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Fest of pals at Balado
(Sunday Mail Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) MAIN STAGE
THE SAW DOCTORS
THE Irish rock and rollers got the day started with a highenergy, fun-packed set.
Hilarious track I'm Never Going To Go on Bebo, a "cautionary tale about the internet" according to guitarist Leo Moran.
Song of the show was the gentle epic Clare Island, with an outstanding saxophone solo from former Waterboy Anthony Thistlethwaite.
They ended their set with a dynamic rendition of classic comic cut Hay Wrap, nicely blended with a brief mid-song performance of Free's All Right Now.
THE SKIDS
RICHARD JOBSON'S band gave it some welly on their last ever gig yesterday.
The Skids are from two miles up the road but this was a special moment as they celebrated their 30th anniversary with a debut and last-ever gig at T in the Park.
Introduced by festival boss Geoff Ellis, Jobson said: "We're from Fife, we're Scottish and goddamn proud of it."
They sang Melancholy Soldiers and launched into a storming version of Into The Valley and Working For The Yankee Dollar.
Punching the air, kicking and sparring in a boxer-like style Jobson said: "This is a blast, the bones are hanging in."
He spoke again about Stuart Adamson's legacy and hoped the music would live on and about the fragility of war.
Founding member Adamson commited suicide.
He thanked the mighty Green Day and the fantastic U2 for reinventing the Skids before leaving with the song The Saints Are Coming.
JAMES MORRISON
THE Chris Martin lookalike was pint-sized on stage but created a big impression.
Hits like The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore, One Last Chance and You Give Me Something went down well and got the crowd into a mellow mood.
He got more soulful with Better Man, and said: "You guys are amazing, I'm so glad to be in Scotland."
Before playing his huge hit Wonderful World, he said: "It's a festival, there must be plenty of weirdos here, be proud, if you're a weirdo, this is for you because it is a wonderful world."
He rocked out with the song Last Goodbye.
LOST PROPHETS
AFTER a ropey start, the Welsh metalheads delivered one of the day's finest performances.
Through the initial run of songs the mix lacked focus, with the drums and bass drowning out the vocals. When the problem was solved it ended up being an eminently enjoyable performance, with the six-piece revelling in the big show atmosphere.
Frontman Ian Watkins was impressive and even got the crowd to sing Happy Birthday to drummer Ilan Rubin, who had just turned 19.
JAMES
FRONTMAN Tim Booth seemed to be bothered with sound problems but that didn't stop him putting on a great show.
His trademark howl started off the huge hit Born Of Frustration and it only took two bars of Sit Down to get the crowd jumping and singing to what became a huge T in the Park anthem.
After singing She's A Star with his soaring vocals, he sang a new song, Getting Away With It (All Messed Up), while reading from notes.
He did the huge crowdpleaser Ring The Bells, which reached fever pitch and said: "This song was inspired by the romantic notion of the desire to be struck by lightning."
Avril Cadden/Monty Archibald
NME STAGE
THE HARRISONS
THE latest big thing from the Sheffield scene replaced Gogol Bordello who pulled out of T to perform with Madonna at Live Earth.
Their set started with stomping punk number Man Of The Hour. Singer Jub dedicated ComfortMe to "all ourmen in Iraq" to a muted response and finished with single Dear Constable.
BLOOD RED SHOES
THE Brighton band came across like a kind of low rent British White Stripes with a raw stripped down sound.
Drummer Stephen Ansell and guitarist Laura Mary Carter share vocal duties and their voices work well together. But the band got a lukewarm reception for Made A Mistake and You Bring Me Down. It was just as well the next song, recent single It's Getting Boring By The Sea, was their last.
DOGS
THINGS took a massive turn for the better as Dogs pulled a huge crowd and dished out bog masks to fans. They opened with superb signature tune London Bridge. Charismatic frontman Johnny Cooke became an instant hero when he asked if anyone knew John Smeaton, the hero baggage handler, called him a legend and dedicated Tarred And Feathered to him.
Anthem in the making By The River was sensational as was their closer Turned To A Different Station.
LITTLE MAN TATE
THE band got the crowd suitably excited. Lead singer Jon Windle swore a lot and dedicated Sexy and Latin to his ex-girlfriend asking the crowd to "rip it up". Although the way down the bill, more can be expected in the future.
THE THRILLS
THE band turned in a pleasant but never overly-exciting set. New tracks Long Forgotten Song and single The Irish Keep Gatecrashing went down well but it was the big summery singalong hits that got things going.
Big Sur, Santa Cruz, One Horse Town and closer Whatever Happened to Corey Haim got huge reactions. Frontman Conor Deasy was glad to be back after a recording break and continually thanked fans for their support. Nice, but nothing earth-shattering.
Mickey McMonagle/Allan J Rennie
KING TUT'S STAGE
JAMIE SCOTT AND THE TOWN
THE London six-piece were greeted by an impressive-sized crowd and treated them to a rousing set of breezy pop.
They opened with their strongest track, Weeping Willow, but single When Will I won them a few more fans.
