July 2008 Archives

It's only two sleeps until the next of Scotland's big music festivals - Live @ Loch Lomond.

The campsite opens tomorrow morning, and once again Blog in the Park will be in attendance, bringing the best coverage of the event.

And what an event it is going to be, with Groove Armada and the Sex Pistols headlining the main stage on Saturday and Sunday nights, Carl Cox, Sasha, Roger Sanchez, Audio Bullys and Fedde le Grande among the DJs who will be spinning over the weekend, and bands like Ocean Colour Scene, Happy Mondays, Idlewild, Morcheeba and The Dykeenies playing, as well as Pete Docherty and Rosin Murphy of Moloko fame.

The weather is looking good for the weekend, which will be easier. Leave the wellies at home!!

If you are driving up to the festival, be sure to check out www.trafficscotland.org before you set off to make sure there's no delays.

And remember to check back here where we'll have photos, reviews and hopefully some interviews with the people playing and organising the event.

Well after speaking to Ben from Biffy Clyro I made my way to the main stage to see them.

They blasted on stage in matching red trousers and bare chests for their rousing set which did not disappoint except for the absence of my favourite song, Folding Stars.

Next up was The Kooks who I felt had great chemistry with the crowd especially the thousands at the front of the stage who they got to sit down.

Glad I wasn't there right enough because the amount of people I saw gobbing on the floor did not make me want to sit down!

Best interactive crowd song was, unexpectedly, new single, Shine On which proved to be a popular sing-a-long.

Then The Fratellis who, along with The Biff, made me truly proud to be Scottish. It was refreshing to have some excellent homegrown talent high up the bill at the fest.

The ever-popular Chelsea Dagger went down a massive treat with the whole place bouncing around to the anthem.

Sadly this was the last for 2008's T in The Park for me as I had to run an injured friend home although once home I was totally shattered.

What a great weekend though?! Here's to next year!

Saturday morning started with a rumbling stomach at around 7.30am after eating very little the night before.

After have a rummage in my backpack I enjoyed a couple of cereal bars (a must for festivals - they're probably not healthy but their better than sweets and crisps!), vimto sweets, cola bottles and Space Raiders I get back to sleep.

Wake up again around 10.30-11am and decide it's time to try and surface.

While sitting in the collapsed gazebo I looked round and spotted friend's of my poorly boyfriend who was in bed ill at the time.

(Note for anyone who hasn't been to a festival - it is a strangely small world where, although you are with 80,000 plus people you still managed to run in to people you know! This happened several times over the weekend to me - rather spooky!)

Anyway after getting over the randomness of that I take a jaunt down to the burger van and pick up several cans of irn bru and a yummy bacon roll.

We managed to drag our sorry selves to the site for the start of day two however my pal had picked up a drink induced injury the previous night so we walked gingerly.

The sun was threatening to come out so we spent a while lazing about on the grass people watching. Always fun at festivals!

Spent a lot of time in the media village chatting to old chums and watching bands come and go including The Pigeon Detectives, The Law (check out the interview on this blog), Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong and Biffy Clyro.

I got to speak to Ben Johnston from Biffy Clyro and you can watch this now by logging onto www.kilmarnockstandard.co.uk.

Ayrshire-formed band Biffy Clyro made T in The Park history at the weekend when they played their eighth Balado festival.

The trio donned striking red trousers and bare chests for their set which included favourites Machines, Who's Got a Match? and Living's a Problem Cause Everything Dies.

For a full review of the set buy a copy of the Kilmarnock Standard this week.

Also make sure you log onto www.kilmarnockstandard.co.uk to watch an exclusive video interview with drummer Ben Johnston.

Well after arriving in good time at Craigwell campsite on Friday afternoon we proceeded to get our tent and the famous £10 gazebo put up.

The campsite was more than adequate with plenty space, parking, clean loos, a shower (£10 for 10 minutes - worth it if it's mucky) and a burger van selling more than burgers on hand.

