2 days ago

Music fans are continuing to pack out Radio 1's Big Weekend for a third and final day.

Sunderland's Herrington Country Park is buzzing with festival energy as thousands gathered to watch almost 100 acts perform over the course of the event.

The final day line-up features performances from CMAT, Niall Horan, Myles Smith and Ezra Collective, as festivalgoers make the most of the last day of live music, sunshine and entertainment.

Bringing the weekend to a close will be Olivia Dean, who will play her first ever UK festival headline set from 20:45 BST. The London singer's appearance will bring a close to one of the city's biggest music events in recent years.

DJ Maia Beth, from Washington, was first on the main stage, getting the audience revved up with a set of "happy anthems" including The Killers' Somebody Told Me and Rihanna's We Found Love.

Dressed in a Newcastle football shirt, she got the biggest cheer of the morning when she dropped Sam Fender's That Sound.

Kiera, 23, travelled from Darlington with her friend Olivia for the third day.

She said: "We can't wait for Olivia Dean and Jorja Smith - wish they did more events up in the North East."

Sam Fender fans Sarah and Joe, both 20, hopped on a coach from Dudley in the West Midlands.

"We're manifesting Sam Fender comes out with Olivia Dean," Joe said.

Sarah said: "We came yesterday loved Louis Tomlinson, I've seen him five times this year he was great yesterday.

"I'm also a big fan of Niall Horan so looking forward to seeing him too."

Horan said he was "nervous" to be playing his first gig in almost a year and a half - but the audience got him through it.

"You're a lovely, hospitable welcoming people," he said. "This is my kind of crowd."

Luton's Myles Smith brought the sound of a US hoedown to Sunderland with feelgood stomp-clap anthems like Nice To Meet You and We Can Dance.

He ran into the crowd during Gold, posing for selfies and giving high fives to the front row.

"I need to go back to the gym," he panted as the song ended. "I'm so out of breath after that."

As well as the headline acts, the weekend was jam-packed with live music and DJ sets across three different stages as well as food and drink.

BBC Music correspondent Mark Savage said security guards manning the main stage were helping to give out water to the crowds in the heat.

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