THE CINEMATICS
THE Scots got off to a slow start but second track Alright livened things up thanks to its loud, grungy feel.
Maybe Someday had a gritty edge and was reminiscent of Joy Division at their best but the stand-out track was the title track to their album, A Strange Education. Overall, a fine display by the Glasgow-based four-piece.
CAMERA OBSCURA
THE band offer beautifully crafted pop gems in the vein of fellow Scots Belle And Sebastian.
Tears For Affairs got things off to a strong start and the crowd were yelling for more after the short set ended with the laidback song Razzle Dazzle Rose.
CALVIN HARRIS
KICKING off with the title track from his album I Created Disco, Harris immediately had the crowd jumping.
Helped by an impressive backing band, he fed off the fans' energy to deliver one storming track after another. He even seemed oblivious to the many glowsticks and beer cartons being thrown at him.
Merrymaking At My Place saw him mix a catchy chorus with a mammoth disco sound, while Acceptable in the 80s sent the tent wild.
Highlight was always going to be club favourite Girls and Harris thrilled the crowd by changing the lyrics to, "I like those Glasgow girls, I like those Edinburgh girls," then included every other region in the country.
THE LONG BLONDES
SEXY frontwoman Kate Jackson's red strappy dress drew more than a few wolf-whistles from the crowd.
The Sheffield quintet's punk sound is inspired by the likes of Siouxie And The Banshees, The Buzzcocks and Pulp and their set was drawn from their debut album, Someone To Drive You Home. Highlights were Once And Never, the brilliant Giddy Stratospheres and Weekends Without Make-up. They left to cheers, calling T the world's best fest.
Tony Gaughan/Jordan Costello
PET SOUNDS
ARENA
ROSS COPPERMAN
RISING US star Ross Copperman won fans with his piano-driven pop. A sweet version of Flower of Scotland and the rousing Found You were highlights.
CHARLOTTE HATHERLEY
THE former Ash guitarist played the best of her debut solo album The Deep Blue. She barely said a word to the crowd but upbeat tunes such as first single Summer got them bouncing.
MR HUDSON AND THE LIBRARY
The band's bouncy, reggae-inspired indie pop is perfect festival fodder. Ask the DJ is a great summer anthem.
SIERRA LEONE'S REFUGEE ALL STARS
THIS nine-piece reggae band are not your average festival act but went down a treat. The music was expertly crafted and infectious.
ALBERT HAMMOND JR
THE Strokes' guitarist's fast-paced rock 'n' roll went down a storm, especially cracking single Back To The 101.
SINEAD O'CONNOR
THE Irish star, left, meekly accepted applause for her new material, which is pleasant enough but hardly catchy. Predictably, Nothing Compares 2 U got the best reaction and a third of the crowd left after it. Steve Dinneen/Stef Lach
SLAMTENT
STEVE BUG
TWISTED Feet kicked off a solid set from the German, regarded as the pioneer of the minimal sound.
ADAM BEYER
THE Swedish maestro delivered a set of tough, tech-tinged tunes.
AME
THE Germans treated fans to a musical masterpiece and the crowd moved in harmony to the delicious sounds of the band's back catalogue, plus tracks by Joris Voorn.
ALLOY MENTAL (LIVE)
THE Belfast trio boast the currently unstoppable Phil Kieran - one of Northern Ireland's most respected electro and techno producers. This long-awaited live set saw rock meet rave - and the fans went mental.
SOUNDSTREAM/SOUNDHACK
THE Berlin-based producer served up silky slabs of deep house. Chunky beats were the order of the day.
DIZZEE RASCAL
THE London rapper combines hip hop, drum 'n' bass and garage and his new albumMaths and English is flying off the shelves. The crowd lapped it up and were quickly drawn in by his passion and energy. Da bomb for da people. Fraser Latta
FUTUIRES TENT
UNKLE JAM
THE electro-soul trio rocked fans. The highlight was a brill version of the White Stripes Seven Nation Army. New single What AreWeFighting For is a dancefloor classic.
LOST ALONE
The Derby lads are being hailed as the UK rock scene's next big thing and on the evidence of this set they certainly have the energy to pull it off. Their single Elysium went down a stor.
REMI NICOLE
Single Tabloid Queen set the tone but the chirpy Cockney failed to win the crowd. Goodbye Mr Sunshine was well received but there were not too many broken hearts when she went off.
KATE NASH
Londoner Kate filled the tent after sound problems. She hit the mark with infectious single Caroline's A Victim.
REVEREND AND THE MAKERS
Thumping indie dance was perfect for a tent bursting at the seams.
The single Heavyweight Champion of the World had one punter throw a champion's belt onto the stage.
Should join singer Jon McClure's former bandmates now in the Arctic Monkeys at the top of the charts.
Graeme Lennox
'We're having a brilliant time. We're here to see The View. You have to support your home-grown bands'
Kirsty Little and Lynne Gillespie
Copyright 2007 Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail Ltd, Source: The Financial Times Limited
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