EPIC START FOR T IN THE PARK AT STRATHALLAN CASTLE
HIGHLIGHTS AND BACKSTAGE CHATS FROM DAY 1

Friday 10^th July 2015 was a landmark moment – another one – in the history of Scotland’s biggest music festival. This was the opening day of a glorious new chapter in the history of T in the Park, and further evidence of the ongoing vitality of the brilliant contribution of festival organisers DF Concerts and founding partner Tennent’s Lager to music, culture and, well, partying in Scotland.

All across the festival’s new home, Strathallan Castle – which is nestled in a beautiful, wooded environment – bands, fans and organisers were giddily exploring the possibilities and adventures promised by T’s new location. With stages located within easy walking distance of each other, the tunes and the excitement were bursting from every corner of the festival.

The legendary King Tut’s Wah Wah Tent was jumping from the get-go. Birmingham house DJ Hannah Wants had the audience raving and raring to go from mid-afternoon. Meanwhile, over at the Main Stage, The Wombats’ set at the same time brought out both the sunshine and the mass singalongs.

The Tennent’s Arms – the brand new pub venue, specially created and kitted out for Strathallan – provided a brilliant platform for revellers to soak in the good vibes at T – especially on the sundeck, which offered a golden vantage point from which punters could sup their favourite lager while taking in the sights and sounds down on the Main Stage. The Tennent’s Arms is your friendly neighbourhood local, handily located in the middle of the world’s best music festival.

Here we, here we, here we funkin’ go… As Friday evening kicked into gear, all across the six stages T in the Park’s artist scheduling didn’t disappoint. Rudimental stoked all-for-one, one-for-all rave positivity on the Main Stage. Can you feel the love, Strathallan? Yes we can, with disco-bells on. Fatboy Slim, match-fit from a T warm-up show at Glasgow’s Sub Club the previous night, drew such a crowd to King Tut’s that the “Tent Full” signs were up outside.

Sam Smith reminded us of his club credentials with blistering renditions of Money On My Mind and his Naughty Boy collaboration, La La La. But, of course, it was the ballads that moved the masses. During his version of Can’t Help Falling In Love – made famous, obvs, by Elvis Presley – there was barely a dry eye in the house.

There was more emotion over on the BBC Three/Radio 1 Stage as The War On Drugs brought their atmospheric psych-rock to the festival. It all set the stage(s) perfectly for the first night big-hitters. Headlining T for the third time, big-gig favourites Kasabian were a fitting finale on the Main Stage. Guitarist Serge Pizzorno wore his allegiance to (and understanding of) Scotland on his chest: his t-shirt said “Radge”. This was bounce-along, crowd-pumping rock at its best.

The biggest party, though, seemed to be back on the Radio 1 Stage. David Guetta is another long-term friend of T in the Park. With big tunes, big pyrotechnics and a big, giddy grin, the superstar French DJ did not disappoint. Simply, he blew the roof off. Which is quite a feat on a Perthshire hillside. Welcome back, Monsieur Guetta – and merci for popping the champagne corks on the first day of T in the Park 2015.

Strathallan, consider yourself well and truly christened…

Piers Agget (keyboards): “We did T in the Park the last two years – the King Tut’s Tent and the NME Stage. And this year we’re doing the Main Stage. Our progression’s been amazing in Scotland. And this site looks great – I’ve always loved to explore the Scottish countryside, cause it’s beautiful around here.”

Amir Amor (keyboards): “There are so many different levels of music here – bands who are just starting, all the way through to bands that have been around for years and years.”

Kesi Dryden (drummer): “The first year we played T was probably the loudest crowd we’ve ever played to. The sound was right in your face. The decibel meter went to 112. And as a band we only get to 108, so that tells you how loud the audience were.”

Piers: “And then the second year we came we met Will Smith. We always relished the idea of festival shows; we always really believed in live dance music. That was something true to our hearts. And that’s spiralled into a show that we’re really, really proud of.”

  

Gary Jarman (singer): “This is our sixth time at T in the Park. When we first started playing Scotland, the guy who booked us said we were almost like a Scottish band. And there’s nothing more flattering to us than that. We did feel like we got embraced by people in Scotland…”

Ross Jarman (drummer): “Earlier as well.”

Gary: “So it’s always a real thrill to come to T in the Park and feel embraced. It’s like a homecoming of sorts. I think we’ve just got a strong connection to Scotland. And this new site is fantastic.”

Ross: “I like all the trees backstage. ’Cause sometimes at festivals you feel like you’re just in a flat field. But this is really scenic.

Gary: “The thing is, T in the Park is more about the audience than it is about the site. The site is definitely cool, but what makes T in the Park distinctive is the people that come here and the vibe. It’s all about the crowd in Scotland.”

Tord Knudsen (bass): “It was amazing today. We haven’t played T since 2008. But that year we did 270 gigs so I can’t really remember T! That was obviously on the old site, but this is a lot nicer. It really reminds me of Norway, where I’m from, with all these pine trees. It feels homely to me. And it’s wonderful to be playing in the woods.

“The sun came out just as we played, and the vibe off the audience was fantastic. The Scottish crowds are always really up for it – friendly and full of positive energy, from the word go. It just makes it so much easier for us on stage. You feed off the T crowd, and when you get that energy from them you want to give it back.

“And this artist village is really lovely – really green!”

Laurie Vincent (guitarist, vocals): “We played BBC Introducing last year. The vibes were great.”

Isaac Holman (drums, vocals): “There wasn’t so many people to see us last year, certainly compared to this year, but they were totally up for it. It was just a completely different experience for us this year. Last year we dipped our toe in the water.

Laurie: “We love this new festival site. I don’t need to compare it to anything to say that it is lovely. Magical.”

Isaac: “I’d love to have a castle like Strathallan. Slaves Castle! Pull up the drawbridge! We’d have a wing each and get someone to graffiti the outside of it. And we’d have a moat, but a modern one – you can swim in it.”

Laurie: “Next year when we’re back headlining the main stage, we’ll be demanding to stay in the castle as our dressing rom. Mate, that’d be so good.”

Isaac: “But we’re staying till 11pm tonight. Annie Mac’s invited us for drinks. How weird is that? Surreal. Lovely lady.”

Laurie: “But to anyone who’s not been at T in the Park, I’d tell them: come, you get the best crowds. They’re going for it, big-style!”

Callum Wiseman (guitarist): “I first came to T in the Park in 2003. I don’t think I saw a single band. Yes, I was mostly in the campsite… honestly, it was my first time out of Shetland.”

Lewis Gardiner (drummer): “That was my first time as well, but we never knew each other.”

Stewart Brock (singer): “My first year was 2005, and it was with Louis, when we played in our old band, Drive By Argument on the T Break Stage. I remember we got there the night before and we didn’t know what we were doing, so we ended up taking all our gear into the tent, and slept with all our gear, then the next day walked into the T Break tent, through the main entrance, with all punters, carrying our gear. But I think between us we’ve been here 20-odd times. And we played as Prides two years ago on the T Break stage. And this year, our album is released today, so this is like our album launch party.”

Callum: “T break has always been a great stepping stone for bands.”

Lewis: “We were comparing the riders you get on T Break and the Main Stage. T Break – we got a case of Tennent’s, but it was warm. But today we had a case, it was cold, and it was arranged nicely in a bucket, with ice. That’s when you know you’ve arrived, when your Tennent’s is cold.”

Stewart: “When we got the word through that we were gonna be the first band on the Main Stage at the new site, we were proper, proper chuffed. It’s like being a little slice of history at the festival that we’ve all been at so many times. T in the Park feels like our home turf, so it’s nice to be a part of it. And we love the new site – just looking out from the Main Stage, how everything’s arranged is really cool and makes sense.”

Lewis: “And it’s nice and leafy.”

Stewart: “It’s a beautiful site as well. We were just thinking earlier; who let us in here? Who let this happen? It’s amazing! There’s a Slam Tent in this beautiful countryside! It is incredible, and you obviously need a massive amount of support to put on something like T, so more power to the people at Strathallan who’ve put this on.

Prides made T in the Park history when they became the first band to play the Main Stage at the festival’s new home Strathallan Castle. Two Prides fans were invited onto stage by Stewart Brock, during the third song of the set – Higher Love, and said:

Tracey Faye McIntyre, 25, from Uddingston, said: “That was absolutely insane. Prides are my favourite band, and to be on stage with them – the first band to play T in the Park at Strathallan – it’s mindblowing. Their album’s out today as well, and it was such a big moment. The album’s absolutely incredible. I love them so much it’s ridiculous.

“I think the new site is really picturesque, really lovely and I can’t wait to see the potential it’s going to bring to T in the Park.”

“I love Prides, it was so amazing. I’ve never been to T in the Park before – this is my first T, so to be on stage with the first band – I don’t know how I’m going to ever be able to top that!”

Mike Duce (singer): “We were the first band on the Radio 1 stage today. It’s always a funny one when you’re opening – it takes until you’re playing for people to go, ‘what’s going on here?’ and come over. But it was a lot better than I expected! You can always rely on the Scottish crowd to go rowdy.

“We played T in the Park two years ago. It was alright – well, we as a band were actually going through some difficult times. In fact we actually broke up that day. But it wasn’t T that broke us! It was a whole multitude of things, and that gig was particularly intense – we got off stage and were like well that’s it then, and everyone was like, ‘yeah, cool.’ And my girlfriend at the time was from Edinburgh, and I stayed at hers. And the next day I called my mum and said, ‘I’ve been in the band for ten years, I think it’s time to call it a day.’ And I was expecting her to say, ‘NO! You’re crazy!’ But instead she went: ‘Yeah, it’s probably for the best…’ I was like, ‘oh for God’s sake! OK, that’s it then.’

“But then we decided against it, stuck together, and our last album has been the most successful one to date. So it’s nice to be coming back to T on a high after that last visit. So we’re gonna hang around and have a few beers.”

“And this new site is fantastic – they’ve kept the artists’ area as brilliant as it was before.”

“Everywhere we go we bring our vibes – our positive vibes to the people. That’s sunshine, that’s make-you-wanna-move vibes. So it doesn’t matter where we are, when we’re on stage it’s New Africa – you’re gonna forget where you are when we’re on stage.

“So we’re gonna christen this new place nicely, it’s never gonna be the same. Man, I love the vibe here – I love when so many people can get together like this and it’s all just good energy in the air. And with all the trees, obviously we’re connecting with nature. If you’re not here connecting with nature, you’re connecting with something fake. SO COME HERE AND CONNECT WITH NATURE, AND LET’S HAVE FUN!

“I’ve known ever since I was young that T in the Park has always been a platform that to me is just so respected. I see all my favourite acts. So it’s a pleasure to actually be in this position of being here – I used to watch the videos and see all the different artists performing. There’s always such a broad range of artists at T in the Park, and I love that they also provide that platform for up and coming artist.

“And after my set today, I want to catch the vibes – you’re gonna see me running around. Security is gonna try and stop me and I’ll be like, ‘no, I’m free, I’m with nature!’”

“I was at T in the Park last year, singing with Bombay Bicycle Club and Clean Bandit – they happened to be on the same day, so I came up and did one song with each of them. It was quite crazy to go on such a big stage, and the reaction was amazing. Scottish people just have a great attitude to music. But that was a lot of pressure – I didn’t want to mess up their gig! So if I mess up today it’s only my fault!

“Last year I didn’t go out the front at all – I felt a bit of a ponce for doing that! – but this year I’ve been out already, so I’m really happy about that. And the hills and trees vibe is fantastic. My parents live in the Lake District, so this is my natural environment. I like to be around nature, and the backstage area is super-nice with all the forest around it. And when you’re in the midst of nature like this it gives you some perspective. You can tell what your position on the earth is!

