All the DYRT inside BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend

British pop sensation Jessie J has brought her unique brand of Essex-bred talent to the first day of this year’s Radio 1 Big Weekend.

The 23-year-old singer, who followed up her success as winner of BBC Sound of 2011 by receiving Critics Choice at the BRIT awards, took to the main stage in Carlisle after an unbilled special guest appearance from the Arctic Monkeys.

Despite wet weather, thousands turned out to see performances from Ellie Goulding, Plan B, Tinie Tempah and the Black Eyed Peas, with headline act American rockers, The Foo Fighters closing on Saturday night with an amazing 80 minute set.

The multi award-winning five-piece had the crowd bouncing, singing and cheering from the start of their awesome performance.

Packed with songs new – including the single Rope and album opener Bridge Burning – and old, such as Best Of You, Monkey Wrench and Learn To Fly, the Foos showed why they are now regarded as one of the best rock acts in the world.

Speaking to BBC’s Newsbeat as she came off stage, Jessie J said her Big Weekend debut had been ‘amazing‘.

She said: “I was so nervous.

“I haven’t played with my band for a while because I’ve been away in the US. I didn’t know if people were going to like the new long hair.

“I was so scared it was my first festival and I didn’t know what the sound was going to be like and the reception.

“I stepped on stage and it was probably one of the best gigs I’ve done for a while.”

Ellie Goulding played a set including a cover of Elton John’s Your Song and Starry-Eyed.

She told Newsbeat: “It’s the first festival we’ve done this year in this country so it’s pretty cool.

“Compared to last year it was way more chilled out so we’re happy about that.”

Spread over four stages, the festival showcases not only well-known performers but also newer and ‘non-mainstream’ acts and raises the profile of new bands, such as Cumbria’s Birds vs Planes, who completed a well-received gig on the BBC Introducing stage.

Sunday had everyone holding their breath in anticipation, waiting for ‘The GaGa’ to take to the stage…But while she was sending her assistant to Argos for a new sewing machine (as her one broke) fans were treated to tunes from The Script, Olly Murs, Taio Cruz, Bruno Mars and The Stokes.

GaGa didn’t disappoint – arriving on stage in a coffin!  Yes I did say a coffin…

Wearing skin-tight black rubber – complete with pregnancy bump – the singer crawled out of a velvet-lined coffin before belting out Born This Way.

Taking off her bump and revealing a black shirt, she perched on a throne and launched straight into Bad Romance.

Gaga went on to thrill the crowd with a shortened “assortment of hits” including Telephone, Poker Face and Alejandro.

A smokey 1920s jazz interlude on trumpet allowed for a costume change into a short skin-tight leather dress.

Singing jazz classic Orange Coloured Sky, Gaga changed the lyrics in tribute to Prince William and bride Kate.

She said: “I actually spent a lot of time when I was in the States wishing I was at the Royal Wedding.

“This ode to sweetness is for little Kate and Prince William.”

On You and I, Gaga draped herself across a piano, letting the heels of her bondage-style boots play the final notes. A fast Spanish samba song led to her final costume change.

Wearing hotpants, a studded leather jacket, black bra and black eye mask, she sang her No1 hit Just Dance.