As the biggest free ticketed music event in the UK, we were very excited to learn that Radio 1′s Big Weekend was due to be held just down the road from Point Blank offices on Hackney Marshes! Taking place this weekend (23rd-24th June) it will be set across 6 stages and promises to be the biggest yet in the event’s history.
Stopping off once a year at various locations around Britain, it aims to showcase some of the world’s biggest and up and coming artists from a variety of genres.
This year we were also delighted to see so many ex students and friends of Point Blank on the line-up…
1) Leona Lewis – Main Stage – Saturday 23rd June
Playing the main stage on Saturday, Leona Lewis took our Singing Course back in 2005/6 and will be performing some new material providing a little taster for her forthcoming album.
2) Annie Mac – Dance Arena – Saturday 23rd June
Annie Mac at Point Blank
Dublin born DJ Annie Mac became a friend of Point Blank after hosting one of our masterclasses where she gave students advice on how to make it in radio. Playing the Dance Arena on Saturday, she will be tearing the place down with the most cutting-edge dance tracks.
Expect tunes like this amazing remix of ex student AlunaGeorge featured on Annie Mac Presents…
3) Wretch 32 - 1Xtra Stage – Sunday 24th June
Wretch 32 and Point Blank CEO Rob Cowan at Point Blank London
After breaking through to the mainstream in 2011, Wretch 32 came into Point Blank for a studio session with Choice FM and Barclaycard competition winner Osasu. Catch him on the 1Xtrah stage on Sunday.
4) Pete Tong – Dance Arena – Sunday 24th June
Pete Tong at Point Blank
As a supporter of our scholarship program and good friend of Point Blank, Pete Tong will be entertaining the masses over at the Dance Arena on Sunday. You can expect the legendary DJ to deliver the freshest tracks from the world of house and techno.
5) Arthur Beatrice – BBC Introducing Stage – Sunday 24th June
Arthur Beatrice
After completing the Music Business Course and Music Production & Sound Engineering Diploma in January 2011, Orlando Sheppard went on to form indie pop act Arthur Beatrice.
They’ll be playing the BBC Introducing Stage on Sunday so be sure to listen out for the hauntingly brilliant stand out track Midland.
6) Mistajam - Outdoor DJ Stage – Sunday 24th June
Mistajam
Pete Dalton aka Mistajam took the online Logic Course back in November 2011. He has 2 regular slots on BBC 1Xtra every Monday-Thursday from 7pm-10pm and Saturdays 11pm-1pm where he plays Dubstep, Grime, Hip Hop and everything in between. Mistajam be offering up all that and the latest in D&B and Dancehall from the outdoor DJ Stage on Sunday.
Radio 1 Big Weekend Presenters
Gemma Cairney
Gemma Cairney at Radio 1 offices
After studying Radio Production at Point Blank, Gemma Cairney went on to host the 1Xtra breakfast show with Trevor Nelson. She now has her own morning weekend slot and will be part of the Radio 1 team hosting the Hackney Big Weekend.
Edith Bowman
Edith Bowman
Even after her very successful career as a radio host and DJ, like all leading professionals, Edith Bowman still realised you can always learn more. She studied our DJ Skills with Serato Scratch Live and said it was “all ace and explained brilliantly”. Edith will be presenting a wide range of acts over the weekend.
Point Blank Radio Students
Last month our radio students went to central London for a ‘radio trails’ workshop where they worked with a Radio 1 producer.
The aim was to generate hype for the BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra Academy which opened in Hackney earlier this month ahead of The Big Weekend. Our students travelled around Hackney for the day with the Radio 1 producer to record and edit the trails themselves. Click here to check out the results.
We are thrilled to be connected with this event and have some of the world’s biggest acts on our doorstep. It’s certainly a welcome addition to a summer of huge music festivals in London. Let’s just hope the weather holds out long enough to enjoy it!
Are you amongst the lucky crowd to be heading down this weekend? Let us know who you can’t wait to see.
BBC Radio 1′s Hackney Weekend Line up:
Saturday 23rd June:
Jay-Z >>Kasabian >>Nicki Minaj >>Ed Sheeran >>Example >>Rizzle Kicks >>Leona Lewis >>Jack White >>Lostprophets >>The Vaccines >>The Maccabees >>Rudimental >>Delilah >>Michael Kiwanuka >>Rita Ora >>Jessie Ware >>Sean Paul >>Flo Rida >>will.i.am >>D’banj >>Trey Songz >>Tinchy Stryder >>Chip >>Boy Better Know ft Skepta & JME >>DJ Fresh >>Emeli Sandé >>Dappy >>Swedish House Mafia >>Calvin Harris >>Eric Prydz >>Nero >>Annie Mac >>deadmau5 >>Random Impulse >>Lil Simz >>The Skints >>In Search Of >>Paigey Cakey >>My Panda Shall Fly >>Isaac Danquah >>Xploder >>Cheekie Bugga >>UD Vocal Collective >>Nihal >>Robbo Ranx >>Robbo Ranx >>Benji B >>Mosca >>Rob da Bank >>Moyles vs Westwood >>DJ Target >>
DJ Cameo >>Tim Westwood
Sunday 24th June:
Rihanna >> Special Guest >> Florence + the Machine >> Tinie Tempah >> Jessie J >> Plan B >>Professor Green >> Chase & Status >>Magnetic Man >>Lana Del Rey >>Enter Shikari >>Sub Focus >>Ben Howard >>Santigold >>Bombay Bicycle Club >>Nas >>Wretch 32 >>B.o.B >>Gyptian ft. Ice >>Prince Taio Cruz >>Azealia Banks >>Maverick Sabre >>Devlin Sway >>Lethal B >>Mindless Behavior >>Labrinth >>David Guetta >>Andy C >>Madeon >>Pete Tong >>Flux Pavilion and Doctor P >>Zane Lowe >>Kersha Bailey >>Pepstar >>Savages >>Stevie Neale Lola King and The Kickstarts >>Joe Black >>Arthur Beatrice >>Driving Lolita >>ShezAr >>Project Hackney >> DJ Edu>> Nihal >>Robbo Ranx >>Toddla T >>Friction >> B Traits >>Skream & Benga >>Vernon vs Charlie Sloth >>Mistajam
