Grammy-winning band Mumford & Sons has been announced as the final headliner for this year’s Radio 1’s Big Weekend, set to take place in Sefton Park, Liverpool.
They will join fellow headliners Sam Fender and Tom Grennan in what promises to be a high-energy three-day music festival.
However, controversy has already emerged over the gender balance of the lineup.
While BBC Radio 1 has stated that female artists account for about 60% of the festival’s overall lineup, many fans have expressed disappointment at the lack of female headliners.
Some took to social media, calling the event 'Radio 1’s Big Men’s Weekend' and criticizing the continued dominance of male acts in major music festivals.
This comes as previous research by the BBC revealed that in 2022, only one in ten headliners at the UK’s top festivals were women, prompting industry-wide pledges to improve gender diversity on stage.
Despite the criticism, excitement remains high, with performances from artists such as Tate McRae, Jorja Smith, and Wet Leg set to take place on the final day.
The event will feature around 100 acts across four stages and is expected to draw more than 100,000 attendees from May 23 to May 25.
Sefton Park, the chosen venue, is located in south Liverpool, a city with a deep musical heritage that has produced legendary acts such as The Beatles, The Wombats, and The Zutons.
The festival’s timing coincides with Liverpool’s final Premier League match of the season, adding another layer of excitement to the city’s bustling weekend.
As with previous Big Weekends, ticket sales have been geographically weighted, ensuring that 50% of tickets are reserved for Liverpool residents, 40% for nearby regions, and the remaining 10% for the rest of the UK.
Tickets go on sale on March 13 for £33, plus a £4.50 booking fee.
The entire festival will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 1, with performances available for streaming on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
This controversy reignites the ongoing debate about gender representation in the music industry.
It raises an important question—are festival organizers doing enough to ensure fair representation of female and non-binary artists in major lineups?.