'We want to do Sunderland proud at Big Weekend'
Adam KennedyAn indie rock band have described playing Radio 1's Big Weekend in their hometown as the "biggest gig" of their careers so far.
Swindled will play the Introducing stage on Saturday as one of the UK's biggest live music events lands at Herrington Country Park in Sunderland.
Band members Jonny and Will Swindle, Felix Walls, Alex Winn and Thomas Hall grew up just minutes away from Herrington Park.
Lead singer Jonny Swindle said: "I walked up Penshaw Monument the other day just to take in where we'd be playing, we're just hoping to do Sunderland proud."
Swindled submitted their music through BBC Introducing's Uploader and were later selected to play Big Weekend, which also saw them feature on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show.
Rhythm guitarist Winn said: "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play Big Weekend, we usually have to spend hundreds getting round the country, now I can just grab my guitar and walk."
The band members still hold day jobs but spend most of their evenings and weekends touring the UK.
Lead guitarist Will Swindle said "the dream" would be to make a living by writing and playing their own music.
"Hopefully we can use this opportunity as a springboard, [it] definitely feels like the biggest gig in our career, so far," he added.
Radio 1's Big Weekend takes place between 22-24 May and there is a focus on championing talent from Sunderland and other parts of the North East.
Drummer Walls, who studies music at the University of Sunderland, believes the event will be the "biggest show" in the city this summer.
"It's really incredible, I mean it feels like a huge event, it certainly feels like it's the biggest event in the city within the last 10 years at least," he added.
Hall, who plays bass guitar and also works in McDonalds, said he was ready to "soak in" the event's atmosphere.
"For me this show feels like a big one, but I won't settle for anything but world domination - I want Swindled everywhere on every billboard," he joked.
Some other North East artists playing at the event include: LP Rhythm, Ellie Scougall, Finn Forster, Heidi Curtis, Max Jones and Voice UK winner, Jenna Cole.
