Welsh Icons News | BBC Introducing brings host of fresh and local talent to Radio 1’s Big Weekend

BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens last night (28 April) revealed the line-up for the BBC Introducing Stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, as well as the local artists that are performing in its Fringe Festival, in the week leading up to the main event.

For the third year running, the BBC Introducing Stage comes to Radio 1’s Big Weekend to showcase the best in unsigned, undiscovered and under the radar musicians.

The stage will host 16 artists across the two days, including four from Wales, and for the first time it also features a returner’s slot.

Artists who have been supported by BBC Introducing in previous years, who have now started to find a wider audience, are given the chance to return to the stage where it all started and perform a headline slot. This year’s returning bands are Frankie And The Heartstrings on Saturday and Beatbullyz on Sunday.

Artists who have previously played the BBC Introducing Stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend return to the festival on other stages this year.

Having been discovered and nurtured through BBC Introducing, Florence And The Machine performed on the stage last year to say thank you and this year returns to the festival’s Main Stage on Saturday.

Chipmunk, who played the BBC Introducing Stage in 2008, returns to the festival to perform on the Main Stage and Marina And The Diamonds, Stornoway and Bombay Bicycle Club, who all played the BBC Introducing Stage last year, return to perform on the In New Music We Trust Stage this year.

Jason Carter, Editor, BBC Introducing says: “The BBC Introducing stage has firmly established itself as part of Radio 1’s Big Weekend, and its third time at the festival is set to showcase a whole host of new talent selected from across the BBC Introducing network.

“The stage is such a fantastic opportunity for the new artists that get to play and it’s great to see three artists that played last year graduate to the INMWT stage. And of course, to see Florence on the Main Stage is a big deal for BBC Introducing, as she started her journey with us a few years ago.”

Huw Stephens adds: “The BBC Introducing Stage always has a good atmosphere and a really diverse line-up of up and coming artists who get a wider platform to play on at festivals.

“In Bangor, the line-up is particularly strong with some of the best new names around. I’m also excited about the Fringe gigs that are happening across North Wales in the week leading up to the Big Weekend!”

Celebrating everything about the local music scene, from guitar bands through to bedroom DJs, MCs and everything in between, the festival kicks off in Wrexham on Monday, moves to Colwyn Bay on Tuesday, Caernarfon on Wednesday and finishes on Thursday with a bumper event across four venues in Bangor.

The bands have been handpicked by the Fringe Festival Panel, which include Radio 1 DJs Huw Stephens and Bethan Elfyn, Adam Walton (BBC Radio Wales), Lisa Gwilym (BBC Radio Cymru) and a number of Radio 1 producers. All of the Panel DJs are part of the BBC Introducing network.

Bethan Elfyn, Radio 1 and Radio Wales, says: “I’m already feeling the injection of excitement and energy that the Radio 1 Big Weekend brings to a particular area. It’s revitalising, rejuvenating and I think we’ll feel the results for years to come.

“North Wales has long needed this kind of attention, there’s plenty of creativity, just often no outlet, venues or regular gigs. My hope is that the Fringe’s blanket of events around North Wales, The BBC Introducing Stage, and The Big Weekend’s pop glamour will be the spring in the step for North Wales’ music scene.

“It’s brought lots of people together already, and it’s going to be a huge world stage for those bands itching for some limelight. Like the old saying goes, with this one little event ‘we might be moving mountains’!”

Introducing Stage line-up
Saturday 22 May