FRIDAYThere is a bit of a vintage feel to some aspects of Friday's line-up at T in the Park. Three of the main headliners, The Verve, The Stereophonics and the Chemical Brothers, are all older than the event itself. In fact, the
Verve's Richard Ashcroft is biologically old enough to have fathered many of the young Turks playing further down the day's bill.
If the veteran war horses of the Nineties don't appeal then get to the King Tut's tent for opening act Los Campesinos! The name might be Spanish but the band come from Cardiff rather than Cadiz and sound as spiky as a glass of freshly squeezed cactus juice, a beverage that is probably for sale at the natural high stalls. After that, head for the NME stage to catch Feeder and finish the night up at The Verve, a Glastonbury highlight this year who are headlining the main stage.
SATURDAYAfter a night spent wandering the site in search of your tent, the lovely acoustic dreaminess of Tom Baxter at the Pet Sounds Arena should fit the bill, although you might want to make a sharp exit before Will Young takes to the stage. As the afternoon turns into evening, the King Tut's tent is the place to be as Glasgow's Sons and Daughters inherit a crowd who will probably be left a bit sweaty after a set from nutjob country dance outfit, Alabama 3.
There are some hard choices to be made when it comes to the top of the bill on Saturday night. The main stage double act of Rage Against The Machine and The Fratellis will be a right royal mosh-up although the pall of testosterone could become a little overwhelming. The atmosphere will be lighter back at the Pet Sounds Arena where Ben Folds will be battering the piano with witty songs about his mishap-prone love life. As soon as he hits his final key, it will be time to apply the eyeliner for the Arena's headline act, Interpol. Along the way, you'd be a fool to miss The Twilight Sad at the T Break Stage, Glasvegas and Cajun Dance Party at the Futures Stage and MGMT at the Pet Sounds Arena.
SUNDAYEven if you don't know your breakbeat from your tech-house, the Slam Tent won't be too scary first thing on Sunday as Rob Da Bank will be playing a good vibes set, and make sure you pop back later to shake your wellies to our favourite French electronic maestros Justice. Our next recommendation is the Ting Tings set at King Tut's. We tipped the poptastic Salford duo earlier this year and they are making good on that early promise with tunes catchier than a coldsore at a teenage party. Glenrothes lads Sergeant aren't long out of their teens themselves but their sweet indie jangle could well make them the next Scottish band to supersize their profile. Check them out on the Futures stage. Hopefully, Amy Winehouse's set on the main stage will be memorable for all the right reasons but you would have to had spent most of the day in the beer tent before betting on such an outcome. Headliners REM are a much safer option; possibly a bit too safe.
Otherwise, you could while away the whole day at the Pet Sounds Arena, taking in a bill that opens with Glasgow's festival-friendly 1990s and closes with the brilliant Hot Chip. Actually, by then you'll surely be throwing your hands in the air at Primal Scream's closing set at King Tut's: the right and proper way to end this year's T in the Park in true, rabble-rousing fashion.
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For all the artists, line-ups and much more, go to www.scotlandonsunday.com/summerfestivals
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