After a rainy day and night, the sun peered through the clouds in Scotland for the third and final day of T in the Park, which would see Arctic Monkeys close the festival's main stage in typically rockin' fashion, while Example, Disclosure and Sven Vath ensured there were ways to end the weekend for everyone. Earlier in the day, performances from Australia's own Tame Impala, Kaiser Chiefs, Australia bound Sam Smith, Metronomy, Jake Bugg and many more proved that the festival, the final ever to be held at the current venue, would be sent off with a bang.
With Earl Sweatshirt cancelling no doubt in anticipation of a post-Eminem hangover (Odd Future were his Wembley supports), my final day started with the Red Hot Chili Pipers. Yes, Pipers. A bagpipe - "bagrock", rather - driven group who reinterpret classic anthems with a full band, brass section, kilts, dancers and all. The short 20 minute set disappointingly featured no actual Chili Peppers tunes, but we did hear tracks like "Thunderstruck", which sounded amazing out of the bagpipes - who needs a guitar!? - "Everybody Dance Now", "We Will Rock You" and their seemingly popular cover of Avicii's "Wake Me Up". Only in Scotland!
Meanwhile, replacing Earl in King Tut's tent were locals Tijuana Bibles, a tight rock quartet with elements of Pearl Jam (the heavier stuff, where Vedder really screams into it). "Runnin' Red Fruit" was a particularly solid number from the set. Kill The Waves, meanwhile, kicked things off on the T Break stage. As with the rest of the weekend, this was a great stage to discover new, primarily Scottish talent. Kill The Waves were no exception, a five piece with midi keys, electric fiddle, great beats and a unique voice (think a bit like a deeper version of Andy Bull with an ounce on Antony thrown in). Single "Better Days" was a set highlight, infused with plenty of fiddle and electronic goodness, and the set ended with "The Oak Tree". Without question one of the most unique and exciting bands I saw the entire weekend.
Next on the main stage, Newton Faulkner performed a solo set, with his own tracks like "Clouds" going down well with the crowd, though his stunning cover of Massive Attack's "Teardrop" and Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You", were well appreciated by a pop-friendly audience. Along with the T Break stage, a great place to discover new talent was over on the BBC Introducing stage. Ellidh Hadden was yet another voice to entice me into the tent to witness her performance.
With a great sound, and a three piece behind her, Ellidh was a young Scottish talent who seems to be a star in the making. Though looking about as nervous as a teenager playing the region's best known festival live on the radio would be, she impressed as she jumped between vocals, electronic drums and samples. Two of her backing men were often on keys, though one was also multitasking between a drum and a guitar. This is impressively layered material (that she calls "Electronic/Dark Folk/Pop") for someone so young, and things were particuarly exciting when they were all adding to the drums.
Existing somewhere in a world occupied by Ellie Goulding and Florence and the Machine, something tells me that we'll be hearing a lot from Ellidh in the future. There's just too much talent there not to. Speaking of talent, Kodaline followed on the main stage, with some easy listening guitar and piano driven gooves. The popular single "High Hopes" proved one of the set's biggest singalongs, and "Brand New Day" was a personal favourite.
Back on the T Break stage, Model Aeroplanes brought forth a healthy amount of cowbell for some tunes that would sit well on triple j, alongside the likes of Jinja Safari. But the award for "most energetic set of the festival" has to go to Kaiser Chiefs, with frontman Ricky Wilson going above and beyond to get the crowd moving. Running from side to side of the stage for set closer "Oh My God", he seemed to invent what I'm going to call the "Running Man Mexican Wave", as he ran the length of the massive stage, getting the crowd to raise their hands in time. Out of breath, he admitted that the action had ruined him. But what a great way to go out, as the crowd helped him sing "I can't believe it, I've never been this far away from home!". As I sung along, I realised that this was actually the furthest I'd ever been from home. How fitting!
Other highlights of the set, which Ricky remarked was on a Sunny day, "which is rare for Scotland", included "Ruby", which had everyone singing along, "The Modern Way" with Ricky on the cowbell, "The Angry Mob" and "I Predict a Riot", which saw the energetic frontman stand ON the crowd as everyone sung and danced to their hearts content. There was definitely nothing topping this. Not even Arctic Monkeys.
About to head to Australia for Splendour, Metronomy were living on a world of colour changing clouds, with all members (including an extra for touring purposes) wearing white suits. Heavy on the bass, "Reservoir" was a highlight of a set that I hope is replicated in Austraila. The band are looking and sounding better than ever. One band who just left Australia followed on the main stage, Bastille. It's incredible to think about the meteoric rise of a band who barely more than a year ago were relative unknowns, and now warrant main stages at festivals and Hordern Pavilions in Australia. But even though they're relatively new to stages so big, they have a great stage show to support it.
