Radio 1 Hackney Weekend: 100,000 Expected At BBC's Free Live Event - And Rihanna's Going

Rihanna, Jay-Z And Diane Abbott: Just What's Going On In Hackney?

Major stars such as Rihanna, Jay-Z and Jack White are preparing to play the BBC's biggest ever free live music event, Radio 1's Hackney Weekend.

Around 100,000 people are expected to flock to east London to attend the festival, part of the BBC's Olympic celebrations, with more than 100 acts taking to six stages today and tomorrow.

Even Diane Abbott, the MP for the area, is checking out the gig.

In excess of 250,000 people applied for tickets for the event at Hackney Marshes, with most reserved for people from the neighbouring Olympic boroughs.

Hip hop star Jay-Z is topping the bill for Saturday night's show, while Rihanna is the biggest headliner on Sunday.

Other big names appearing over the two-day festival include Jessie J, Ed Sheeran, Tinie Tempah and Florence + The Machine.

Rihanna is headlining the show tomorrow

Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am is also on the bill, along with Leona Lewis and Plan B. There have been reports that Cheryl Cole may perform.

Organisers have been working closely with police to ensure safety at the show, part of the London 2012 Festival which kicked off this week.

The site is surrounded by two rings of security barriers, one of which is 12ft (3.7m) high and more than 1,200 security staff will be on hand.

The event is more than twice the size of the radio station's Big Weekend event and has been two years in the planning.

Hackney Weekend - taking place over the weekend usually occupied by Glastonbury Festival, which is resting this year - is being broadcast by Radio 1 and will also be screened on BBC3.

Unlike many festivals which have given gig-goers a chance to watch crucial football matches, organisers will not be screening England's Euro 2012 quarter-final match against Italy at the site tomorrow.

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