RAIN FAILS TO DAMPEN SPIRITS AT T IN THE PARK
WHETHER i t ’s Strathclyde Park, Balado or Strathallan Castle – T in the Park wouldn’t be the same without a few drops of rain.
So it was only fitting that last night’s two Scots headliners sang the swan song on the festival’s last Saturday at Balado Airfield on a typically Scottish summer’s day.
Paisley boy Paolo Nutini got the party into full swing with a funky 70-minute set, before Dumfries- born superstar DJ Calvin Harris thrilled the 85,000- strong crowd with a stunning spectacle of sight and sound – bringing a dreich day to an electrifying conclusion.
Although the rain came down for the majority of the day, festivalgoers were more than prepared for a drenching if it meant they could soak up everything T’s final pre-flit’ fling had to offer.
Ryan Conroy, 25, from Glasgow, said: “This is my fifth year and it honestly gets better and better.
“Last year it was glorious sunshine right through and this year we’ve had a mixed bag.
“But with so many top bands and thousands out to party the atmosphere can’t be topped.”
The bill yesterday made it twoout-of-two for tartan headliners after Ayrshire rockers Biffy Clyro kicked the weekend off in style 24 hours earlier.
The trio followed singer-songwriters Ellie Goulding and Ed Sheeran on the main stage on Friday as 70,000 campers nestled in for a weekend of minimal sleep and maximum thrills.
Scots songstress Nina Nesbitt – who earlier this year claimed top spot in the UK charts with her debut album‘Peroxide’ – couldn’t contain her excitement as she played to a packed King Tuts Wah Wah Tent yesterday, rubbing shoulders with the likes of The Human League, Elbow, Embrace and Pharrell Williams on Saturday’s bill.
But the day undoubtedly belonged to the two local(ish) lads done good with both Paolo Nutini and Calvin Harris wowing on their biggest home-coming gigs to date.
The pair brought the curtain down on day two with hit-laden sets that whipped their adoring crowds into a frenzy.
Helen Walker, 23, from Dumfries, said: “It’s been awesome!
“We’re all used to seeing big American artists – like Beyonce, The Killers and Rihanna – headline T in the Park, so to have three Scots acts is just fantastic.
“The weather could be a little better, but who’s complaining? Everyone’s having a brilliant time!”
Festival director Geoff Ellis said: “This is our last year in Kinross so the big focus is giving Balado a fantastic send-off.
“Three out of the four headliners are Scottish, which is the first time that’s ever happened, and they are there on merit. “It’s a great thing for Scottish music and shows what great shape it’s in.”
Sheffield rockers Arctic Monkeys close the festival tonight, with Paul Weller, Kaiser Chiefs and Tinie Tempah also set to appear. From 2015, T in the Park will take place at nearby Strathallan Castle.