American hip-hop superstar Jay-Z will be headlining Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend 2012 on Saturday 23rd June. Announced this morning on the Chris Moyles Show, he is set to perform alongside a stellar line-up of acts already announced including Tine Tempah, Jessie J, Ed Sheeran, Florence + the Machine, Professor Green, Leona Lewis, DJ Fresh, Plan B, Flo Rida and Will.i.am.
In the coming weeks, another international superstar will be announced to headline the event on Sunday 24th June.
BBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend 2012 will be staged across two days, Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June 2012, in East London’s Hackney Marshes. An incredible 100,000 free* tickets are available across the weekend which is part of the London 2012 Festival and will feature over 100 UK and international artists performing on six BBC stages including the Radio 1 Main Stage, Radio 1Xtra Stage, Dance Stage, In New Music We Trust Stage and the BBC Introducing Stage.
Tickets are free, but there will be a small fee of £2.50 per ticket to cover ticket handling and administration costs. Last year over 800,000 people applied for them at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Carlisle and demand is expected to be massive again this year.
Radio 1 listeners must register their interest to attend and upload a photo at bbc.co.uk/radio1. Registration is now open and closes at 11pm on Monday 19 March.
For those that have registered there will be two opportunities to apply for a ticket - 11am on Sunday 25th March and 4pm on Monday 26th March, online or by phone. The majority of tickets will be reserved for those from Hackney and the other five Olympic boroughs, with allocation on a first-come, first-served basis.
Other acts confirmed for the live event include:
Andy C, Azealia Banks, Bombay Bicycle Club, Boy Better Know Feat Skepta & JME, Calvin Harris, Chase & Status, Chip, Dappy, David Guetta, D'banj, Deadmau5, Devlin, DJ Fresh, Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sande, Eric Prydz, Flo Rida, Flux Pavilion & Doctor P, Florence & the Machine , Jack White, Jay-Z, Jessie J, Labrinth, Lana Del Rey, Leona Lewis, Magnetic Man, Maverick Sabre, Michael Kiwanuka, Mindless Behaviour, Nero, Plan B, Professor Green, Rizzle Kicks, Sean Paul, Sub Focus, Swedish House Mafia, Taio Cruz, The Maccabees, The Ting Tings, Tinchy Stryder, Tinie Tempah, Will.i.am, Wretch 32.
Jason Carter, Event Director for Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend says:
"Our goal was to deliver the most ambitious and exciting event in Radio 1's history and with the artists already announced I think we’ve achieved that, but to now add the world’s biggest hip hop icon, Jay-Z to the line-up, is fantastic news!"
Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney says:
