Big Day Out @ The Green 2003

United Kingdom | by Phil Cambers | 23 August 2003

If there was one star shining brighter than any other at this year's festivals, it was definitely the sun. To our amazement, we awake on Sunday morning to see our friend blazing down for what is to be another superb day of music in Scotland.

Line Up: The Distillers, Electric Six, PJ Harvey, Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chilli Peppers

So after VF's head got a severe tanning at T in the Park earlier this season, we take the necessary head precautions and head into the centre of Glasgow on Sunday 24th August 2003 for this year's Big Day Out - replacing the former Gig on the Green. The line up has a familiar rocky theme to it and there isn't one band that we're not looking forward to seeing - the proof however as always is in the pudding. Given the plethora of other festivals taking place this Bank Holiday weekend (Reading, Leeds, Creamfields, Canterbury, Rolling Stones...), are there going to be any decent acts left to play up in Scotland? The answer is yes, a BIG DAY OUT YES!

As the man in charge, Geoff Ellis (from DF Concerts), says: "2003 has been an incredible year for music in Scotland, with sold out stadium shows, the Tenth year of T in the Park, a fantastic line up at this year's T on the Fringe and of course Big Day Out At The Green". Naturally, the man is biased, but we'd really struggle to disagree. And today's line-up is certainly as serious as a one-dayer gets. We were pretty excited as we push through the turnstyles...

The Distillers kick things off on the massive stage, the Evel Knievels of rock. Scarred but strong, this indestructible and raucous punk band has made some career-defining jumps in its time. Having recently returned from Germany (touring with the Chilli Peppers), they show no sign of tiring as they pump out their punk anthems in the scorching afternoon sun. A satisfying blast to whet the appetite.

What we need now to supplement Buckfast being downed on this glorious summer's day, is some energetic light-hearted fun. Who better to serve this up than darlings of the 2003 festival circuit Electric 6? Maybe it's the heat or touring fatigue, but early impressions suggest that front man Dick Valentine is not his usual crazy self.

Soon, however, he's well and truly in the swing, bellowing out out his unique brand of infectious charisma, a mic in each hand! We don#t have to wait long for the trade-mark press ups and by the time they kick into "Danger, high voltage" and the now-legendary "Gay bar", the crowd is ecstatic. Valentine concludes, "Never in a million years did I expect to say, PJ Harvey is next".