T in the Park 2012 - festival review

'Scenes of flooding even shocking for this often wet weekend'

Gavin McInally - 09 July 2012

2012's festival season will be remembered - despite some wonderful highlights - for one reason only and that will be the relentless sight of muddy fields, fans struggling through swamps and tents being buried in sludge.

It all started so well at T. The weathermen predicted heavy rain and the masses came prepared but the shocking sight of sun on the opening day created an almost grateful party feeling to kick-start Scotland's premier musical weekend and lively opening sets by the likes of the Kaiser Chiefs (7/10) and a brilliant party mood for Example (8/10) had the crowd feeling foolish for wearing wellies and waterproofs in such a blissfully dry rural setting.

Labrinth (8/10) Miike Snow (6/10) The Cribs (8/10) and New Order (6/10) kept the King Tut's Tent busy while the grime duo of Professor Green (7/10) and Tinie Tempah (8/10) enjoyed the fruits of the NME Stage on the opening night.

Florence & The Machine (9/10) did little to dampen the party feel with a collection of beautiful tunes on the Main Stage, setting the stage perfectly for the Northern Irish/Scottish contingent Snow Patrol (8/10) who played a familiar set, sparking a mass singalong for most of their time on stage - which included a brief appearance from Ed Sheeran.

But that was when the good times stopped as in the time it took to work off a hangover, T woke up to scenes of flooding even shocking for this often wet weekend. Mucky grass soon became a brown sea, forcing the closure of the dance orientated Slam Tent for no less than six hours while staff desperately drilled the ground and unloaded wood chip to make it safe enough for fans to re-enter the tent at night.

Meanwhile, Brighton hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks (8/10) did their best to brighten up proceedings on the Radio One/NME stage before The Vaccines (8/10) stormed through their fifty minute set like they only they know. Indeed, with the speed in which The Vaccines notoriously perform, there was lashings of rain adding to the earlier downpour and soaking T right to the very bones.

By the time Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (9/10) took to the stage, the Balado airfield was more like the Clyde docks, catering more for a group of dolphins than a field full of music lovers. Noel definitely brightened up a damp and dreich Scottish Saturday with his mix of new tracks and older Oasis stuff. But the crowd gathers for one thing, and one thing only, watching the 'monkey man' Ian Brown strut his stuff with The Stone Roses (7/10).

Opening with the classic 'I Wanna Be Adored', the Manchester lads lived up to all the hype until they performed anything that didn't feature on their legendary debut album which proved to be a damp squib. But the classics saved the set from being a washout, and by the time 'She Bangs the Drums' and 'I Am the Resurrection' closed the night, everyone returned to their tents with one more band ticked off their 'must see' wishlist.

The final day turned out to be more about endurance, stamina and will power than the music but lively sets by London dance combo Chase & Status (8/10) and America's latest rap superstar Nicki Minaj (7/10) - who appeared on stage 50 minutes late and only played half the time she was scheduled to - helped inject some much needed energy into the flagging audience.

Swedish House Mafia (8/10) paid an impressive farewell to Scotland and Kasabian (7/10) were an ideal ending note with a series of familiar indie singalongs before a lone piper and fireworks wrapped up T 2012.

Click here for our full T in the Park coverage.

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