T in the Park: Divas rock the festival crowds with glamour, soul – and flamingos

Published on Sunday 12 July 2009 21:50

BALADO baked in the sunshine on the first full day of T in the Park festivities, as Main Stage draws Calvin Harris and Paolo Nutini tapped into the celebratory mood of the crowd.

But it was the girls who brought the glamour and showmanship to the table. Lady Gaga carried herself like a pop star from the moment she strolled on stage. The Noisettes' front woman Shingai Shoniwa was a sweeter presence but commanding nevertheless. Completing the diva triumvirate, Katy Perry tried to be all things to everyone – a rock chick who is one of the boys, a girly girl with her candy pink stage set (including flamingos) and a lover of tartan.

Back on the Main Stage, reformed Two Tone favourites the Specials delivered a tight, energetic and joyous set of ska standards and their own still-pertinent social comment.

Later in the evening, Jane's Addiction showed younger T upstarts Razorlight and Glasvegas how to deliver a rock show.

Headlining the Main Stage, the Killers were flash, with none of Jane's Addictions panache, but a few more lusty singalongs.

Manic Street Preachers, meanwhile, were in nostalgic mood with bassist Nicky Wire recalling being banned from T in the Park after their last appearance ten years ago and ruing the fact that missing-presumed-dead guitarist Richie Edwards never got to play the festival. There wasn't a weak link in a set full of heart and soul.

Squeeze were just the right band to blow away the cobwebs come yesterday lunchtime, lifting the crowd with a greatest hits set.

Regina Spektor, looking tiny behind her grand piano, demonstrated why she is one of the most influential singer/songwriters around.

Her fellow New Yorkers, TV on the Radio, were equally impressive, hitting a distinctive indie soul funk groove from the off.

However, the masses were elsewhere enjoying Lily Allen's slight undemanding pop in the evening sunshine.

The Pet Shop Boys, on the other hand, are not your usual festival fare, and are all the better for it.

Their show was a pocket extravaganza. Like a gay disco version of Pink Floyd's The Wall, complete with a shape shifting set, dancers in a succession of colour co-ordinated outfits, glitter showers, heart shaped balloons, some of the best loved synth-pop hits of the last 25 years and a terrific version of Coldplay's Viva La Vida.

Blur's appearance was delayed when guitarist Graham Coxon came down with food poisoning.

But the show did eventually go on, kicking off with their debut hit She's So High from 1990, encompassing their Brit Pop heyday and beyond and building to one of the all time great T in the Park headline sets.

"This is our last gig." announced Damon Albarn, though his delighted expression suggested Blur would be back.

T in the Park: As it happened

Writers from The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and scotsman.com were out and about at T in the Park, posting updates on our live blog throughout the weekend. This is what happened.

T in the Park news and reviews

T in the Park pictures

T in the Park videos