"Oblivion" in particular had the crowds swooning, as the band hit the keys and our arms swung in the air. "Forever Ever" changed the pace and got everyone moving and their "attempt at being in a rock band", "The Draw", indeed was pretty rockin' by its end, as the crowd raised their triangles into the air. "Laura Palmer", a well received (xylophone filled) cover of "Rythym of the Nigh" and the massive single "Pompeii" closed things out.
While Passenger grooved in the tent, Chvrches replaced London Grammar on the Radio One stage, who withdrew at the last minute due to illness. Lead vocalist (and always witty) Lauren Mayberry apologised for the comparitive lack of great hair on the stage, "I did brush my hair just before we came on though", but didn't disappoint in what was their third set of the festival and second of the day (playing a surprise show in the BBC Introducing tent earlier). "Lungs" with Martin on lead vocals and "By The Throat" were highlights, and the set ended with a special version of "The Mother We Share", featuring guest vocalist James Graham from The Twilight Sad - a local group who once featured members now a part of Chvrches!
Splendour bound Darlia, a trio from Blackpool totally rocked it on the T Break stage, perfecting that "we don't give a fuck" sort of rock n roll - popular single "Dear Diary" proved particularly awesome live. Over in the King Tut tent, Australia's Tame Impala drew a massive crowd. Having last seen them on the massive outdoor stage of Austin City Limits, it was great seeing them indoors once again, allowing them to make the best use of their typically great psychedlic light show, projecting images and colours across the stage. Highlights included "Why Won't They Talk To Me?", "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards", "Endors Toi" and "Apolocalypse Dreams" which closed the set.
Vigo Thieves were another popular local group on the T Break stage, with the Coldplay-like "Believe" proving a hit, as did "Heartbeats", which had the crowd singing along and "Ghosts" which saw inflated beach balls thrown into the crowd. Very radio friendly, the band also conjure up comparisons to Frightened Rabbit and The Temper Trap. Another radio friendly band, Franz Ferdinand drew one of the biggest crowds into the King Tut tent that I saw all weekend. The Glasgow band remarked it was "good to be home!" as they received a heroes welcome, with "Dark of the Matinee", "No You Girls" and many more of their favourites enjoying a singalong and a dance from the energetic crowd.
Elsewhere, both Tinie Tempah and Jake Bugg could be found entertaining thousands, with Jake playing second last on the main stage ahead of festival headliners Arctic Monkeys, performing a well received set that included "Simple Pleasures", "Slumville Sunrise" and the beautiful "Broken". But it was Arctic Monkeys who the majority of the crowd were waiting for, and the crowd reacted with huge energy (and a couple of flares) when they hit the stage.
Though not from Scotland, the festival appearance is something of a homecoming for the band, with T in the Park being one of the first (if not THE first) festivals they headlined - so having them close the event, as Disclosure, Example and Sven Vath played elsehwere, seemed appropriate. Opening with frontman Alex Turner on a 12 string guitar (just because he can) for "Do I Wanna Know?", the set ran through as a bit of a greatest hits medley, though they did skip some of their more energetic earlier material in favour of a track off the new album (which appeared 9 times) or a single. Thankfully, AM is a killer album and so no one seemed disappointed. Other highlights included "Arabella", with Alex moving away from the guitar and throwing in a bit of "War Pigs", "Brianstorm", "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" (which, to their credit, they still perform with energy and bravado), a bit of a jam at the end of "Knee Socks" and "A Certain Romance", which Alex performed solo and acoustic, kicking off a four song encore.
After the Monkeys finished up their 21 song set with "R U Mine?", a man with bagpipes emerged for a number, before the festival director came on to thank the crowds and say farewell to the venue. And then it was time for us to leave - as fireworks rang out around us and we moved as quickly as our sore feet would allow. With good weather and great music, T in the Park ensured that its 2014 event said goodbye to the Balado Airfield in style, where it has been held since 1997. Next year, the festival will move to Strathallan Castle and for more about the festival and to find out how you can get tickets, head to their official website.
ARCTIC MONKEYS SETLIST
Do I Wanna Know?
Snap Out of It
Arabella
Brianstorm
Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair
Dancing Shoes
Crying Lightning
Knee Socks
My Propeller
I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
Library Pictures
Fireside
No. 1 Party Anthem
She's Thunderstorms
Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?
Fluorescent Adolescent
505
Encore:
A Certain Romance (Acoustic)
One for the Road
I Wanna Be Yours
R U Mine?
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