Festival season officially arrived in style as BBC Radio One’s Big Weekend returned to Sunderland, delivering huge performances, unforgettable moments, and a reminder of just how exciting live music can be.
With sunshine, packed crowds and a line-up stacked with chart favourites, festival icons and rising talent, Big Weekend’s long-awaited return to Sunderland (its first visit to the city since 2005) proved well worth the wait.
From emotional sing-alongs to full-scale festival energy, this year’s event once again showed why Big Weekend remains one of the UK’s most talked-about music weekends. And if the performances left you wanting more, we have you covered with exclusive formats and must-have editions from some of the artists who lit up the Sunderland stages.
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Zara Larsson – Pop Perfection
Few artists bring as much energy as Zara Larsson. With powerhouse vocals, polished pop production, and a catalogue packed with singalong anthems, she knows exactly how to command a festival crowd. Zara delivered a set full of feel-good moments, blending fan favourites with newer material and proving once again why she remains one of pop’s most reliable live performers.
Whether you have followed her from the early hits or discovered her through recent releases, Zara brought pure festival joy to Sunderland.
SHOP NOW
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Louis Tomlinson – Festival Favourite
Louis Tomlinson continues to carve out his own lane with anthemic songwriting and passionate live performances. Bringing heart and authenticity to the stage, his connection with fans remains undeniable.
One of the weekend’s standout moments came as Louis revisited his roots, delivering an emotional performance of ‘Night Changes’ that had the entire crowd singing along. It was a reminder of how powerful shared live music moments can be and why his shows continue to resonate so strongly with audiences.
Whether you are revisiting his solo catalogue or discovering it for the first time, our exclusive formats are worth a closer look. Shop our hmv exclusive in the 3 for 66 vinyl deal.
SHOP NOW
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Nothing But Thieves – Alt-Rock at Full Volume
Nothing But Thieves brought the kind of explosive energy festival crowds live for. Their mix of soaring vocals, atmospheric production, and huge rock moments has made them one of the UK’s most exciting live acts.
Their Sunderland performance struck a balance between intensity and emotion, delivering powerful anthems and proving exactly why they remain festival favourites.
SHOP NOW
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Niall Horan – Crowd-Pleasing Anthems
Niall Horan’s effortless blend of pop, folk, and heartfelt songwriting continues to win over audiences everywhere. His festival-ready tracks and relaxed stage presence made him a natural fit for Big Weekend.
From emotional moments to massive crowd sing-alongs, Niall’s set delivered exactly the kind of atmosphere fans had been waiting for.
SHOP NOW
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CMAT – Country-Pop with Character
CMAT continues to stand out with witty songwriting, fearless personality, and a sound that effortlessly blends country influences with modern pop. Equal parts emotional and playful, her music brought something refreshingly different to the Sunderland line-up.
Her performance balanced humour, honesty, and standout vocals, proving once again why she has become one of the most distinctive voices on today’s festival circuit.
SHOP NOW
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Myles Smith – Rising Star Energy
Myles Smith has quickly become one of the names on everyone’s radar. His uplifting sound and emotionally driven songwriting have resonated with listeners across the UK, making him one of the breakout artists to watch. His Sunderland appearance showcased exactly why his momentum continues to grow, with an audience fully embracing every moment.
SHOP NOW
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Dermot Kennedy – Emotion in Every Note
Dermot Kennedy’s ability to blend powerful vocals with deeply personal songwriting makes every performance feel intimate, even on the biggest stages. His music connects on a universal level, turning festival moments into lasting memories.
SHOP NOW
His Big Weekend set brought emotion, atmosphere, and undeniable vocal power, creating one of the weekend’s most memorable performances.
![]()
Olivia Dean – Soulful and Effortlessly Cool
Olivia Dean continues to impress with warm vocals, thoughtful lyrics, and timeless musicality. Her soulful sound feels equally suited to quiet listening sessions and massive festival sing-alongs.
Her Sunderland performance highlighted exactly why she continues to attract growing praise, bringing elegance, emotion, and effortless charm to the Big Weekend stage. You can also grab her record The Art Of Loving in our 3 for 66 on vinyl deal.
SHOP NOW
Bring Big Weekend Home
BBC Radio One’s Big Weekend may be over, but the music does not stop there. Whether you were in the crowd, watching from home, or simply building your next playlist, hmv’s exclusive formats let you keep the festival feeling going long after the final set.
