Radio 1's Big Weekend draws thousands to Sunderland for final day

At Herrington Country Park in Sunderland, a large crowd of music enthusiasts came together for the final day of Radio 1's Big Weekend, which showcased nearly 100 performances. The day's highlights included CMAT, Niall Horan, Myles Smith, Ezra Collective, and a headline act by Olivia Dean, marking her first UK festival headlining gig at 20:45 BST. Opening the main stage, DJ Maia Beth from Washington played uplifting tracks such as The Killers' Somebody Told Me and Rihanna's We Found Love, earning cheers when she included Sam Fender's That Sound while sporting a Newcastle football shirt. Niall Horan, returning after an 18-month hiatus, described the audience as 'lovely, hospitable welcoming people.' Myles Smith energized the crowd with anthems like Nice To Meet You and We Can Dance, engaging fans with selfies and high fives. Among the attendees were Kiera and Olivia from Darlington, eager for Olivia Dean and Jorja Smith, alongside Sam Fender supporters Sarah and Joe from Dudley, who had traveled six hours after seeing Louis Tomlinson the day before. BBC Music correspondent Mark Savage observed security personnel distributing water to attendees in the heat. The weekend featured live performances and DJ sets across three stages, complemented by food and drink options.