BBC’s Biggest Weekend promised to be an ‘Incredible celebration of live music’ and it didn’t disappoint with huge crowds in attendance.
BBC music along with BBC Radio 6 showcased a great selection of music over two stages in the wonderful setting of the Titanic Slipway in Belfast, over two days.
FRIDAY
Friday’s schedule saw acts such as Phoebe Bridges, Baloji, The Oielles and many more perform on the Introducing stage, including the evening finishing with a fantastic DJ set from David Holmes.
Over on the main stage Father John Misty along with the Ulster Orchestra welcomes everyone and kicked of a packed weekend of live music.
With acts like Lykke Li, Courtney Barney, The Breeders and Beck, the crowds weren’t short of something for everyone’s musical tastes.
Just one of the highlights of the Friday lineup, given the setting of the Titanic slipway, was Public Service Broadcasting who preformed a musical piece to the crowd specially commissioned in tribute to the building and eventual tragic sinking of the Titanic. As well as this special piece of music PSB also gave the crowd the first listen to 4 other new songs.
The Manic Street Preachers, minus Nick Wire who had to pull out for family issues, thrilled the crowd with their usually stage presence and quality performance they’ve become know for. Wires absence didn’t dilute the set and even gave their guitar technician and roadie Richard some stage time. MSP’s treated the Biggest Weekend audience to not only some classics from the band but also some new material, just going to prove, but the audience reaction along, they’ve still got it!
The top of the bill to end Fridays line up was a duo many expected to never see on stage again give the past but the two brothers Paul & Phil are back and it’s was as if they never left.
Thrilling their fans with a new updated set and making no doubt plenty of new fans along the way, showcasing why electronic music was and continues to be so popular.
SATURDAY
Friday was only the start to this incredible live music extravaganza from BBC Music as The Titanic Slipway was yet again the host to another lineup on Saturday.
Over in the BBC 6 Music introducing stage there was the likes of Dream Wife, Hollie Cooke and Londonderry born singer SOAK who kicked off Saturdays line up. Headlining the introducing stage was Mary Anne Hobs finished with a DJ set.
As well as Goldie, Young Fathers, little Dragon and Ash the headline acts for the evening were First Aid Kit, Frank Ferdinand and Underworld.
Swedish folk bank Forst Aid Kit showed why many are calling them the next big thing in folk music, if not already there. But it was the indie rock band Franz Ferdinand from Scotland that got the crowd rocking with a great selection of back catalogue tunes, having everyone singing along.
It’s not hard to see, or should that be hear, why Underworld were chosen to conclude Biggest Weekend Belfast! Having formed at the beginning of the 80’s, electronic music has never sounded so good. With not a inch to move, the audience piled forward to dance and enjoy the wonderful lighting and stage presence of Underwordld. For many it was reliving their youth for others it was a chance to experience an era of music they missed and no doubt will forget in this wonderful setting of the evening sun, Added bonus and surprise for the crowd as Underworld welcomed on stage none other than Iggy Pop, often referred to in the music world as the ‘Father of Punk rock’.
Finishing on ‘Born Slippy’ just one of their many dance anthems played but a first performed live in Northern Ireland, with every hand in the air.
NEXT YEAR?
So as the sun set and skies darkened over BBC Music Biggest Weekend and Titanic Belfast, Belfast and indeed Northern Ireland can be proud of another hugely successful live music event in the calendar.
