Hackney Weekend Music Festival
The Hackney Weekend music festival by BBC Radio 1 was a blast on Saturday and Sunday, and it brought performances from some of the most popular singers in the music industry. At least 100,000 people attended the event over the two days.
Performing on Saturday were: Jay-Z, Rizzle Kicks, Rita Ora, Nicki Manaj, Rita Ora, Emeli Sande, DJ Fresh, Ed Sheeran, Michael Kiwankua, Jessie Ware, Dappy from N-Dubz, will.i.am, Swedish House Mafia, Jack White, Calvin Harris, Kasbian and Canadian dance act Deadmau5. Performances on Sunday were made by: Florence and the Machine, Tinie Tempah, Lana Del Rey, Jessie J, David Guetta, Plan B, Kanye West, and Rihanna. Over 100 artists performed on six stages during the weekend.
On Saturday, the gates opened at 10:30am, and some people had been camping outside. Kicking off the festival was Leona Lewis at Hackney Marshes in east London. After her performance, the signer said it was really fun. She had been nervous to begin with but was able to get into her stride. It was “cool” to perform in her home town, she added. Lewis grew up and still lives in Hackney. Her opening song was a cover of Coming Home by Diddy Dirty Money. She also performed a new track from her forthcoming album - Come Alive.
Rihanna closed Hackney Weekend on Sunday and opened her line-up with Only Girl In The World. While on stage, she shouted to the crowd that they were crazier than she was told. She closed with We Found Love, and before leaving the stage, she thanked the crowd for making it such a memorable show for her.