Tinchy excited about Prodigy's R1 set

By Sarah Jane Griffiths
Newsbeat entertainment reporter

The Prodigy are rounding up this year's Big Weekend in Swindon with an hour-long headlining set on the main stage on Sunday night. And the UK's current number one act - fellow performer Tinchy Stryder - couldn't be more excited.

Tinchy says he also wants to see Scouting For Girls and Ne-Yo

"I love Firestarter," Tinchy told Newsbeat. "That's not really my type of music but that track just stuck with me, I go mad to it.

"I'm excited to see Ne-Yo too. I've never really seen any American stars live so that's a great opportunity."

The next band on Tinchy's list might surprise you a bit though - Scouting for Girls.

He said: "I met them backstage at a TV show, they were cool people. I've never seen them live - but I heard a couple of their tracks and I love them."

Of course checking out Scouting for Girls isn't the real reason Tinchy's at Big Weekend.

Dappy row?

He's performing on the In New Music We Trust Stage. Despite what you might have heard about a fallout with collaborators N-Dubz, he says they're still friends and he'll be getting on with him.

"I haven't fallen out with Dappy, we were playing football the other day, we're cool," he said.

"We're going to do the Number One track obviously, I'll get Dappy on the stage to do that. I normally see people crying in the crowd to that one so I'm looking forward to that!"

N-Dubz meanwhile are very excited about their Main Stage set on Sunday afternoon.

"Wow, to be even introduced on the main stage there we're over the moon," Fazer told us.

Alesha is looking forward to checking out Lily Allen's set

"We're not going to do any playbacks. It's going to be all live, with a live band behind us.

"We're just going to rock the stage man. I can't wait. I might do something mad on stage, like jump into the crowd - see if they catch me or not!"

Also playing the Main Stage on Sunday are Akon, Franz Ferdinand, Lily Allen and Alesha Dixon, who's excited and nervous at the same time.

She said: "This is what being an artist is all about for me - getting to do these types of shows.

"It's where the real fun is, the real music lovers come out, you get to perform with your live band. I remember doing One Big Sunday with Mystique so to come back now as a solo artist and be involved is such a joy and such an honour. I cannot wait to get on that stage."

She's also hopping to catch a few of the other acts on the bill.

She said: "I think the line up's really cool. I'm really pleased that I'm on the Sunday and the same day as Lily Allen. I'd love to see her perform. I think it's a really great mix."

'Big Weekend veterans'

Over on the In New Music We Trust Stage The Enemy will be showcasing tracks from their new album Music For The People as they headline there, their second time playing Big Weekend.

Maximo Park meanwhile are on their third.

"We played in Sunderland and Preston as well so we're almost veterans now," said frontman Paul Smith.

DJ Ironik's hoping to hook up with future collaborators

"We saw Dizzee Rascal at one - it was just really exciting. He was getting amongst it, taking his top off and people were really responding to it. I really enjoyed watching him last time."

Don't expect any nakedness from Paul though: "There'll be no nipples or any exposure of torso. I do have a sleeveless suit though which I've had made for me by a tailor."

"Just expect a lot of stuff off our new record and some old favourites as well. A roller coaster ride of all the things that we have done.

"I'm very excited as we've never played in Swindon before so it's a new place for us."

Gossip, White Lies, Ladyhawke and Enter Shikari will also play the INMWT stage on Sunday.

Meanwhile, for the first time, the Live Lounge will be backstage at Radio 1's Big Weekend.

UK takeover?

Paolo Nutini, JLS, Jack Penate and Kasabian will be performing on Saturday, while on Sunday it's the turn of Shontelle, Kelly Rowland, Lily Allen and DJ Ironik.

"It was a pleasure to be added to such a big line up," Ironik said.

"I'm going to have a live band with me and hopefully Chipmunk will come down and support the track and perform on Tiny Dancer.

"It will be cool just to have all us UK Urban artists there. Imagine if N-Dubz, myself, Tinchy Stryder and Chipmunk were all on one stage."

And after getting Elton John's seal of approval to sample his track Tiny Dancer, Ironik told us he'll be hoping to hook up with a few high profile future collaborators backstage in Swindon.

"Definitely. Any artist that I meet, especially from the States. It's always good to meet and greet them, and talk about a collaboration, if possible.

"Most of the time they probably don't know who I am! So it's good to just introduce myself and then maybe the next time I see them, they'll be aware of who I am and stuff!"