Over the last few years I’ve become a big fan of music festivals. Belladrum, a local and folksy festival, has become a staple of my summers and the Rockness I attended 2 years ago was easily one of the best weekends of a great year. With Rockness increasingly likely to be canned for this year, and Belladrum likely to bring in only mediocre acts, I decided to take a punt and go for the big one in 2014: T in the Park.
Friday
The Manic Street Preachers are an older band, older than the current T in the Park venue itself – but a good one. Their newer albums haven’t been quite as good as their classics, but as far as 90s music goes they are at the pinnacle of people’s nostalgia. Seeing them in their natural habitat of a festival would be an experience, but I think that they would be one of the acts to take a backseat for me. Likely to see? Unlikely.
Steve Angello, one of the members of the defunct DJ supergroup Swedish House Mafia, will be an interesting act at T in the Park this year. Apart from his 2008 hit “Show Me Love”, that still ranks as one of the most popular dance songs around, he hasn’t really much to his name other than the works with SHM. However, with songs lined up with some EDM heavyweights this year – this could be one of the most crowded gigs in the dance tent that weekend. Likely to see? Maybe.
One of the break-out acts of 2013 were Bastille, an English indie pop band that did big folksy songs better than anyone else. “Pompeii” was easily one the best chart songs of last year and many of their other songs on their album were good too. Hopefully they’ll be playing in a tent to add to the great atmosphere in their songs – and if they are, they’ll be a must see. Likely to see? Likely.
Ellie Goulding has one of the best voices in music, and although her newer songs have come with a hint of electronic flair, it’s that soft, soothing, raspyness that makes her songs beautiful and great. Couple her voice with good songs, stage presence and a killer figure – and I’d be amiss to miss Ellie Goulding’s set at T. Likely to see? More than likely.
The headline act of Friday is Biffy Clyro. Probably the most successful current Scottish rock act, they’ve gone on to great success in the last few years – with more than reasonable sales in America. I’m not really a big fan of theirs – something about their songs seem a little contrived – but seeing them at Rockness a few years ago convinced me that they put on a good show. At a festival you should try to see at least the headliners, so chances are I’ll be in the throng in front of the main stage to see Biffy on the Friday night. Likely to see? Almost definitely.
My absolute highlight of Friday, though, will be seeing CHVRCHES. I’ve already written about how good their debut album is, and I’ve listened to their songs over and over again since then. They are without a doubt my band of the moment. With a lower key billing, they’ll probably be in a tent – which will suit their more intimate electronic act better. This is probably the act I’m most excited to see at T in the Park this year, and I hope that it lives up to my expectations. Likely to see? Definitely.
Saturday
Drum and bass quartet Rudimental have put out quite a few good songs over the last few years, and should be able to get the T in the Park crowd moving – even if they’re a little worse for wear from the night before. “Feel the Love” is one of their best, and is a great summery festival song and “Waiting All Night” is the sort of song that will get crowds bobbing along quite nicely. They put on a good show, being named BBC’s band of the summer last year, so they’ll be well worth seeing. Likely to see? Likely.
Pharrell has owned the charts for the last year, singing or producing hit albums for Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean and Daft Punk and songs like “Get Lucky”, “Blurred Lines” and his own single, “Happy” – so it was a given that he’d make an appearance at T in the Park this year. How he does on his own without the support of Daft Punk and Robin Thicke, I’m not sure, but being a nice crowd-pleasing kind of guy – I’m sure the crowd will warm to him no matter what he’s singing on stage. Likely to see? Maybe.
It’s about time that Paolo Nutini returns to the music scene, and he’s doing it in a big way this year with a new album and 2nd billing on the main stage at T. Sunny Side Up was one of the best albums of 2009 with a slew of cheery songs that added to his slower, darker songs of his previous album. What he sounds like now after five years out of the game, I don’t know – but I do know that when thousands of people are singing “Last Request” late on a summer’s Saturday night it will be something to remember. Likely to see? More than likely.
Scotland’s pre-eminent DJ, Calvin Harris, is an act that has had success after success. Each album he puts out does even better than the last, with 2012’s 18 Months producing more top 10 hits than any other album in history. Almost every song he’s put out as been a happy, colourful gem that appeals to everyone. He’s played T in the Park before, headlining King Tut’s in 2012, but the main stage will be another beast entirely – but one that he’ll be more than able to handle. Likely to see? Definitely.
Sunday
I dare say the best festival gig I’ve borne witness to was Newton Faulkner’s set at Belladrum 2012. I knew some of his songs, but wasn’t overly familiar, but went along any way with the promise of a good show. It was the most entertaining part of the entire weekend. With a gentle charisma, amazing guitar skills and a voice that sounded brilliant at a festival – he captured the attention of the crowd like no other. He closed by leading everyone in a cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody” (something he did at T in 2010). A crowd-pleaser if nothing else, I’ll try to make the trip to see Newton Faulkner if I can – at least in respect for his previous gig. Likely to see? Maybe.
By now I probably should have seen Franz Ferdinand. I’ve been a big fan of theirs for 10 years, and being a Scottish band they’d have toured relatively close by – but I’ve never seen them play live. Luckily I’ll be able to remedy that this year at T. Hopefully with an emphasis towards their older albums, being their 10 year anniversary and all, their set will be good – hopefully Kapranos and the boys can bring their A-game. Likely to see? Almost definitely.
Alternative Rock’s newest A-lister Imagine Dragons will make their debut at T in the Park this year. There are so many good songs on their 2012 album Night Visions that they’re still managing to eke out hits now in 2014, with “Demons” currently doing its turn near the top of the charts. Part of the appeal of seeing Imagine Dragons will be that it’ll be the first time I’ve seen a band live that I’ve been introduced to through a FIFA game soundtrack – even though that includes some of my favourite bands like Muse and The Hoosiers. How they’ll perform on the big stage I don’t know, but I’d like to see. Likely to see? More than likely.
Disclosure’s star has shone brightly over the last two years, with the brotherly duo taking dance music and the charts by storm. Settle was arguably the best album of last year, packed with hits and amazing deep house tracks. Almost everyone can move to Disclosure songs, whether it is the slower rhythms of “Latch” or the poppy delight of “White Noise”. They’ll bring the house down with a mad Scottish audience, and it will be a standout of the festival. Likely to see? Almost definitely.
Closing out T in the Park will be the Arctic Monkeys, a band that has been the foremost indie rock band in the country for almost a decade. Their hits are ingrained in the culture of my generation – everyone knows their biggest hits – making them an ideal choice to bring the masses to the main stage. I’m not overly wild about the band personally, but have grown to appreciate them a lot more than I used to over the last few years. Without a doubt they will put on a spectacular set, and as I’ve said before, you have to see the headliners. Likely to see? Definitely.
Of course, there will be other acts still to be announced that I’ll want to see, as well as ones listed here that I’ll miss out on – but that’s the beauty of a festival. With the Sunday also being the day of the World Cup final, I’ll have to find a big screen to stand myself in front of so I don’t miss the biggest game of football for 4 years. No matter what happens; spending a weekend with your mates, some drinks and some amazing music is always going to be good. Let’s just hope the weather can be as kind to us revellers as the line-up was.
All pictures courtesy of Wikimedia Commons