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Unmissable performances from Big Weekend UK 2020
Big Weekend 2020 is Radio 1's first virtual festival, so you know what that means: you don't have to miss a thing! No long toilet queues making you miss your favourite act, or friends dragging you to a different stage.
Instead, you can keep up with all the action on Sounds and iPlayer - but these huge performances from are a very good place to start.
Sam Smith’s set had all the feels
Sam Smith's Big Weekend set was as atmospheric as their hazy beautifully-lit backdrop. Performing a stripped-back set from home, Sam opted for the big heartstring-tuggers: early fan faves 'I'm Not The Only One' and 'Stay With Me', recent single 'How Do You Sleep?', plus Normani collab 'Dancing With A Stranger'. It was a truly spellbinding performance.
Rita Ora was a green screen queen
Performing from home doesn't have to look like you're performing from home. Rita Ora proved just that with her rendition of 'How Not To Be Lonely', which made great use of virtual backgrounds. Our faves? Either the bubble bath duck at sea one or the house of balloons.
Niall Horan was armed with an acoustic guitar
"This is obviously different, these are odd times," Niall said halfway through his Big Weekend virtual set. To mark Radio 1's first virtual festival, the former 1D star decided to do something a bit different - performing a very intimate and acoustic set. He went on to add: "Watching the world come together and creating like this is different and really cool. It's something that we should keep up, even after we get back to normality. It's nice to see people creating this way, and doing more collab-ing online, and things like this."
Anne-Marie was pop perfection
"I'm going to be doing some songs that hopefully everyone will know," Anne-Marie said at the start of her virtual Big Weekend set, which saw the star backed remotely by a full band (all connected via video link, of course). Serving up a trio of her most memorable hits ('2002', 'Birthday' and 'Friends'), it'd be impossible for fans to not be singing along at home.
Jonas Brothers lit up the weekend
Jonas Brothers' Big Weekend set had to take home the award for the most slick, well-produced home performance of them all. Making good use of camera angles and a snazzy portable light, it was like a mini music video.
Biffy Clyro put on an epic display
'Tiny Indoor Fireworks' was a perfect song for Biffy Clyro to kick off their virtual Big Weekend set with. Not only would the crux of its chorus resonate with many right now ("And I’ll pray for the better days!") but it's title was apt too. Performing from a makeshift inside tent, and with images from festival crowd projected behind them, the Scottish band were in explosive form right from the start.
YUNGBLUD captured that festival feeling
Anyone fearing that artists wouldn't be able to completely get into feeling the mood without a crowd to feed off were proved entirely wrong with YUNGBLUD's stormer of a Radio 1 Stage set on Saturday. "Big Weekend, are you ready?" Dom yelped at the start of his band's performance. "In your bedrooms, I want you to jump, jump, jump, jump!" Storming through his pop-rock belters, YUNGBLUD was all action from the get-go.
HAIM were flawless
Performing from their practice space, HAIM were a masterclass of sharp and intricate musicality. Their stunning three-song set featured 'Now I'm In It', 'Don't Wanna' and 'The Steps' - even throwing in some bongos for good measure.
Sean Paul brought the good vibes
"From Jamaica to the world," dancehall mega-star Sean Paul announced at the start of his Big Weekend set. It was a performance all about providing a bit of light in darkness and having a good time, with the star joined remotely for collabs with Tove Lo and Anne-Marie too.
Disclosure raised the Energy
Disclosure's Guy Lawrence delivered a stunner of a set all the way from his home in LA (or is that a greenhouse?!), a half-hour offering that included a vocal cameo (via a cross-Atlantic video call) from brother and bandmate Howard, plus a special motivational speech from YouTuber Eric Thomas.
Ms Banks came with bars and bops
Don't have a microphone to hand at home? Not to worry, Ms Banks proved on the 1Xtra Stage that a remote control will give the same impression. And what an impression the London rapper left too, providing both bars and bops.
Blossoms made use of some impromptu instruments
Blossoms have to be the kings of the virtual session. Okay, so the performance technically wasn't completely live (in that the band edited and looped their footage together), but using everything from cardboard boxes and corkscrews to nail brushes and hairspray as instruments - their Big Weekend set was nothing sort of genius.
Doja Cat shined bright
Doja Cat's Big Weekend virtual set might have been short, but it was undoubtedly sweet - cramming three songs into eight and half mins: the irresistible 'Juicy', infectious 'Say So' and Gucci Mane collab 'Like That'. Doja showed why she's one of the most exciting stars at the moment.
Armand Van Helden gave us fun in the sun
You always want festivals to be graced with good weather, even virtual ones. On Friday night, Armand Van Helden brought sunny vibes to the Radio 1 Dance Stage, with some feel-good dance tunes to go along with them. There was even some special cameos from the DJ's extensive toy collection... because why not!
Mahalia was mesmerising
Mahalia's set may have been a home-based affair but it was far from stripped-back. Backed remotely by a full band, her sleek and smooth vocals were complemented by some jazz piano, pounding drums and smooth, revved-up guitar. A triumphant performance packed into 15 minutes.
Aitch & AJ Tracey repped London and Manny
They may have shot the video for their massive collab 'Rain' in LA but linking up again to perform the track for Big Weekend 2020, Aitch and AJ Tracey were both back in their hometowns of Manchester and London (respectively). Despite their cross-country locations, their chemistry was still unquestionable.
Jack Garratt was an unstoppable one-man-band
Jack Garratt's special Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Introducing Stage set was a barnstorming affair, and he really didn't let the solo set-up stop him. There were synths, keyboards, drum machines, guitars - the whole lot!
Georgia worked the dance floor from home
For her Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Introducing lockdown session, Georgia turned her home into a disco, complete with a disco ball and lights. It created the perfect mood for her electro-pop anthems.
But that's not all...
