Newquay's Barrowfields has been chosen for the kick-off for Radio 1's summer Dance Parties and, despite the rain, it soon becomes easy to see why.
With the new Outdoor Stage on show, Pete Tong is promising a mighty line up of Eric Morillo and Norman Cook and the response from dedicated local clubbers is huge, despite the certain soaking that awaits their arrival.
Barrowfields has become the adopted home of this Radio 1 event in the South West for the last three years, creating quite a spectacle with the stage set right by the cliff edge overlooking Newquay's sea front to one side and the beach and natural bay to the other.
Although the rain is at times torrential, it doesn't discourage thousands from attending to see Pete Tong's first hosting of this type of show.
During the three live hours on Radio 1, Eric Morillo arrives to a massively enthusiastic reception followed by a mighty roar as one Norman Cook makes a rare appearance.
"It has already been a busy year, with a lot of Festival activity and Glastonbury still to come, and it was important to still have these shows," says Tong. "There's a lot of taking in this business and obviously with the regards to the club scene, a lot of people have been very loyal, coming to clubs and paying money to see everybody so it's just nice to give something back.
"I think the idea of free events can put a smile on people's face, and it's a good chance for Radio One as a station get out around the country and get engrained a little bit more with the local community."
"When I started in Radio 1 back in '91 I used to do the proper old fashion Radio 1 Roadshow.
"Then the old roadshow idea mutated into the big dance parties and One Big Sunday events. The parties vary each year, and this year I'm doing this one, and there's a Saturday night around Jules & Seb in July in Liverpool, with a final Sunday night in Sheffield in August with Dave Pearce."
In all we are treated to six hours of music and after a one and a half hour off air encore, the Radio 1 ensemble heads for an after party in Newquay's Sailor's Nightclub, where all three DJ's carry on spinning well into post licencing hours.
Newquay is already looking forward to a return in 2003.
