpenter, Olly Alexander, and Vampire Weekend also hitting the Main Stage on the final day of the festival. Around 100,000 people are expected to attend across the three days of Radio 1’s festival.
