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T in the Park #byebyebalado

23 Jul 2014
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T in the Park #byebyebalado

In many circles TITP is criticised for its hugely commercial lineup. However T always showcases new acts who are breaking through and unsigned. You really can discover lots of new talent if you go looking or stumble upon it. It also gives us a chance to go check out the worlds largest pop acts.


A week before this years T in the Park I was in London going to see The Libertines play Hyde Park. I was with a group of pals and we got chatting to a group of scousers about music. Once the ice was broken one of the girls asked if I had been to T? Turned out she was going to be working at it. The story went like this. I have heard its mental." The response was pretty much "everything you have heard about it is true."
We then went on to let her know that you can pretty much get away with anything (within reason) at the festival by shouting "TTTIIINNNNNTTHHHHEEEEEPPPPPAAAAAARRRKKKKKK" after!

The last year at Balado got me thinking about what to write. A mix of stories about a festival that I have being going to now for over a third of my life. Possibly personal achievement. Maybe even about Balados final year. Maybe a mix of events, much like the way the Festival has evolved!

On the bus up on the Friday. Listen, if you are going to leave Balado, you need to do it the way you first ever travelled there. 11 years ago, in 2003, a fresh faced bunch of pals travelled to this land on a bus full of warm lager and bad Oasis singalongs. Little did I know how this journey would transform my life.
Since 2003 I have seen hundred of bands, danced to load of tunes, DJed to thousands, laughed with many. The yearly pilgrimage to Fife is one that has always brought a load of excitement.

Highlights band wise for me have been plentiful. Seeing Rage Against The Machine top the bill was pretty special though.

A personal highlight for myself, being asked to DJ a number of times was always good fun. Not to mention being an Event Manager and looking after the T Break stage for 3 years. There was always a great crew of staff behind there and I still pop in and see them every time I am up.

I have lots of TITP stories of things that have happened at the festival and had me and many others buckled with laughter every time we hear it. A lot of them end with the aforementioned rallying cry of a Balado wilderbeast!
I think readers will appreciate them more told in person. Ask me, we can share them.

In many circles TITP is criticised for its hugely commercial lineup. However T always showcases new acts who are breaking through and unsigned. You really can discover lots of new talent if you go looking or stumble upon it. It also gives us a chance to go check out the worlds largest pop acts. I have seen Lady Gaga, Nikki Minaj and Swedish House Mafia over the years. I have also caught the latest talent on the smallest stages. At my first TITP I was part of a very small crowd watching Kings of Leon open a stage. I watched them work their way through the stages to headline the festival.


This year, Royal Blood rocked it, Imagine Dragons brought their huge anthemic choruses to T. They even snuck in a cover of The Proclaimers 500 Miles Not that you would have noticed whilst trying to outdo the next person with the catchy chorus.
Ellie Goulding drew a massive crowd whilst she ran through her catchy pop tunes. There were smiles all round.
Ed Sheeran had Balado in the palm of his guitar hands. I still think his new stuff has a real Justin Timberlake feel to it. Excellent tunes for the Sunshine soaked arena.
Steve Angello brought house to bring the house down.
Biffy Clyro showed why they were headline material with a set full of rock riffs, man points and testosterone. The TITP crowd always welcome their own with open arms and Biffy responded.

On Saturday James had everyone going mental to massive hits such as Sit Down and Laid
Rudimental are quite possibly the best festival band around at the moment, one that has so many dynamics that everyone watching will like a part of. One moment Drum & Bass, the next rocking guitars. The singers really vibe off each other and create an amazing atmosphere. They just look fun to be in.
Soul 2 Soul brought nostalgia, Pharell rattle through many a hit from his fantastic back cataolgue including many a tune from N.E.R.D. Before his last song he brought on a woman Who had just beat cancer The goosebumps flew through the crown and right up my bag. Many a person with a tear in their eye then danced along to Happy Try not to dance to its infectious tune!
If you thought that Soul 2 Soul were as retro as we were getting today then you were wrong. The Human League had a full tent singing along to every word. They finished their set with Keep Feeling Fascination,  a cover of Giorgio Moroders Together In Electric Dreams and then the anthem Dont You Want Me?
Medicine Men had the T Break crowd nodding along to their psychedelic tunes, a lovely breather in amongst the madness.
Calvin Harris closed the Saturday night playing all his anthems mixed in with current club classics. Will Smith even joined him onstage, unfortunately there was no mass sing along of The Fresh Prince
The next few days when chatting to friends who shared the weekend with me brought back a lot of memories. We told of our stories, the special TITP ones. The ones that live with us for the rest of our days and will be spoke about to new people for years. We made more Balado memories.

TITP is about the punters, the bands, the laughs. Balado was a great home for us for a good number of years and I have no doubt Strathallen will make its own memories!
At the end of the day, it is still TTTTTTTIIIIINNNNTHHHHEEEEEEEEEPPPPPAAAAAARRRKKKKKKKKK

 

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Review - T in the Park #byebyebalado - Glasgowmusic.co.uk