21/03/2024 - Luton’s Stockwood Park to play host to Coldplay, RAYE, Chase & Status and more artists at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend
BBC Radio 1 has announced the official line-up for the station’s flagship music festival which will take place in Stockwood Park this year from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 May.
Not only is Stockwood Park hosting globally successful artists, but the BBC Introducing Stage will be showcasing local talent across the three days, with Luton-based acts including Myles Smith, Lavs and JW Paris. Half of the performers on this stage will be local upcoming artists. 50% of the line-up on the Introducing stage come from the local area.
Tickets for the event will be going on sale this evening (Thursday 21 March) at 5pm on Ticketmaster, which the BBC have cited as the only official ticket sale site for the event. A pot of 40% of tickets for the event has been allocated to Luton residents (postcodes LU1-LU4) and 30% for those in surrounding areas (postcodes LU5-LU7, HP, MK, SG and AL). After seven days, any remaining tickets in these two pots will be offered for general sale. The other 30% of tickets will be released as general sale. You can view more ticket information and the full terms and conditions on the BBC’s website by clicking here.
There are 35,000 tickets available for each of the three days, and with this star-studded line-up, tickets are very likely to sell out fast. If you’re unsure about the process, you can view a step-by-step guide on the ticket buying process on the BBC’s website by clicking here.
The Luton Rising Festival Makers will play an integral part of the weekend, giving tens of thousands of visitors the warmest of welcomes and a lasting memory of the generosity, diversity and vibrancy of our great town. The scheme, sponsored by the council’s airport company, gives people in the town the chance to be part of this momentous event and create a lasting impression on travellers from the UK and the rest of the world. Click on this link to find out more or apply.
Councillor James Taylor, portfolio holder for Inclusive Growth, said: “We are so excited to be hosting this incredible event and talented artists in our very own Stockwood Park. This is fantastic news for our town, especially our young residents who will be thrilled to see the spectacular bill for the festival. Our residents will be getting the largest pot of allocated tickets, as well as a great line-up of local artists, showcasing the talent that our town has to offer.”
Councillor Javeria Hussain, Luton Rising board member and community engagement lead, said: “This already amazing event has been made even more special by the line-up announcements this week. Those travelling from other areas of the country and the world will be greeted into our fantastic town by the Luton Rising Festival Makers, and we’re so excited to have our volunteers make such an impact across the weekend.”
The festival will bring massive benefits to the area, opportunities for local people and artists and a multi-million pound boost to the local economy. The council does however fully recognise that some people will be impacted and experience inconvenience over the weekend. A lot of work is being put into event plans so we can look to minimise disruption as much as possible.
A Traffic Management Plan for the weekend is being developed taking on board local residents’ feedback. There will be two more public meetings in April to explain the plan in more detail and the council will be writing to households with specific details on which roads will be impacted closer to the time.
Travel information for visitors can be found via the Step Forward Luton website.