REVIEW: T in the Park 2013

Friday 12th to Sunday 14th July 2013 – T in the Park @ Balado, Kinross-Shire Words: Ashley Spink / Photos: Torey Mundkowsky

FRIDAY 20 years ago, T in the Park director Geoff Ellis dreamt a vision. That vision was to bring music into the heart of Scotland. But back then, in Strathclyde Park, summer 1994, with a helping hand from Oasis and Blur, that vision was still evolving.

Fast forward to 2013, and the vision is well and truly alive. Now placed in the glorious hills of Kinross, T in the Park offers scenes worthy of an Oscar alone. Holding musical memories shared with thousands over the years, and stretching for miles, the hills are most definitely alive with music. In fact, it's hard to think of a more picturesque setting. But there is one other slight bonus, this year. It's a bonus many revellers have battled with for years. We've prayed for it. Cried in our tents for it. Even sang our hearts out for it. And yes, finally, it came. What better year for the Gods above to lay a blanket of blazing sun over a birthday party wrapped with International artists, people and spirit than T20? Let's party!

The beauty of T in the Park's vision is the brilliance in which it allows a platform for not only the rocksmiths of this generation to patter, but pave a route also, for the following generation to emerge. Friday was a key example of this. After introducing us to their Californian way of sisterhood rock, HAIM were one of the early favourites to run the show. With their bass-bopping Este Haim revealing she wanted Scotland to "put it in" her after firing-up recent hit 'Falling' and a uniting cover of Peter Green's, Fleetwood Mac song 'Oh Well', the set became the cue for things to get messy.

The Courteeners have become a well-recognised asset to the T line-up, so it was only fair they should have their moment in the sunshine too. And when frontman Liam Fray declared the band felt like "adopted Scots" the rally into festival signature track 'Not Nineteen Forever' cannonballed right the way through to Rudimental's drum 'n' bass King Tut's debut, to be batted back over for Texas to take the reigns before a euphoric Calvin Harris closed the second stage to a crowd head to toe in sweat, sun cream and 4% lager.

Much of Friday's whispers evolved around the rise of London's tweed-adorned heroes Mumford & Sons. Headlining the festival for the first time, and recently playing a divisive Glastonbury headline slot, Scotland was ready to give their opinion on the brogue loving banjo enthusiasts. And their view was most definitely heard. As the cries of Marcus Mumford determinedly seeked to merge a crowd, it was clear a marmite relationship was brewing. With a not so hefty back catalogue, the band struggled to avoid a musical dip in their set. But when the aspirational choruses of 'I Will Wait', 'The Cave' and 'Little Lion Man' roared, dignity was somewhat restored.

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SATURDAY After last year’s sodden surroundings, campers awoke on the Saturday to sun bulling its way through the clouds. Skimming off tents, the prominent rays displayed a day disco retracting beams of light. Fitting then that The Lumineers summer rasps of 'Hey Ho!' should bellow from the main stage. And for the majority of the day thereafter, the main stage played a host of Saturday TV favourites, with Danny O'Donoghue's, The Script and James Arthur both pulling in sizable crowds.

When Snoop Dogg/Lion got his call, a set of West Coast rhymes prevailed. The gangly-gangsta looked at home swaggering around his much-loved 'booty' dancers, so much so, he'd almost forgotten his surroundings. Nevertheless, the man with many names attracted headline worthy support.

But mainstream material wasn't the only focus. Indie favourites Palma Violets showcased a set of spirited rock before the scouse guise of Miles Kane rocked the King Tut's to keep-up his live reputation. Peace, like many other new music arrivals have done so well at festivals this year, and the Brummie four-some allowed us to indulged in more leopard print love to absorb psychedelic-grunge over in new band heaven, the Transmission Stage.

A special year for Travis was marked at this year's event. Almost 20 years since the band played their first T in the Park, they returned to play to a sweat-box inside the King Tut's tent. It was a set full of emotion and endless classics from the Scottish hero's. Any yes, they played 'Why Does it Always Rain On me'. Remarkably this year, it never.

As night fell, the 30 million record selling Rihanna topped the bill. Setting the stage ablaze with her impressive tiger print outfit, the 25-year-old looked minuscule over a sea of burnt foreheads. Projecting heat herself, she announced "I'd like to take every single one of you home". As you'd imagine, the queue for the log flume instantly quadrupled. Delving into renowned favourites 'Umbrella' 'Rude Boy' and 'Call My Name', for the thousands watching it was time for Scotland to make RiRi their own.

With some much on offer outside of music, T20 served up a whole plate of delights. Teken-style duels with lightening bolts from Lords of Lightening was a mind blowing display of two daredevils lethally charged with 4 million volts of raw electricity. A fool-like act, hooked the crowd into astonishment, leaving a smell best described as burnt toast to linger. The Healthy T retreat is a favourite of mine. Allowing a break to eat, chill and consume something a little more exciting than grab and go favourites, you can take a trip around the world in 30 minutes, sampling foods at a satisfying budget. But Arcadia's Afterburner, the party experience of unique art, music and effects was the key spectacle for die-hard party fans. A one-off experience to dance under moonlight is a free invitation too hard to turn down.

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SUNDAY If you were lucky to survive that, the final day of the festival was nothing shy of atmospheric. There's was no need for Labrinth to call for sunshine, it was staying. As revellers paraded through the campsites dust track through smells of BBQ's and dry earth, hydration in the form of water was paramount for the dehydrated wrath the previous nights alcohol left visible on sun kissed faces.

Pulling out of his Rolling Stones slot the night before, hot lemon was all Tom Odell needed after rumours rippled that a 'no show' could be on the cards. But thanks to a gently wash down with the magic cure, the shortest T slot in history was awarded to the young musician. Playing just two songs, 'Grow Old With Me' and 'Another Love' the support of his vocal instrument gained respected applaud, leaving The 1975 to feed off the crowd remaining.

With a line-up bigger than your belly, the inevitable 'spoilt for choice' decisions were fierce all weekend. So making the most of Sunday became more of a love/hate appreciation affair for many. Strolling peacefully from band to band the likes of the guitar-jabbing Johnny Marr was a keen go-to for many. Firing Smith's bullets through King Tut's roof with 'This Charming Man' he claimed Scotland were "the winners". But also winning Scotland over, Frank Ocean delivered a subtle evening of easy going hits from album 'Orange' calving the way for cult rockers Stereophonics to lead The Killers into their headline slot.

Returning for their third T appearance, The Killers pounced onto the stage. Dressed in ever-controversial cloth, lead singer Brandon Flowers displayed a pair shoes a clown would have trouble fitting into. "So, Scotland. You're on a bit of a roll. Andy Murray bought home Wimbledon, and you got The Killers" was all it took for the crowd to go mental under Flower's charm. The arsenal of songs took very little introduction from the pulsating 'Mr Brightside', recent arrival 'Runaways' and under the stars moment 'Dustland Fairytale'. With special reference to Travis, Flowers said "Travis gave us hope, they gave us something to look up to," before they play Side in homage. It was a headline slot worthy of closing T in the Park's golden 20 years, in style.

As the moon shone prominently over Kinross, the flames on T's birthday cake were blown out. Not before a magnificent shower of fireworks lit-up the humid skies, allowing spectators one last moment to savour.

Back in 1994 little did Geoff Ellis know, he wasn't only creating his own dream, but planning thousands of others too. Here's to another 20 years of T in the Park, let's make them every bit as special as the previous.

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