Top line-up is just the ticket for T in the Park

Mar 3 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

ENDORSING the view that T in the Park is immune to the credit crunch, nearly all tickets for the Balado extravaganza had been snapped up by last night.

And further boosting its prospects, the festival added four more big names to its bill yesterday, so anyone planning to attend who hasn’t secured their place yet will need to act fast.

Already boasting top class headliners in the shape of Kings Of Leon, The Killers, Blur and Snow Patrol, the event was supplemented with a host of leading names last week following its official launch.

Keane, The Streets, Franz Ferdinand, James, Manic Street Preachers, Bloc Party, The Ting Tings and Maximo Park will be among the acts joining the 90,000-capacity party.

And yesterday it was confirmed that LA actor and rapper The Game, Detroit superstar-techno-jock Jeff Mills, southern indie treasures Friendly Fires and pop adventurers Of Montreal will be appearing on the world-famous platform.

Reformed late-Seventies veterans The Specials and Squeeze will also join the three-day festival, which runs from July 10-12.

Other acts confirmed for T in the Park include chart-topper Lily Allen, Brit Award winner Florence & The Machine, New Zealand sensations Ladyhawke, Irish hit-makers The Script, tartan crooner Paolo Nutini, dance rockers Foals and cult bluesman Seasick Steve.

Fans gave the line-up their stamp of approval by buying up all the remaining weekend camping tickets for the Kinross-shire shindig a few short hours after they went on sale last Friday.

As of last night, only a handful two-day passes plus a few weekend non-camping coach packages were still available.

Welsh firebrands The Manic Street Preachers are set to play at the event for the first time since headlining in 1999.

Live favourites Keane have pledged to bring the more dance-orientated sound of latest release Perfect Symmetry to Balado, while Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand are expected to receive a rapturous reception when they make their third appearance at the event, as forecast in Music Scene earlier this month.

Highly influential ska act The Specials, who are best known for hits such as Ghost Town and Concrete Jungle, will stop at T as part of their 30th year reunion tour.

Manchester band James have been regulars at the event down the years, and fans can look forward to hearing epics like Sit Down and Laid again, while Paolo Nutini will be showcasing material from his forthcoming second album.

Further T ‘signings’ include soulful troubadour James Morrison, fast-rising songwriter Jason Mraz, lo-fi Scots noise-makers Mogwai, prog-rockers The Mars Volta, Abba tribute band Bjorn Again, and the American guitar outfits Airborne Toxic Event, The Gaslight Anthem and Hockey.

The likes of Razorlight, Elbow, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Katy Perry, Pendulum, Peter Doherty and White Lies had previously been confirmed for the event.

Meanwhile, dance acts in the festival’s Slam Tent will include Felix Da Housecat, Dave Clarke, Slam, Beardyman, Simian Mobile Disco, Claude Von Stroke and Silicone Soul.

Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk, www.tinthepark.com and by calling 08444 999990.