THE BBC’s “Biggest Weekend” festival is coming to Scotland next year for a one-off event, organisers have announced.
With no current plans to stage Glastonbury or T in the Park, the BBC has expanded its Big Weekend summer show exclusively for 2018, with top artists to perform at live shows in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland over four days.
Scheduled across a bank holiday weekend between May 25 and 28 – the Biggest Weekend festival will bring together all of the BBC’s music stations, catering to the tastes of music lovers both old and young. The host venues have yet to be announced.
The BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend was launched in 2003, and has been held in different locations across the UK every year since, including Dundee and Glasgow.
Bob Shennan, director of BBC Radio and Music, said: “BBC Music has a strong history of bringing the nation together for special moments, and this is the biggest single music event ever attempted by the BBC.
“We will be celebrating the diversity of music from four different corners of the country, and bringing the best UK music to the world and the best global music to the UK.”
The festival aims to provide an experience similar to that of big-name absentees Glastonbury and T in the Park, with concerts hosted concerts to be hosted by Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, and 6 Music, and extensive TV coverage across BBC Two and BBC Four.
Organisers plan a comprehensive outreach programme in the lead-up to the festival with educational workshops, Radio 1’s Academy and BBC Introducing gigs designed to showcase local talent in each location.
Radio 1, Radio 2, 6 Music and Radio 3, in collaboration with BBC Nations TV and Radio, will be partnered with local radio stations to ensure that local talent benefits.
All sets will be available on BBC iPlayer, mobile and online, allowing audiences to enjoy their favourites while discovering new talent.
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