Saturday brought another huge crowd to Sefton Park for day two of Radio 1’s Big Weekend. With big-name performances, surprise guests, and fans decked out in everything from football kits to festival glitter, the energy rarely dropped.
Ed Sheeran kicks things off with a surprise set
The day began with a shock appearance from Ed Sheeran, who played a surprise set on the New Music Stage. He told the crowd he’d picked that stage because he’d never played it before, and said the tent had “the best energy.” It filled up fast. So fast that entry had to be paused while security managed capacity.
Fans lucky enough to be inside got an intimate, stripped-back performance from one of the world’s biggest artists, and the buzz carried through the rest of the day.
Blossoms bring indie charm and crowd-pleasers
Later on, Blossoms brought their blend of indie charm and light-hearted showmanship to the Main Stage. They seemed totally at ease with the crowd, and frontman Tom Ogden’s laid-back vocals worked perfectly against the late afternoon sun.
Their setlist blended the old and the new, with “Charlemagne“ getting one of the biggest reactions of the afternoon. The track, still as catchy and stylish as when it first broke them through, had fans dancing and singing along word for word.
They ended with “Gary“ a tongue-in-cheek fan favourite that started life as a bit of a joke but has grown into something bigger over time. It made for a playful finish, and the crowd loved every minute.
Wolf Alice deliver a bold and focused performance
Wolf Alice took the stage not long after and brought a different energy. Ellie Rowsell’s vocals moved from delicate to explosive in a moment, and the band’s sound filled the park with grit and grace. Songs like “Smile” and “Don’t delete the kisses” landed especially well with the crowd, who were fully locked in from start to finish. It was a focused, confident set – no big gimmicks, just a band doing exactly what they do best.
Sam Fender closes the night with fireworks and emotion
Closing out the night was Sam Fender, who walked on to a hero’s welcome from a crowd full of Newcastle shirts. He admitted early on that he felt nervous and didn’t know why, but once he settled in, the nerves didn’t show. His set hit emotional highs and anthemic singalongs in equal measure, with standout moments like “Spit of you“, “People watching” and “Little bit closer” showing off both his range and connection to the audience.
Despite a few technical issues, he powered through and built towards a massive finish. “Seventeen going under” had tens of thousands singing along at full voice, and he closed with “Hypersonic missiles” as fireworks and confetti lit up the sky above Sefton Park.