T in the Park 2013 Saturday Review

It’s a very sunny shiny Saturday afternoon and we arrived at Balado Airfield for the 2^nd day of T in the Parks 20^th Anniversary thanks to the “very” Happy Bus Company, just in time to hear
the vocals of Scottish 80’s legends, Deacon Blue, performing “Real Gone Kid” on the main stage to a huge crowd, who looked like they were soaking up the the retro revival with great enthusiasm.

That feeling echoed across the entire arena along with fun and frivolity, partially to the fantastic weather but mainly due to the acts that were due to perform that day. The main buzz about the place seemed to be for Rhianna, I’m sorry if you’re a fan, but I really cannot see the big deal with this woman and from what I’ve gathered, she managed to mime her way through a fair bit of her set as dancing was more important and only perked up once she sung “Umbrella”……I’m still blaming her for the rain that descended on us that night because of that horrendous song!!

Thankfully, we went to see a firm favourite of ours, Mr Liam Gallagher, with his band “Beady Eye”. I have to admit, I didn’t think that Liam could get more nasally since his Oasis days, but he has managed it. It was a decent turn out for them, but the crowd only really perked up when he sung a few Oasis tracks, at least this gave him an opportunity to heckle them anyway, which they all loved. At least he didn’t get hit by urine this time!! And after they finished their set, he actually came down to the photo pit and went along the entire front row too shake everybody’s hands….i think we have growth from the man with the notorious mood swings. All in all it was a pretty damn good set, but there is still that something lacking in their songs…….Noel maybe!!

A few other high lights of Saturday was one quarter of Take That and festival virgin, Mark Owen, who gave an energetic performance in King Tut’s Wah Wah Tent. With his own back catalogue, including hit song “Clementine” and a few new ones and “Hold Up The Light” by Take That, he turned almost every woman, young and old into a giggling school girl. I have to say, out of all the acts I saw, he seemed to be right up there on the list of having the most fun.

The only person to top him for the fun stakes, was the cookiest woman in music, Paloma Faith, who took to the stage dressed in the most fantastic vintage dress and killer heels with a big travel mug full of tea!! You’ve got to just love this woman, if not for her amazing vocals but her huge  personality. 

She had the entire crowd captivated for the full set, with people joining in with her songs, banter and dance moves, well jumping around a lot, but in those heels, it deserves a mention. She went from disco pop to soul, to a bit of INXS to Ella Fitzgerald, her main influence when she was growing up, and we have Ella to thank for Paloma’s self taught singing voice. So thank you Ella Fitzgerald for helping to give us this amazing performer, who to be honest made Saturday for me.

Review by Alison Goggin