Fiona Shepherd on T in the Park: All tastes catered for but it's a rather tepid brew this year

Published on 22/02/2011 14:41

GUITAR music may be struggling in the singles chart, but it will be flourishing at T in the Park this summer, where a mighty triumvirate of headliners are set to wield their instruments righteously. Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay and Foo Fighters are all reliable - and pretty predictable - stadium players.

• Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys make a return to T

Beady Eye probably have their gaze trained on a future top slot. Oasis played the first T in the Park in 1994; now Liam Gallagher and entourage return in their new incarnation.

Old warhorses Manic Street Preachers and Ocean Colour Scene and pop punk veterans Blink-182 and Jimmy Eat World are located further down the solid, rather than inspiring line-up, while the ambitious emo juggernaut that is My Chemical Romance will bring out the kids in eyeliner. So far, youngbloods are thin on the bill, but that will change as more acts on the smaller stages are announced. Pedal-to-the-metal upstarts Crystal Castles and The Vaccines will have to do for now.

Ke$ha and The Saturdays fly the flag for commercial pop. Over in the R&B/hip-hop corner, the new breed is represented by Brits winners Plan B, Tinie Tempah and Jessie J. Plan B is in with a chance of stealing the show, and Tom Jones, ever keen to extend his appeal across the generations, should be a hit with the T crowd.