Entertainment: Will.i.am halts Black Eyed Peas LooseFest performance in Newcastle to help 'fan in distress'

Black Eyed Peas' LooseFest performance came to a dramatic halt in Newcastle on Saturday evening after the band's frontman Will.i.am stopped the show.

© PA Black Eyed Peas performing during LooseFest 2022 at Newcastle's Town Moor

Thousands of people descended on Newcastle's Town Moor to watch the American group headline the North East's 'biggest ever music festival'. But half way through their set, rapper Will.i.am brought the music to a sudden halt to help medics reach 'a fan in distress'.

Speaking to the crowd, he urged spectators to "clear the way" to assist the medics route through the crowd to help out a festival-goer in need of assistance.

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Will.i.am, Ray Saul and his group were performing 'GIRL LIKE ME' when will.i.am became aware of the situation in the crowd at 10:20 pm. Fans waited patiently for the situation to be cleared up before the group re-started the song and continued their set, which included chart-topping hits such as 'Where is the Love?' and 'I Gotta Feeling'.

After the fan had been helped out, Will.i.am said: "Thank you for participating and clearing the way, so we could bring that person to safety. And the first responders thank you guys so much - that's the love."

Fireworks lit the sky as the group closed an action-packed first day of the festival, which also saw sets from Clean Bandit, Patrick Topping, Paul Woolford, Jess Bays, Dimitri from Paris, Belters Only and Roger Sanchez.

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LooseFest got off to a difficult start on Saturday as ticket holders queued for an hour before getting in. Joel Corry was also unable to perform his set and later apologised for "circumstances outside of my control".

Brian Austin, a director of LooseFest said, "There was a small, but important technical issue that resulted in a delay to the start time, which both I and the whole LooseFest team would like to apologise for. Once LooseFest was underway, it was everything and more, with an unreal atmosphere, with incredible feedback from the artists including the Black Eyed Peas who were feeling the love from the NE!"

The event continues on Sunday with performances from 38 international performers including Mabel, Jonas Blue, Jamie Jones, AJ Tracey, Wilkinson, Kings if the Rollers on four all-weather stages.

Dean Saunders, a director of LooseFest, said: "The festival has been everything we have ever dreamed of, and so much work has gone in behind the scenes day and night to try make this an amazing as possible for everyone. With many more world acts performing again today we can't wait to see loads of people enjoying themselves again".

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