Radio 1 Big Weekend: Olivia Dean headlines and other highlights

Radio 1's Big Weekend is known for its lively atmosphere, but it doesn't always guarantee sunny weather.

However, attendees were fortunate as the 100,000 festivalgoers in Sunderland were greeted with delightful conditions.

Over the course of three enjoyable days at Herrington Country Park, they experienced performances from approximately 100 acts.

'Zero chance of rain'

With the festival marking the beginning of the season at the end of May, the weather can often be unpredictable.

Weather conditions undoubtedly influence the overall experience, making the amount of sunshine across the three days a remarkable feat.

"The sun brought the good mood," remarked 20-year-old Caitlin to Newsbeat after the first night.

That positive energy lingered throughout the entire event.

Olivia Dean's victory lap

Tickets for the final day, which featured Olivia Dean's first major headline performance, were in high demand.

This comes after an extraordinary nine months for the singer, following the release of her second album, The Art of Loving.

"It's completely changed my life," she shared with the audience.

A series of chart-topping records, sold-out tours, and numerous awards have marked this period of her career, and now she has yet another achievement to celebrate.

Any initial concerns regarding her often intimate and understated performance style being suitable for a main stage festival finale quickly dissipated.

As the sun set over Sunderland, her performance radiated the warmth of the day.

Fans traveled from around the globe to witness it firsthand.

Kameel, a 27-year-old from New York, flew in after missing out on tickets to her U.S. tour and discovering Big Weekend on Instagram.

"Olivia Dean resonates with me," she expressed.

"She's a person of colour, and it's wonderful to hear her music and her story - plus, her vocals are incredible."

Being the most you

In contrast to Olivia Dean's meteoric rise, Zara Larsson's journey has been a gradual evolution.

Nearly a decade has passed since the Swedish star first took to the main stage at Big Weekend in Hull.

Her recent global success has been driven by viral trends, high-profile collaborations, and a commitment to embracing "the most me" in her artistry.

Though it is naive to assume that sounds and images are not thoughtfully curated by talented teams, this shift appears to align with what audiences desire.

"It's like Zara Larsson's bloomed into the full butterfly version of herself; this is the Zara," stated fan Christian, 25, to BBC Newsbeat.

His friend Leanne, 26, concurred, noting, "The dances, her makeup, everything she wears in this era, it's extraordinary."

Zara is not the first artist to highlight that genuine authenticity plays a crucial role in connecting with today's more discerning audiences.

The band FLO also emphasized the significance of authenticity, asserting that telling one's own story makes for a compelling narrative.

"It's always easier to sell a story that's your own," singer Stella Quaresma told Newsbeat.

"It becomes a burden when it's not truly from you."

The dancefloor is alive

The current vibrancy of the electronic music scene prompted Radio 1 to dedicate the first day of Big Weekend to its Dance Party brand for the first time.

This day featured a diverse array of musical styles, backgrounds, and generations - from local talent Max Jones launching the festivities on the Introducing stage to Fatboy Slim closing the show on the main stage.

At 62, Fatboy Slim, known as Norman to his fans, still exudes an energetic presence that captivates audiences of all ages, backed by a catalog of timeless hits.

"That's the beautiful thing about dance music," he explained.

"It brings us all together in one space, fostering common cohesion and unity - the power of that."

Will the event continue to thrive in subsequent years?

"Yes please!" Radio 1's dance music expert, Danny Howard, confirmed backstage.

Sunderland is 'lush'

Attendees of Big Weekend can attest that it is a unique festival experience.

It brings prominent artists to locations that typically do not host such events.

Ticket prices are also more accessible than those at many major festivals, with a significant allocation reserved for local residents.

As such, each year boasts its own distinctive character, shaped by the local culture and spirit of the host city.

Residents of Sunderland proudly shared their regional identity with BBC Newsbeat, highlighting their accents, chicken parmos, and other elements that contribute to the city's description as "lush."

For local DJ Sorley, it was a "full circle" moment, as he recounted attending Big Weekend with his family when it last visited Sunderland in 2005, illustrating how the event inspires new generations of artists.

Aligned with the conclusion of a football season that has rejuvenated Sunderland's global standing, overshadowing local rivals Newcastle, it felt like an opportune moment to be in the city.

Fatboy Slim expressed an understanding of the audience he was entertaining, saying, "They're lunatics," of the crowd — a term used affectionately.

Yet he emphasized that they are "always a really friendly, lively crowd."

His sentiment was shared throughout the festival, as he celebrated both Sunderland and the wider North East region: "Big up everyone in Sunderland, big up everyone in the North East."