By Alan Wilson, Rocktalk writer

CAMPERDOWN PARK in Dundee is to host what will be the city’s biggest-ever live music event when the world’s top music stars arrive for Radio 1’s Big Weekend pop festival in May.

The free music festival will take Dundee by storm on May 13 and 14 when a star-studded line-up will perform in front of 30,000 fans in two massive marquees in the park.

Although the acts have yet to be announced, Britain’s band of the moment Arctic Monkeys are already the popular choice for Dundonians who heard the announcement live on board the RRS Discovery during Radio 1’s Colin Murray and Edith Bowman show yesterday.

Last year’s event in Sunderland attracted superstar acts such as Foo Fighters, Athlete, Chemical Brothers, Black Eyed Peas and Kaiser Chiefs—and this year’s promises to be even more phenomenal.

During Colin and Edith’s show yesterday, the DJs kept the nation on tenterhooks as they unleashed a variety of clues about the location before the assembled fans shouted the name of Dundee live to the radio audience across the airwaves.

Fifer Edith said, “I am so pleased we’re coming to Dundee, it’s like coming home, I’ve pestered my bosses for ages to do something up here because a lot of bands don’t come any further north than Glasgow or Edinburgh.

“It’s going to be an absolutely fabulous weekend. I don’t know what they’ve got planned for us yet, but it will be very special.

“It was lovely to do the show on the Discovery, we’ve all had a great day and we’re all looking forward to coming back in May.”

Colin and Edith delighted the crowds by chatting and posing for photographs during breaks in their show and asked members of the audience which bands they wanted to see at Camperdown.

Along with Arctic Monkeys, Snow Patrol and Scottish favourites Belle & Sebastian, who both have Dundee connections, were the favourite choices and the DJs also revealed there would be a big Scottish presence at the event.

During the show, chart-topping band Embrace played an acoustic set from the sail locker below decks, and gave a huge hint that they might be part of the Big Weekend.

“It’s on our list with a TBC (to be confirmed) beside it,” lead singer Danny McNamara revealed, “so I presume we’ll be doing it.

Colin and Edith delighted the crowds by chatting and posing for photographs during breaks in their show and asked members of the audience which bands they wanted to see at Camperdown Park.

Along with Arctic Monkeys, Snow Patrol and Scottish favourites Belle & Sebastian, who both have Dundee connections, were the favourite choices and the DJs also revealed there would be a big Scottish presence at the event.

During the show, chart-topping band Embrace played an acoustic set from the sail locker below decks, and gave a huge hint that they might be part of the Big Weekend.

“It’s on our list with a TBC (to be confirmed) beside it,” lead singer Danny Mc- Namara revealed, “so I presume we’ll be doing it.

“I hope so anyway, we like playing in Dundee and the Scottish fans are always fantastic.”

As part of the launch, Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe also chatted to fans at Discovery and broadcast his show live from Dundee University where Dundee band The View showcased their talents alongside The Kooks and Be Your Own Pet.

In the week preceding the Big Weekend, the station’s daytime shows will broadcast from venues across Scotland as the DJs make their way to Dundee for the music festival.

Across the actual weekend Radio 1’s specialist DJs will also host a variety of aftershow parties at the city’s top clubs such as London and Fat Sam’s, while the town’s smaller live music venues are being asked to host local band and DJ nights.

Executive producer of live events Jason Carter said, “Radio 1 is really looking forward to all the events planned in Scotland this summer.

“We’ve always had a really good reception here and are certain that Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Dundee will be a massive success.”

The huge influx of musicians, record companies and music fans the event will bring to the area is also expected to provide a huge economic boost to the city, with last year’s event in Sunderland generating an estimated £9 million for the local economy.

From mid-April Radio 1 will dedicate four weeks of intensive promotion to the event—announcing the line-up, how to get tickets and building the excitement leading up to the Big Weekend in Dundee to its 11 million listeners around the world.

Dundee Lord Provost John Letford said yesterday, “We are absolutely delighted that Dundee has been chosen as the location for Radio 1’s Big Weekend this year.

“The concerts and broadcasts will put Dundee at the centre of the music world in May.

“Radio 1’s Big Weekend will have a galvanising effect on our already vibrant local music scene, and I am sure the positive impact of this event will be felt for a long time to come.”

City council administration leader Councillor Jill Shimi added, “This huge weekend of concerts is certain to have a very healthy economic effect on Dundee and it will focus the attention of the country on Dundee.

“This will let the rest of Britain know that Dundee is a great place to be.”

A City of Discovery spokesman said, “Radio 1’s One Big Weekend is a fantastic boost for the city not just on an economic level but from the huge amount of positive publicity Dundee will receive on a national and international level.”

No sooner had Colin and Edith finished their show than a huge queue began forming outside Dundee University students’ union for the Zane Lowe show, more than an hour before the doors opened at 6 pm.

Shortly afterwards The View took to the stage in front of an ecstatic capacity audience and showed exactly why they are one of the hottest properties around at the minute with their spine-tingling set of pop/punk tunes.

And as if further evidence that excitement in Dundee has already reached fever pitch, local band The View played an impromptu gig for 300 fans in The Doghouse bar last night.

Word of the gig spread like wildfire via text message following the band’s university appearance.

They were joined at The Doghouse by another Dundee band, The Rise.