BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend

Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Glasgow saw 50,000 music fans gathered in the city’s Glasgow Green. The free festival featured some of the biggest acts in the world including Kasabian, Coldplay, Kings of Leon, Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, Lorde & Pharrell Williams as well as home favourites such as Paulo Nutini & Chvrches.
Radio 1’s Greg James said the line-up for the show was its “best ever”. Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper said: “It’s a phenomenal line-up, probably the best in the world this year in one of the world’s great music cities.”

We picked our 10 favourite performances:

Starting with the act that closed the festival yesterday – Katy Perry’s visually stunning performance. Giant butterflies, mummies and flaming guitars, plus several costume changes as Katy smashed through hits like Roar and Teenage Dream. Brilliant graphics appeared behind her, at one point making it look like she was in a computer game. “Thank you for staying out to see me,” she said to the crowd. “It’s a school night isn’t it? You are very kind.”

Katy Perry – Dark Horse (Play this video in Creation 5)

Coldplay stole the show on Saturday, performing tracks from their new album ‘Ghost Stories’. They also had a bit of fun and did a brief cover of fellow performers One Direction’s ‘Best Song Ever’.

Coldplay – A Sky Full of Stars (Play this video in Creation 5)

“Who’s feeling happy right now?” said Pharrell before he performed his smash hit with a stage full of dancers. He gave security a tough time as he spent a fair amount of time off the stage ‘mingling’ with the crowds.

Pharrell Williams – Happy (Play this video in Creation 5)

Bastille’s performance on the main stage was brilliant – with the crowd singing along to all their hits including this one:

Bastille – Flaws (Play this video in Creation 5)

It really was an incredible weekend for Sam Smith – he scored his third number one single with Stay With Me – which was announced following his set. “It was the song they sang along to the most, I was trying to hold myself back from crying,” he told Newsbeat.

Sam Smith – Stay With Me (Play this video in Creation 5)

Cheeky, cheerful Paulo Nutini received a fantastic greeting from the crowd – no one can say that the Scottish crowd don’t support their own. In fact he probably got the most female screams of the weekend. After he told the crowd “It’s good to be home”, they started chanting “Paulo, Paulo!”

Paolo Nutini – Scream (Funk My Life Up) (Play this video in Creation 5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE0EPXjTPUU

Over on the wonderfully named stage “In New Music We Trust”, Lorde delighted the crowd with a passionate, quirky performance.

Lorde – Royals (Play this video in Creation 5)

Jess Glynne made an appearance to sing ‘Rather Be’ with Clean Bandit – the most ‘Shazammed’ song of the year.

Clean Bandit – Rather Be (Play this video in Creation 5)

The man of the moment – Calvin Harris, played his Nº1 hit – Summer – quite ironically as it was grey and wet – but this didn’t put anyone off. “Glasgow let me see you hug the person right next to you now” he shouted from his fiery DJ booth.

Calvin Harris – Summer (Play this video in Creation 5)

Rita Ora was a bit luckier with the weather than Calvin, and skies were sunny as she sang her Nº1 hit – “Do you know the words? Do me a favour will ya?” The crowd obliged – what a great audience the scottish people make! “Scottish crowds are always the most rowdy, they just love it when a big event comes into town, so with the Friday and the weekend nights it’s just going to be a big party.” said James who hosts the Radio 1 drive-time show.

Rita Ora – I Will Never Let You Down (Play this video in Creation 5)