Radio 1's Big Weekend 2024 divides fans as some question location

30 January 2024 , 18:37

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Radio 1's Big Weekend is heading to Luton later this year for the next instalment of the music festival

The location for this year's BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend has divided fans on social media after it was unveiled recently, though the local community is excited by the opportunity.

It was announced this week that Luton will host the annual music festival later this year. The event, held each year by BBC Radio, is set to be over three days from May 24 to 26 and more than 100,000 fans are expected to attend. The news was shared by Greg James, 38, on his radio show on Monday. He's said: "We love taking it somewhere new every year. This year is the turn of Luton to experience the full Radio 1 treatment. It's a simple mission really: we just want everyone who comes along to have the best time."

Around 100 acts are set to perform at venue Stockwood Park, ranging from "the biggest stars" to "emerging artists". It's been revealed that the line-up and ticketing details will be released on BBC Radio 1 in the coming months.

It was announced earlier this week by radio host Greg James that BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend is heading to Luton later this year (Redferns)

The announcement prompted some reaction on X, formerly known as Twitter, with fans having shared their thoughts on the chosen location. Although there's been excitement, not everyone seems impressed by the town acting as host. One person said: "Can't believe out of everywhere there is in the UK, Big Weekend is in LUTON." Someone responded to them: "Totally agree. Shambles from @BBCR1." Another tweeted: "Big Weekend in LUTON this must be a joke."

A fourth person questioned: "For what reason is Big Weekend in Luton [...] What's there apart from the airport?" Another wrote: "Luton? Bl***y Luton, why Luton." Someone asked on the platform: "So Big Weekend in Luton….why?" "Couldn't pay me to go to Luton," read another tweet. Someone else described it as a "horrific choice," whilst one person wrote: "I grew up right next to Stockwood Park - the planes fly over it low and loud every four minutes."

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Others expressed amusement, with one person writing: "Big Weekend is gonna be in Luton? Lmfaooo." Another wrote: "The fact [that] #BIGWEEKEND is going to be in Luton has made me laugh way more than it should have done." "I'm still laughing at the Big Weekend being in Luton tbh," a recent tweet read. Someone said: "[It] might be the funniest thing that happens this year." Another person wrote: "Big Weekend in Luton this year I am laughing my a** off."

The music festival is hosted in a different location each year by BBC Radio and sees various artists take to the stage for performances (WireImage)

One person tweeted amid the reaction to the news this week: "So many negative comments about this coming to Luton, if your not happy about it coming to Luton don't f***ing come then, more for the good people of Luton." There was excitement over the news from a number of people on the platform though. One person tweeted: "This is great news for Luton." Someone else wrote: "Well this is a bit bloomin exciting!" Another said it was "fantastic news".

"Cannot wait for this! Can only imagine the atmosphere of Luton in May, takes me back to [last year's festival] Time to relive that energy! Wonderful news for our town," read another response following the announcement on Monday. Another read: "Time to show everyone just how good Luton & the surrounding areas of the Three Counties are. LETS GO!" Luton Council tweeted: "We're so excited to be hosting @BBCR1's #BigWeekend at Stockwood Park this May!"

In a statement as part of the announcement, Cllr Hazel Simmons MBE, Leader of Luton Council, said: "[It's] fantastic news for our town, especially our young people, and will showcase all the wonderful things about Luton." She added that it would give a "multi-million-pound boost" to Luton's economy and provide several opportunities for local young people and businesses. She further teased that the festival also provides an opportunity to "step forward and showcase the very best of [the] ambitious, brilliantly vibrant, wonderfully diverse and transforming town".

The festival was in Dundee last year. Other locations that have hosted it in recent years include Coventry and Middlesbrough. BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend has visited places like Derry, Swansea, Birmingham and Manchester.

BBC Radio 1 is set to broadcast live from Luton across the weekend when it takes place there. Performances and tracks are due to be available live and on demand across Radio 1's iPlayer channel and BBC Sounds.

Joel Leaver