Visitors to Sunderland will be getting a ‘proper Mackem welcome’ for Radio 1’s Big Weekend.

As part of a new events programme, a group of volunteers will be welcoming music fans to the city for Big Weekend when it takes over Herrington Country Park from May 22-24.

Radio 1's Big Weekend is coming to Herrington Country Park, in Sunderland, from Friday, May 22, until Sunday, May 24. Scores of acts are set to take to the stage including Olivia Dean, Fatboy Slim, Zara Larsson and Ellie Goulding. | Local Library

placeholder image — Radio 1's Big Weekend is coming to Herrington Country Park, in Sunderland, from Friday, May 22, until Sunday, May 24. Scores of acts are set to take to the stage including Olivia Dean, Fatboy Slim, Zara Larsson and Ellie Goulding. | Local Library

The three day festival will bring more than 100 artists to the city, including global headliners Olivia Dean, Zara Larsson, Fatboy Slim, Fisher, MK, Sonny Fodera, CMAT, Dermot Kennedy, Ellie Goulding, Kehlani, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan.

As well as international superstars, this year’s event will also turn the spotlight on homegrown talent.

Eleven regional artists will take to the BBC Introducing stage, with six Sunderland-born acts among them: LP Rythm, Anish Kumar, Sorley, Able Jack, Tom A Smith and Swindled. They will be joined by Finn Foster, Heidi Curtis, Max Jones, Imogen and the Knife and Ellie Scougall.

The thousands of visitors arriving in the city will be met and supported by a band of ambassadors recruited and trained through the City Volunteers project, an initiative launched earlier this year and led by Sunderland Culture, in partnership with Sunderland Business Improvement District (BID), Foundation of Light and Culture House.

The project is supported by the North East Combined Authority’s Events and Festivals Capacity Development Fund.

Posy Jowett, from Sunderland Culture, has helped recruit the volunteers, who will work across the city to act as wayfinders and litter pickers as well as supporting activity and events in Keel Square and providing behind-the-scenes support to keep the festival running smoothly.

Posy said: “These roles are absolutely vital – our brilliant volunteers will shape people’s experience of Sunderland, helping visitors feel welcome, informed and excited to be here.

“Obviously, we’re really excited that BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend is coming to Sunderland, and our amazing team of volunteers will do the city proud.

“While the main festival site at Herrington Country Park will be the centre of attention, there’s so much happening across the city to make the weekend a success, which is where our City Volunteers come in. Our team will be a big part of the wider event, helping create a welcoming, vibrant and well-run experience for everyone visiting Sunderland.”

The City Volunteers’ duties will include:

*Welcoming visitors to the city and providing a friendly first point of contact;

*Offering information about event sites, venues, transport hubs and city locations;

*Supporting wayfinding by giving clear directions to stages, facilities, entrances/exits and key routes;

*Answering general questions about the event, programme and local area;

*Helping manage pedestrian flow in busy areas by encouraging safe movement and reducing congestion;

*Identifying, report and escalate any issues, concerns or incidents to the Volunteer Supervisor or Event Control;

*Contributing to a calm, positive and inclusive atmosphere for all visitors

Nick Malyan, Chief Executive of Sunderland Culture, explained: “The Big Weekend is the perfect opportunity for our City Volunteers to show the difference they can make in Sunderland.

“When we launched the scheme in January we had an eye on the Big Weekend and what a vital part of the three-day festival our City Volunteers would be. Our team is fully trained and full of enthusiasm – and now they’re ready to show our guests what a warm and open- hearted city Sunderland is.”