Biggest Weekend: BBC's 'Glastonbury replacement' for 2018 announces fresh wave of acts
Niall Horan, J Hus, Craig David and Young Fathers are among the acts added to the already-huge lineup for the BBC's festival The Biggest Weekend.
The event is being widely considered as a "Glastonbury replacement" given the iconic festival is taking its traditional fallow year in 2018. Last year the BBC promised its new event would offer "coverage similar to that around Glastonbury".
The Biggest Weekend will take place in four locations across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland over the May Bank Holiday, on 25-28 May.
It was previously confirmed that Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Noel Gallagher and Manic Street Preachers will perform. Horan, Hus, Wolf Alice, Jess Glynne, Paloma Faith, James Bay, Years & Years, Little Dragon and several other acts have since been added to the billing.
Bob Shennan, director of BBC Radio and Music, said: "BBC Music has a strong history of bringing the nation together for some special moments, and this is the biggest single music event ever attempted by the BBC. We will be celebrating the diversity of music from four different corners of the country, bringing the best UK music to the world and the best global music to the UK."
Here's the schedule and lineup so far:
Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales
Saturday 26 May – BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra & Asian Network
Sunday 27 May – BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra & Asian Network
Artists confirmed: Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Niall Horan, Jess Glynne, J Hus, Craig David, Years & Years, Wolf Alice, James Bay, plus more to be announced.
Scone Palace, Perth, Scotland
Friday 25 May – BBC Radio 3
Saturday 26 May – BBC Radio 2
Artists confirmed: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Simple Minds, The Shires, Nigel Kennedy with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Amy McDonald, The Beat starring Dave Wakeling, Julie Fowlis, Jamie Cullum, Evelyn Glennie, Danielle de Niese, Scottish Jazz Orchestra directed by Tommy Smith, plus more to be announced.
War Memorial Park, Coventry, England
Sunday 27 May – BBC Radio 2
Monday 28 May – BBC Radio 3
Artists confirmed: Paloma Faith, Billy Ocean, Snow Patrol, Nigel Kennedy with the BBC Concert Orchestra, UB40 featuring Ali, Astro & Mickey, Jamie Cullum, Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band, Go Go Penguin, Milos, plus more to be announced.
Titanic Slipways, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Friday 25 May – BBC 6 Music
Saturday 26 May – BBC 6 Music
Artists confirmed: Beck, Courtney Barnett, Manic Street Preachers, Goldie (Live), Orbital, Breeders, Franz Ferdinand, First Aid Kit, Ash, Young Fathers, Public Service Broadcasting, Little Dragon, plus more to be announced.
Ed Sheeran said: “So excited to be part of The Biggest Weekend this summer. I’ve always loved performing at Big Weekend with Radio 1 and this year it’s going to be even bigger. Bring it on Swansea!”
Tickets for The Biggest Weekend go on sale on Monday February 12 priced at £18 plus £4.50 booking fee. 175,000 tickets will be available to the public with a percentage going to fans in the local areas. For more information check the website.