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BBC Biggest Weekend: Full line-up and how to watch at home

Left-right: Charli XCX, Camila Cabello and Taylor Swift perform on the opening night of her 'Reputation' world tour: Getty
Left-right: Charli XCX, Camila Cabello and Taylor Swift perform on the opening night of her 'Reputation' world tour: Getty

While many music fans will be pining for Glastonbury as it takes its traditional sabbatical so Worthy Farm can recover, the BBC has made a valiant attempt to placate them with a jaw-dropping lineup for its Biggest Weekend festival.

The multi-venue event is taking place across four locations - Belfast, Perth, Coventry and Swansea - on Friday 25 May - Monday 28 May (bank holiday weekend).

Arguably the biggest of the four is Swansea, which has managed to secure what appears to be the entire pop contingent from the UK and the US.

Here's what you need to know ahead of this weekend:

Who is performing?

In Belfast, fans will be able to see some of the biggest names in rock music, including Beck, Manic Street Preachers, Courtney Barnett, Franz Ferdinand, First Aid Kit, Ash, young Fathers, Lykke Li and Public Service Broadcasting.

Perth will host Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Simple Minds, Emeli Sande, The Shires, Jamie Cullum, Nigel Kennedy and Amy McDonald.

In Coventry, look out for performances from Liam Gallagher, Paloma Faith, Snow Patrol, Stereophonics and UB40.

And (best 'til last?) in Swansea, it's just pretty ridiculous, really. The following artists will perform over the weekend *deep breath*: Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Craig David, Jess Glynne, George Ezra, Years & Years, Liam Payne, Anne-Marie, Taylor Swift, Florence and the Machine, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, Rita Ora, Nial Horan, Jason Derulo, Bastille, Wolf Alice, Chvrches, James Bay, Christine and the Queens, J Hus, Stefflon Don, Jorja Smith, Sigrid, Mabel, Panic! At The Disco, Jax Jones, Jessie Ware and Demi Lovato. So basically the biggest names in pop music, all in one place.

How to watch/listen

If you didn't manage to nab tickets, you can still follow the event on TV and radio, with highlights expected to appear on BBC iPlayer.

On the radio

Singleton Park in Swansea will host Radio 1, 1Xtra and Asian Network while Radio 2 will be present in both Perth, Scotland, and Coventry. 6 Music will be at the scene for Belfast, Northern Ireland.

On TV

Coverage on BBC4 kicks off from 7.30pm on Friday 25 May on BBC4, with acts including Beck and the Breeders performing in Belfast.

On Saturday 26 May you can catch Ed Sheeran in Swansea on BBC1 at 6.45pm, and Sam Smith at 9pm on BBC2. Perth headliner Emile Sande can be enjoyed from the comfort of your sofa at 7.45pm on BBC2.

BBC4 will be keeping an eye on the 6 Music lineup, with Simple Minds at 8pm, Franz Ferdinand at 9am and Underworld at 10pm.

On Sunday, pop queen Taylor Swift will headline BBC1's set, while you catch Camila Cabello, Florence and the Machine, and Demi Lovato over on BBC2. Jo Wiley will introduce rock'n'roll star Liam Gallagher to the main stage in Coventry at 10pm.

Who is presenting?

Some of the BBC's finest will be posted around the four locations to provide rolling coverage, including Graham Norton, Jo Wiley, Lauren Laverne, Huw Stephens, Clara Amfo, Trevor Nelson and Alice Levine.