Explore exclusive vinyl, special editions, and collectible releases from your favourite artists – and keep the Big Weekend soundtrack spinning. Shop all of the big weekend lineup below.
SHOP NOW
From emotional sing-alongs to full-scale festival energy, this year’s event once again showed why Big Weekend remains one of the UK’s most talked-about music weekends. And if the performances left you wanting more, we have you covered with exclusive formats and must-have editions from some of the artists who lit up the Sunderland stages.
Zara Larsson – Pop Perfection
Few artists bring as much energy as Zara Larsson. With powerhouse vocals, polished pop production, and a catalogue packed with singalong anthems, she knows exactly how to command a festival crowd. Zara delivered a set full of feel-good moments, blending fan favourites with newer material and proving once again why she remains one of pop’s most reliable live performers.
Whether you have followed her from the early hits or discovered her through recent releases, Zara brought pure festival joy to Sunderland.
SHOP NOW
Louis Tomlinson – Festival Favourite
Louis Tomlinson continues to carve out his own lane with anthemic songwriting and passionate live performances. Bringing heart and authenticity to the stage, his connection with fans remains undeniable.
One of the weekend’s standout moments came as Louis revisited his roots, delivering an emotional performance of ‘Night Changes’ that had the entire crowd singing along. It was a reminder of how powerful shared live music moments can be and why his shows continue to resonate so strongly with audiences.
Whether you are revisiting his solo catalogue or discovering it for the first time, our exclusive formats are worth a closer look. Shop our hmv exclusive in the 3 for 66 vinyl deal.
SHOP NOW
Nothing But Thieves – Alt-Rock at Full Volume
Nothing But Thieves brought the kind of explosive energy festival crowds live for. Their mix of soaring vocals, atmospheric production, and huge rock moments has made them one of the UK’s most exciting live acts.
Their Sunderland performance struck a balance between intensity and emotion, delivering powerful anthems and proving exactly why they remain festival favourites.
SHOP NOW
Niall Horan – Crowd-Pleasing Anthems
Niall Horan’s effortless blend of pop, folk, and heartfelt songwriting continues to win over audiences everywhere. His festival-ready tracks and relaxed stage presence made him a natural fit for Big Weekend.
From emotional moments to massive crowd sing-alongs, Niall’s set delivered exactly the kind of atmosphere fans had been waiting for.
SHOP NOW
CMAT – Country-Pop with Character
CMAT continues to stand out with witty songwriting, fearless personality, and a sound that effortlessly blends country influences with modern pop. Equal parts emotional and playful, her music brought something refreshingly different to the Sunderland line-up.
Her performance balanced humour, honesty, and standout vocals, proving once again why she has become one of the most distinctive voices on today’s festival circuit.
SHOP NOW
Myles Smith – Rising Star Energy
Myles Smith has quickly become one of the names on everyone’s radar. His uplifting sound and emotionally driven songwriting have resonated with listeners across the UK, making him one of the breakout artists to watch. His Sunderland appearance showcased exactly why his momentum continues to grow, with an audience fully embracing every moment.
SHOP NOW
Dermot Kennedy – Emotion in Every Note
Dermot Kennedy’s ability to blend powerful vocals with deeply personal songwriting makes every performance feel intimate, even on the biggest stages. His music connects on a universal level, turning festival moments into lasting memories.
SHOP NOW
His Big Weekend set brought emotion, atmosphere, and undeniable vocal power, creating one of the weekend’s most memorable performances.
Olivia Dean – Soulful and Effortlessly Cool
Olivia Dean continues to impress with warm vocals, thoughtful lyrics, and timeless musicality. Her soulful sound feels equally suited to quiet listening sessions and massive festival sing-alongs.
Her Sunderland performance highlighted exactly why she continues to attract growing praise, bringing elegance, emotion, and effortless charm to the Big Weekend stage. You can also grab her record The Art Of Loving in our 3 for 66 on vinyl deal.
SHOP NOW
Bring Big Weekend Home
BBC Radio One’s Big Weekend may be over, but the music does not stop there. Whether you were in the crowd, watching from home, or simply building your next playlist, hmv’s exclusive formats let you keep the festival feeling going long after the final set.
Explore exclusive vinyl, special editions, and collectible releases from your favourite artists – and keep the Big Weekend soundtrack spinning. Shop all of the big weekend lineup below.
SHOP NOW
