The Hereford Times

Welcome to Manchester - but in Kent

5:08am Monday 12th May 2008

The heatwave appeared to get the better of RnB star Usher when opened Radio 1's Big Weekend in Maidstone, Kent - he told fans of his delight at being in Manchester.

The American singer made the blunder as he performed in sizzling temperatures in the event's main tent, which is the largest of its type in Europe with a capacity for up to 12,000 people.

About 20,000 people were let through the gates as the two-day event opened at midday. Revellers made the most of the hot weather and basked in the sunshine as they watched acts including Robyn, The Feeling and Vampire Weekend perform in Mote Park.

Manchester band the Tings Tings, who were the first act to perform on the second stage drew a large audience, and their energetic set soon had the crowd singing along to recent singles Great DJ and That's Not My Name.

Afterwards the duo said they were "shocked" by the audience's warm reaction as they were unused to playing to such large crowds of people. They joked that they needed to start rehearsing in festival conditions as it was so hot on stage.

Demand for tickets to this year's Big Weekend was the highest in the event's history, which has been taking place in its present format at venues across the country for the past three years.

More than 500,000 people applied for the 30,000 tickets on offer, with tickets being allocated through a lottery system, although a large proportion were given to residents of Maidstone and the wider area.

Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman said she was "really happy" to be attending the event.

The Scottish presenter, who is eight months pregnant with her first child, said: "There's a really nice atmosphere around the place. You can't ask for better weather. It's phenomenal."

Other acts performing across the event's four stages today include Scouting for Girls, The Futureheads and Editors, with Madonna headlining the main stage in the evening.