Summer 2008: Next Stop, T In The Park!
Glastonbury may be the king of the U.K. festivals in the free-spirited, mystic sense, but for sheer, brazen debauchery, it's all about T In The Park. Scotland's annual outdoor rock fest is beyond the stuff of legend, with almost as many great bands as there are gallons of booze. The festival may be sponsored by a beer brand, but the tipple of choice for a few more festival-goers than is strictly healthy is the sickly sweet Buckfast Wine brew. And it sends people WILD.
Still, T always manages to pull together one of the most enviable lineups of the summer, and this year is no different. Jay-Z might have stolen all the headlines at Glasto the other week, but Sunday night's triumphant return of the Verve had to go down as the guitar highlight of the weekend. They'll be out to repeat the magic again tonight at the Balado site.
Another magnificent return (although a year later than Coachella got it) comes with the return to the U.K. of the mighty Rage Against The Machine. As I remember, your editor Lyndsey wasn't so sold. Personally, it was as amazing a show as my 15-year-old self had hoped for. They headline tomorrow, and that's going to be one act for R.E.M. to follow on Sunday.
Factor in --another, no doubt, eventful show from Amy Winehouse--an attempt at festival redemption for Panic At The Disco, and a no-doubt blinding performance from my personal favourites and homecoming heroes Biffy Clyro, and you've got July's most essential weekend of outdoor rock.
The NME Festivals team is already on the ground at Balado, dedicated to show you the special way that Scotland does festivals with all the best news, photos and blogs. Enjoy!
