BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025 transformed Liverpool’s Sefton Park into a vibrant celebration of music, drawing over 100,000 fans across three days. The festival showcased a diverse lineup, from indie rock to pop and electronic beats, creating some truly unforgettable moments for attendees.
From surprise sets to emotional singalongs, here’s a look back at the highlights from an unforgettable weekend of music, energy, and unity in the heart of Liverpool.
Friday Highlights
The Wombats kicked off the Main Stage in style on Friday, bringing their infectious energy and singalong favourites like Let’s Dance to Joy Division to a buzzing afternoon crowd. Frontman Matthew Murphy addressed the crowd, saying “this is a very special day for us, we were born not far from here”, which was a reminder to those acts over on the BBC Introducing Stage of where they could be one day.
Over on the New Music Stage, Barry Can’t Swim delivered a genre-defying electronic set that fused jazz and house with hypnotic ease. Sporting a classic Everton shirt, the Scot played to an appreciative and packed audience.
Meanwhile, back at the Main Stage Natasha Bedingfield’s set was a dose of pure nostalgia. Unwritten had the crowd in full voice, and despite a momentary lyric slip during Pocket Full of Sunshine, she bounced back with charisma and a powerhouse vocal delivery. A surprise cover of The Cranberries Zombie was also well received by the hyped-up audience.
We hot-footed it back to the New Music Stage for Katy B, who brought her signature dance-pop energy to the tent. Katy on a Mission and Lights On sounded as fresh as ever, and the crowd lapped up every beat.
Just a short distance away, Liverpool’s own Girls Don’t Sync packed out the Dance Stage with a joyous DJ set. The sunshine, the basslines, and the pure feel-good vibes made this a highlight of the evening.
Biffy Clyro brought their trademark blend of heavy riffs and emotional hooks to the Main Stage. A light rain during Black Chandelier only added to the atmosphere, with Many of Horror providing a huge singalong moment to close.
Then came Tom Grennan’s electrifying headline set, packed with surprises. Ella Henderson joined him for Let’s Go Home Together, and the crowd erupted when Spice Girl Mel C walked on, decked out in a Liverpool kit. Tom, wearing a retro Everton top, duetted with her on 1998 hit with Bryan Adams, When You’re Gone. With a 9 and 7 printed on their shirts, it was a touching tribute to Hillsborough that unified the entire park.
And Grennan wasn’t done. Next up was KSI for their high-energy collab Not Over Yet — switching gears to thrill the younger fans — before Liverpool heroes The Zutons joined him for a raucous rendition of Valerie. A perfect end to a well-balanced set.
Saturday Highlights
Saturday kicked off with a surprise no one saw coming: Ed Sheeran appeared on the New Music Stage for an intimate acoustic set in the early afternoon. Fans packed in shoulder-to-shoulder, with many turned away due to limited capacity — a magical moment for those lucky enough to witness it. That said, you can’t help but wonder if putting Sheeran on the Main Stage might have allowed more festival-goers to share in the experience, rather than opting for exclusivity over accessibility.
Later, pop royalty Sugababes lit up the Main Stage. Push the Button, Overload, and Too Lost in You brought the Y2K magic back, with the sunshine still holding out as fans belted along.
Rising star Myles Smith made a strong impression on the Main Stage with his soulful vocals and instantly catchy tracks. Standout moments came with Stargazing and Nice To Meet You, both of which had the crowd fully engaged and singing along.
Stockport lads Blossoms delivered another polished indie-pop set, with Charlemagne and the playful Gary made for festival season. A sun-soaked crowd danced and swayed throughout.
Wolf Alice followed with a blistering performance, driven by Ellie Rowsell’s captivating vocals — shifting effortlessly from delicate to ferocious. Smile hit with raw intensity, while Don’t Delete the Kisses became a full-throttle singalong, echoed back word-for-word by the raucous crowd.
Sam Fender closed Saturday night with a deeply emotional and powerful headline set. From the soaring Spit of You to the euphoric final blast of Hypersonic Missiles under a canopy of fireworks, it was a stadium-worthy performance that felt utterly personal.
Sunday Highlights
Sunday eased in gently with Lola Young’s soulful vocals echoing across Sefton Park. Messy struck a chord early, setting a reflective tone for the final day.
Injecting a jolt of adrenaline soon after, Fat Dog tore up the BBC Introducing Stage with their punk-fuelled chaos — an unfiltered, high-octane set that snapped early risers out of any lingering grogginess.
Bringing things back down to a simmer, Jorja Smith graced the Main Stage with her sultry R&B, offering a wave of calm. Her rendition of Be Honest drew the crowd into a mellow groove.
Local favourites Courting followed on the Introducing Stage, adding a burst of hometown energy. Their post-punk edge and sharp lyricism stood out, marking them as one of the weekend’s best-kept secrets.
As the afternoon rolled on, Wet Leg turned the Main Stage into their own quirky playground. Chaise Longue prompted one of the biggest singalongs of the day, with the crowd joyfully embracing the band’s offbeat charm.
Next up, Self Esteem delivered one of the most emotionally charged sets of the weekend. Every song hit with raw power — bold, honest, and undeniably empowering, it felt like a shared mantra between artist and audience.
Over on the New Music Stage, HAIM brought seamless harmonies and slick musicianship. Tracks like The Wire and Want You Back sounded immaculate, reaffirming their status as perennial festival favourites.
And finally, Mumford & Sons brought Big Weekend 2025 to a euphoric close. I Will Wait sent the crowd into a final, joyful frenzy — dancing barefoot in the grass, arms raised, and voices hoarse but happy as the sun set on a phenomenal weekend.
You can relive the Big Weekend on BBC Sounds and watch on the iPlayer.