“But you do get looked after really well backstage at T in the Park – the catering is amazing. There isn’t another festival like it.”

Kitty Durham: “We’ve arrived so early that we can’t get in our dressing room, but we’re just hanging about drinking lager – and the lager is nice and cold, so it’s lovely.

Daisy Durham: “We did play T in the Park a couple of years ago, but we can’t remember much about it. But what we’ve seen of this new site, the trees are lovely. And our mum’s booked herself in for a haircut in the artists area, she’s going for a Seventies-style. So she’s gonna come on stage with a new image. But our dad’s not doing that – he’s bald.”

Stefani Lawrence (singer): “We were the first band on the T Break Stage. It was so amazing. I’ve wanted to play T in the Park for years, so to finally have the opportunity was just fantastic.

Andrew Black (keyboards): “I think over a thousand bands applied to perform on the T Break Stage this year – I think it’s been one of the biggest years because its grown and grown in popularity – and they chose 16. So we were completely privileged and touched that they wanted us to do it.

Stefani: “We’re unrepresented. We don’t have a label, we don’t have management. So it’s a huge deal for an unsigned band that are doing it themselves.”

Andrew: “it’s really hard for new bands to get heard, and T Break is the first rung on the ladder. You need that to grow. It’s fantastic that you can walk out and 200 people who maybe hadn’t heard us before are there to watch us.”

Stefani: “We came here in 2012 as punters and had a fantastic time.”

Andrew: “I played with another band that year, too, and the year after, then we came as Apache Darling last year, just to introduce ourselves. We did an interview with the Daily Record and said we were gonna play this year, and it came true. So if we say right now that we’ll be on the main stage in 2016, that has to happen.”

Stefani: “And we love this new site. I love the trees – it feels like we’re in the woods. And it’s also a little bit smaller – it’s quick to get around. It was so straightforward getting from T Break to BBC Introducing to Main Stage to Radio 1. It’s brilliantly compact.”

Andrew: “You feel like you’ve wandered into something that’s natural and real. Rather than that sense of, ‘here’s a big field, good luck.”

Stefani: “And we’re staying here all weekend, and we’re gonna see some great local bands: Vukovi, who are on BBC Introducing, from Kilmarnock. And Miaoux Miaoux who are Glasgow-based. And The Van T’s from Glasgow on T Break on Sunday.”

Andrew: “We’ve met all these bands on the Glasgow scene, and we’re all friends and see each other in rehearsal studios all the time. People on the scene generally do help each other out, and it’s great that so many of them are getting a chance at T in the Park. Tennent’s are great at looking after local and Scottish bands.”

Mark Trotter (guitarist): “We played last year, on the T Break Stage – that was an amazing day, scorching sunshine. We were on the same stage this year, but quite a bit later. It’s a great festival, and this new site is really nice.”

Louie: “We’re headlining the Transmissions Stage tonight, our third time – we started on BBC Introducing, then did T Break. To be honest I think we weren’t ready that first time. We’d made a tune and put it on Soundcloud, and it got picked up by Huw Stevens and Ally McRae. But we only had three or four songs and we got asked to play T in the Park. So in hindsight we struggled a bit to cobble it together – we’d only been a band for four months. But you’d never knock it back. Do you want to play the biggest festival in Scotland? How can you say no. And even if your manager said, ‘nah, guys, you’re not ready’, you’d just get rid of him.

“But then we played the T Break Stage a couple of years later and we absolutely rammed the tent. People knew all the words to our songs. It just felt genuine, a real level up from what we’d done before.

“You play T in the Park and it’s a real good footing – especially internationally, when you’re going to play in Europe and America. It gives your agent some clout – here’s this band who’ve played this big festival in Scotland with a huge crowd. It makes you feel like an authentic band. It means there’s a big buzz about it; it says, ‘this band are serious.’”

“Glastonbury and Reading/Leeds now have tents for emerging acts. But I think the idea started here, more than 20 years ago. And this new site looks great – it’s a lot easier to access, everything seems a lot closer. And it feels magical – with a castle!”