8:40am Tuesday 17th March 2009
By Sarah Hilley
MUSIC stars, including Snow Patrol, will send waves through Lydiard Park when Radio 1’s Big Weekend comes to Swindon.
The BBC has confirmed the flagship music event will take place here on Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10.
Today Snow Patrol performed live at a Radio 1 broadcast from O'Neills, off Fleet Street, in Swindon where DJ Chris Moyles announced the event coming to the town. Crowds of music fans gathered outside in the hope of seeing the stars.
Snow Patrol were joined by N-Dubz – also due to play here in May.
Chris said: “It’s the best weekend we have at Radio 1 and we always try to bring it to places that don’t normally get big events like this. The people of Swindon are going to love it.”
The site holds 20,000 and most of the free tickets will go to residents in the town and surrounding areas.
Four stages will be set up at Lydiard Park for the festival, which saw Madonna perform in Mote Park, Maidstone last year. The event is the is the UK’s biggest free ticketed music festival.
Jason Carter, Radio 1’s editor of live music and events, said: “BBC Radio 1 is delighted to be heading to Swindon this year.
It’s our ninth Big Weekend and we’ll be bringing some of the biggest international and UK artists to Lydiard Park.
“It promises to be the perfect start to the UK Festival season and provides a fantastic opportunity for Radio 1 to put a national focus on Swindon and the South West region and all that it has to offer.”
All the action hosted by DJs will be broadcast live on Radio 1 with highlights on BBC 3.
“This is a fantastic announcement for Swindon and we are working in partnership with Radio 1 to make sure that this is the best Big Weekend ever staged,” said Phil Young, cabinet member for culture, regeneration and economic development.
“As soon as Radio 1 approached the council we were determined to make this happen in Swindon and when the eyes of the world are focussed on us for the weekend we will have a great opportunity to leave all of those who attend, watch and listen with a positive impression of our thriving town and borough.”
Details of how to get free tickets and the exact line-up will be announced as the festival draws closer at www.bbc.co.uk/radio1 and in the Adver.
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