Welcome to the Big Weekendpublished at 18:33 BST
18:33 BST
Naomi Clarke
BBC Newsbeat, at Big Weekend
Image caption,
The festival gates opened at 14:00, letting party-goers begin to flood in in the afternoon sun
The sun is shining and music is blasting, it can only mean one thing – UK festival season has officially started!
Thousands have arrived in Sunderland’s Herrington Country Park for BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
The opening day is guaranteed to get people moving because for the first time the festival is using all of its stages to host what’s being described as a huge dance party.
Festivalgoers have already been entertained by the likes of Birmingham-born singer Clementine Douglas and Radio 1 Dance Anthem DJ Charlie Hedges.
The party is set to continue this evening – Australian producer Sonny Fodera is on the stage now, and coming up, Australian producer Fisher, American DJ MK and veteran musician Fatboy Slim are all set to take to the decks on the main stage.
Around 100,000 fans are expected to attend this year’s three-day event, with pop stars Zara Larsson and Olivia Dean headlining on Saturday and Sunday.
Sunderland last hosted Radio 1’s Big Weekend in May 2005, when the line-up included Gwen Stefani, Foo Fighters and the Black Eyed Peas.
Big Weekend, BBC Radio 1’s flagship event, is held in a new location each year – often in towns and cities which don’t get many big live music events.