±«Óãtv

±«Óãtv Radio 1's Big Weekend in Bangor has been hailed as a big success by council officials, business leaders and tourism chiefs in North Wales – with the positive impact of the two-day festival being felt across the area and beyond.

Bangor played host to 40,000 revellers this weekend for the largest free ticketed music festival in the UK, where they were thrilled by performances from stars including Rihanna, Cheryl Cole, Florence and the Machine, Dizzee Rascal, Alicia Keys and Faithless.

While audiences enjoyed the live music on site, online and on air (tv and radio), the impact away from the stages is being praised by local officials. With accommodation around the Faenol site fully booked across the weekend, and taxis and bus firms benefitting from increased passengers, the economic impact has already been felt in the area. The marketing value of the event has been described by the Leader of Gwynedd Council as "immense", with Radio 1 presenters and stars lining up to admire the stunning backdrop of the Welsh scenery on air and in publicity coverage.

A priceless parody of Alicia Keys' hit single Empire State of Mind, which swaps the 'concrete jungle' of New York for 'picture postcard' North Wales, was played on Chris Moyles' Breakfast Show in the week run-up to the festival – with the international superstar even singing the lines during her performance to huge cheers from the crowd.

The Chris Moyles Show on Radio 1 also promoted the Welsh language in the week ahead of the Big Weekend, with the team getting bi-lingual on-air lessons each morning from producer Aled Haydn Jones and his dad, Haydn.

Up-and-coming local musicians were given exposure through The Fringe Festival, which showcased 30 acts in a series of free gigs around North Wales. The bands and artists gained national airplay with clips from the sets played out on Radio 1. The Fringe attracted over 1,000 music fans and shone a light on the local venues hosting the nights, all chosen for their support of the local music scene.

Last week over 200 students from Bangor University gained an invaluable insight into the broadcasting industry with free masterclasses and Q&As with Radio 1 management and the Chris Moyles team.

Eight local emerging musicians were given the opportunity to hone their skills at a workshop with Welsh band Kids in Glass Houses and received one-on-one feedback from producers at demo-listening sessions.

At the Big Weekend almost 1,000 people visited The Surgery/Headroom area where they could take part in guitar lessons with bands like Scouting For Girls and Lostprophets. They also had the opportunity to listen to in depth chats about personal issues with celebrities including Chipmunk, Fearne Cotton and Pixie Lott.

Ben Cooper, Deputy Controller, Radio 1, said: "Even though our event is called a Weekend, there's so much more to it than that.

"At the weekend and across the whole of last week we brought live music to an area of the country that is under-served by the market place. We hope that, as in previous years, we leave a platform for the local music scene to build upon. And in addition to that, we might just have given a young person from North Wales the opportunity, confidence and motivation to pick up a guitar and change their lives."

Councillor Dyfed Edwards, Leader, Gwynedd Council, said: "Quite simply, this is the kind of positive coverage that money just can't buy, and the continued focus on Gwynedd will provide a real long-term boost for the local economy and our important tourism industry in particular. The emphasis placed upon the Welsh language both in the publicity before the event and by the fact that so many artists and DJs used Welsh during their sets will help to reinforce young people's pride in their language and culture.

"Crucially, the event has also provided new and exciting opportunities for many of Gwynedd's young people to have a taste of a wide-range of experiences over the past few months. From school visits to the site during the build-up, when young people had the chance to talk to senior staff from Radio 1, to the Fringe events and volunteering projects organised by Radio 1 – there is plenty of evidence that Radio 1's Big Weekend will leave an enduring legacy years to come."

Special programming from the festival is being played out on ±«Óãtv Radio 1 this week, with extended highlights from main stage artists in The Chris Moyles Show at 9am, and set highlights from In New Music We Trust, ±«Óãtv Introducing and Outdoor artists broadcasting at 9pm in Zane Lowe's show.

±«Óãtv Radio 1Xtra will also broadcast highlights from the Outdoor Stage.

TM