BBC Radio 1’s The Biggest Weekend music festival had fans screaming back the lyrics of their favorite pop songs by Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Liam Payne, Sam Smith, Niall Horan, Rita Ora, Luis Fonsi, Demi Lovato, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello and more. The superstar bill was led by Swift, Sheeran and Florence + The Machine this past weekend (May 25-May 28), as the top pop stars traveled to Swansea’s Singleton Park, one of the four U.K. cities hosting concerts for The Biggest Weekend, along with Belfast, Coventry and Perth.
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About 26,000 bedazzled faces were even more electrified when their favorite performers delivered riveting but still intimate appearances. Artists like Swift and Cabello interrupted their Reputation tour route and cut right to the chorus of their acclaimed songs for audiences to sing back to. The heart of theses pop ballads echoed throughout the park, rain or shine, and made the affair a special live experience.
Below, watch video from the star-studded affair.
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Swift made her first trip to Swansea a showstopper, even though she cited the fans for taking her breath away. “And you’re not just singing along, you’re like screaming along, which is the best,” she said before starting off her set with “Gorgeous.” Her sequined hoodie jumpsuit shimmered in the sunset and reflected the luminosity of her superfans who recited every word without skipping a beat.
Sheeran drummed on his guitar, tapped on a keyboard and strummed his strings to kick off a musically versatile performance of “Shape of You.” Fans kept singing in the rain, and their face glitter and spirit remained intact as they clapped along to the English singer’s streaming-friendly hit.
Payne served “Oohs” and “Ahhs” during his performance of his Spanglish single “Familiar” featuring J Balvin. Despite the Colombian singer’s absence, Payne recited his Spanish lyrics to the crowd, who included fans capable of the dual-language sing-along challenge.
Smith delivered a soulful pop rendition of “Too Good at Goodbyes” and waved at his crowd from the dimly lit stage. The lights warmed up from a melancholy cobalt blue to a sprightly reddish orange that symbolized a triumph over breakups in which he first advised his fans “Sing this to your ex.”
Horan slowed down The Biggest Weekend’s set with a soothing spectacle of “Slow Hands.” Audiences shouted “Slow Hands” back at Horan and sang along with the rest of the bluesy song.
Ora took the stage in a solo performance of “Girls,” while missing the other girls — Cardi B, Bebe Rexha and Charli XCX — from the track. A prerecorded video of Cardi B rapping her part appeared on the screen as Ora shimmied along with her dancers in black-and-white outfits.
Fonsi fully embraced the international pop music experience by performing the Spanish version of “Despacito.” Fans swayed their hips at the same tempo as the backup dancers to the dance track with everything going for it: the most Billboard Music Awards for a Latin song, a No. 1 Hot 100 run lasting 16 weeks, and the title of most-viewed YouTube video of all time with over 5 billion views.
Lovato brought her saucy moves to the U.K. and wasn’t “Sorry” about it as her 2017 summery pop anthem took the stage nearly a year later, but brought the same moxie with her row of women and men singing and dancing along.
Mendes begged the crowd for “Mercy” in his soulful rendition of his song while bringing out James Bay to assist with vocals and the guitar. The two smoothly transitioned into a duet of Bay’s “Let It Go” during the bridge of their “Mercy” performance.
Cabello took Swansea to “Havana” this weekend with a saucy performance of her 2017 chart-topper. Accompanied by a salsa performance with one of her backup dancers, Cabello encouraged the crowd to sing the chorus along with her in the heat of the Swansea sun.