Unfortunately we got caught in a shower but were all equipped with wellies and hats (and or hooded tops) to keep us dry.

We also found shelter in Joe's porch or the equivalent to the kitchen at a party!

One last loo visit before we left and as I'm making my way back up the hill to catch up with the others, I see a fallen gazebo.

We try and patch it up but promptly give up and head to camp with beer in hand.

A short walk later and we're pretty much on site but as we had press tickets we had a bit further to go and collect our snazzy wristbands.

Once in the arena, we decided to get some drinks in while we could hear Alphabeat's Fascination through the King Tuts Wah Wah Tent.

A bizarre musical start to the weekend but it got us in the mood.

We decided to hang around for a while just taking in the atmosphere before making our way to the King Tuts tent where we caught some of Kids in Glass Houses.

Next stop, main stage for a bit of Stereophonics although I've seen them quite a few times before so we didn't hang around.

Back to King Tuts for The Music who I must say were my unexpected highlight of the weekend. New single Strength in Numbers soon became the theme tune for the weekend.

Split from the group later on to go and see The Verve and as I was making my way to the Main Stage, I could hear my favourite song of their's Sonnet.

It was quite a strange atmosphere on Friday night as everyone knew things were going to get a lot more hectic on the Saturday although I must say it was a great night!

Back to the hospitality area to finish off the night boogey-ing like idiots in the bar. A brilliant DJ took to the decks above the fireplace to spin a great set.

The journey home seemed long although that was probably largely to do with the beers consumed beforehand!

Friday nights at T in The Park - definitely worth going to!

Tayside Police have confirmed that the man stabbed in the wee hours of Sunday morning was trying to break up an argument between the two men suspected of the attack and a female in his party.

Although the man, who is in a "serious but stable" condition at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital, was found in the Yellow Zone of the campsite, the attack is thought to have been carried out in the Blue Zone.

The man was stabbed a total of 11 times during the attack, with eight wounds on his body and three to his head.

Police are still searching for the two men thought to have carried out the brutal assault.

Speaking of the stabbing which occurred in the T in the Park campsite in the early hours of this morning, Senior Investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Bruce Kerr urged festival-goers to be on the look-out.

He said: "This was a horrific assault on a 22-year-old man who sustained multiple stab wounds.

"Whoever is responsible will undoubtedly have blood on their clothing"

"I would urge anyone who finds a knife or blood-stained clothing to notify a police officer or steward immediately."

Colin Rodger, T in the Park Events Manager said: "We are upset that this incident took place last night, but we are extremely pleased to hear that the assaulted man is in a stable condition.

"We are currently assisting police with their ongoing investigation and focusing on ensuring that the rest of the audience stay safe and enjoy the remainder of T in the Park experience."

In light of the tragic news of a 32-year-old man being found dead in his tent, Festival Director, Geoff Ellis spoke of his sadness on hearing of the news.

He said: "In T in the Park's fifteen year history, this is the first time we have had a death onsite and we are shocked and saddened to hear the news. Our thoughts are with the family at his time."

Amy Winehouse, looking and sounding a hell of a lot better than we have seen her recently, wowed the crowd at the main stage tonight.

Winehouse blasted out her old favourites and some lesser known songs from her album, with the crowd getting totally behind her and singing along, particularly to "Tears Dry On Their Own", "Rehab" and "You Know I'm No Good".

There was only really one mention of incarcerated hubby Blake Fielder-Civil, who she was delighted to tell those watching is "getting out one week today". But she was wearing the obligatory pin in her hair with her other half's name.

Amy and her band sounded great, although it seems as though all her bad habits have had an effect on her voice, which was not the most powerful we have heard in the past.

And the soul diva managed to get through the gig unscathed and without controversy, perhaps a first for the woman who has racked up more column inches than her insane American counterpart, Britney Spears.

But you can't put it past the Wino to put on a proper show and she really delivered here in Balado.