Girlguiding BIG GIG 2011 report

Over 31,000 Guides aged 10 to 14 attended Girlguiding's BIG GIG 2011 - a series of three pop concerts held at Wembley Arena on 1 and 2 October 2011. This exclusive girl-only event featured performances from some of the UK's hottest musicians, including Pixie Lott and X Factor finalist Olly Murs.

Pixie, who used to be a Brownie, came on stage wearing a Brownie uniform during Sunday's show. The star played her first BIG GIG in 2009 and was welcomed back this year to rapturous applause. She said, 'The crowd are always so enthusiastic. They had their bunny ears on and everyone was jumping up and down so I really loved it. It was great to be back again.'

Each show played to a sold-out crowd of over 10,000 Guides who were wowed by musicians including Eliza Doolittle and teenage soul singer Dionne Bromfield. Popular new artist Ed Sheeran received some of the biggest cheers of the night when he performed using just an acoustic guitar and an effects pedal.

The Guides sang along to every act and left the BIG GIG on a high as top boyband The Wanted closed proceedings with a pyrotechnics display at the end of their set. Joanna, 12, from 3rd Southwick Guides, West Sussex, summed up what most were thinking when she concluded 'it was amazing!'. 

During the weekend Girlguiding produced an access-all-areas live blog on life backstage, featuring performance reviews and gossip directly from the stars. The blog, along with excusive interviews with the artists, can be viewed here.