Dance Music Unites Fans at Radio 1's Big Weekend
"Music is one of the best ways to bring everyone together,"says BBC Radio 1's Charlie Hedges.
The Dance Anthems DJ expressed her excitement about performing on the main stage during the dance-focused first day of the station's Big Weekend in Sunderland, telling beat,
"I cannot wait".
"I think that's what we need right now, right? Good music, good times."
Tens of thousands of fans are expected to attend this year's three-day event, with pop stars Zara Larsson and Olivia Dean headlining on Saturday and Sunday. However, Friday marks the first time the festival will utilize all its stages to host a
"huge dance party"across the opening day, according to Radio 1.
The lineup includes veteran DJ Fatboy Slim, Australian producers Fisher and Sonny Fodera, Birmingham-born singer Clementine Douglas, and American DJ MK, all performing at Herrington Country Park.
The Evolution and Diversity of Dance Music in the UK
Dance music has a rich history in the UK, with genres such as disco, acid house, and techno drawing crowds to dancefloors during the 1970s and 1980s. The 1990s saw a rise in jungle, garage, and drum & bass, which fueled underground raves and club scenes.
In the 21st century, dance music diversified into numerous sub-genres, offering a wide range of styles for audiences to enjoy. Recently, there has been a resurgence of electronic dance music (EDM), with artists like Fred Again and Sammy Virji headlining UK festivals.
Additionally, performers such as Charli XCX, SOPHIE, and PinkPantheress have contributed to the revitalization of hyperpop.
Big Weekend's dance-focused Friday aims to showcase the genre's diversity, spanning various styles and generations. The lineup also features bassline DJ Notion, trance-focused Marlon Hoffstadt, and German hardcore DJ HorsegiirL.
Artists Reflect on Dance Music's Mainstream Appeal
Clementine Douglas, who will perform on the main stage with a live band, told Newsbeat she has witnessed dance music emerge
"out of the underground and go more mainstream."
"You have a lot of pop-dance crossover acts now that are really smashing it,"she added.
Spotify reports that consumption of dance music among under-25s worldwide has increased by 73% since 2020.
Dance music has often been viewed as a means for individuals to momentarily escape their daily lives, whether at home, on a dancefloor, or in a field.
Douglas explained that the
"repetitive beat"and the experience of everyone
"gathering to release some pent-up energy"evoke a connection to ancestral roots.
Radio 1 DJ Charlie Hedges agrees, stating that whether one is alone or in a large group, there is something unique about
"being present and experiencing something together."
"I don't think there's anything else in the world that gives that to you,"she said.
Hedges described her emotional response when DJing, saying,
"When I'm standing on that stage and playing to thousands and thousands of people, the amount of times I get [emotional]... because it's just incredible."
DJ Cassö on Dance Music's Impact and Accessibility
British DJ Cassö contributed to dance music's recent surge with his breakout hit "Prada," which transformed Raye and D-Block Europe's "Ferrari Horses" into a dance track that reached number two on the UK singles chart in 2023.
He told Newsbeat that creating and attending dance events
"just changes something in your brain because you're just there grooving non-stop."
"It just feels really good, to put it plainly. You can move around, you can shake your body. What more do you want? We're meant to dance,"he said.
Scientific studies suggest that dancing can improve mental health and memory, as well as alleviate pain through the release of endorphins.
The 23-year-old music producer created "Prada" at home and initially released it on SoundCloud before it amassed over a billion streams.
There has been significant growth in electronic music content on social media platforms like TikTok, which reported a 50% increase in videos using the hashtag #ElectronicMusic in 2024.
Cassö noted that the ability to create and release dance music from one's bedroom has been
"the best thing"for the genre, as he believes that record labels were previously
"a little bit more cliquey."
"Now, if you're talented, you have a much higher chance of shining through."
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