Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Luton welcomes first arrivals

The first crowds have started walking through the gates of Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Luton.

About 100,000 people are expected to attend across the three-day event at Stockwood Park.

Four music stages have been built on the site, with Chase & Status, Rudimental and Ella Henderson among the artists performing on Friday.

BBC Radio 1 is broadcasting live from the festival and highlights are available on BBC iPlayer.

For Kettering teenagers Lola and Annabelle, both 13, Radio 1’s Big Weekend is their inaugural festival experience.

They were the first in the queue.

Annabelle was most excited for electronic duo Chase & Status to play their track Liquor and Cigarettes, while Lola was more looking forward to Ella Henderson.

“I love all of her songs, especially 21 Reasons,” said Lola.

Family member Heather Purdy, 39, said she was excited for the “family outing”.

The Blackmore family, from Leicester, arrived in Luton at 11:30 BST because they wanted to get as close to the front as possible.

Harley, 12, was most excited to see popstar Becky Hill who the rest of his family have seen three times before.

“She’s a pop artist and I quite like pop – my favourite song is Disconnect,” he said.

His brother, Ethan, 16, wanted to see “some of the DJs on the new music stage”.

The family, who stayed in Milton Keynes the night before and have only visited Luton in the past for the airport, were hopeful the weather would hold out.

Mother Emma, 41, said: “As long as it doesn’t rain – that’s all we want.”

Pawel Wiza and Izabella Morkowska-Wiza, both 43, arrived at Stockwood at 11:00, which was three hours before gates opened.

The couple, who have been married for 18 years, travelled from Peteborough, especially to see Chase & Status and Rudimental.

Mr Wiza blamed his wife for their early arrival and complained they had “eaten all their snacks already”.

His wife responded: “I hate being late so wherever we go we end up being early, I take responsibility for that.”