Big Weekend: Chase & Stage presents Friday Fireworks

Friday headline act Chase & Status, ArrDee, Stefflon Don and Clementine Douglas thrilled the Big Weekend crowd with a host of other amazing acts.

They were followed by Becky Hill, Ella Henderson, Rudimental and Nathan Dave, who performed on the main stage at Stockwood Park in Luton.

It will be the first time in the event’s history that Friday will feature all four stages.

In previous years Friday was reserved for the 18-and-over dance night.

Speaking to Newsbeat ahead of their set, the drum and bass duo admitted it was one of their shortest sets – by their own standards.

„It makes it hard to decide which songs to cut. We’re lucky enough to have seven albums now, so there’s a lot to choose from,” says Will (stage).

„So it’s hard to find the right ones for this.”

But they didn’t disappoint the crowd, who kept jumping to an industry-spanning set celebrating drum and bass.

The day also saw a surprise appearance on the BBC debut stage from Rachel Sinuriri, who was only revealed earlier in the morning as Friday’s stage headliner.

He played songs from his recent debut album What a Devastating Turn of Events.

„Me and my friends, we’re really good at keeping secrets. I’m a Scorpio and I’m very secretive,” Rachel told Newsbeat.

Most days, however, she was „hidden in traffic,” a trip that took her four hours.

The likes of Diplo and Kenya Grace also performed on the new music platform.

But one defunct group, Girls Don’t Sync, posted on Instagram that they had quit due to „timing” issues.

Around 100,000 people are expected to attend over three days.

The rest of the weekend sees Ray headlining on Saturday and Coldplay on Sunday.

Aich, Griff and Mabel will play on the main stage on Saturday.

Sabrina Carpenter, Ollie Alexander and Vampire Weekend will also hit the main stage on the final day of the festival.