Tickets frenzy as top acts join T in Park bill

Mar 6 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A TICKET-BUYING frenzy is anticipated this morning (Friday) after a host of the UK’s top bands were added to this year’s T in the Park bill.

The massive music festival at Balado, which already boasted top-class headliners, will be beefed-up with sets from The Streets, Franz Ferdinand, James, Manic Street Preachers, Keane, Bloc Party, The Ting Tings and Maximo Park.

Late-Seventies veterans The Specials and Squeeze, who have both reformed, will also be appearing at the 90,000-capacity extravaganza, which runs from July 10-12.

Other acts confirmed for the Kinross-shire event include Brits Critics Choice winners Florence & The Machine, chart-topper Lily Allen, dance-rockers Foals, Irish trio The Script, Scots crooner Paolo Nutini and Brit Award-nominated bluesman Seasick Steve.

The latest batch of artists follow on from the recent revelation that Kings Of Leon, The Killers, Blur and Snow Patrol will be headlining at T in the Park, with the first three named on the main stage.

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

Showcasing the deft lyricism of Mike Skinner, garage rap act The Streets will be previewing material from their forthcoming fifth album at 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 the PA’s 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 celebratory 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.

After making a surprise appearance on the event’s T Break Stage last year under the moniker Snake Derrick & The Vipers, Paolo Nutini will make a swift return to showcase material from his highly-anticipated second album.

Further T ‘signings’ also 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 Californian guitar outfit Airborne Toxic Event.

For rock fans, the latest list is completed by The Gaslight Anthem and Hockey.

Dance acts taking part in the former airfield venue’s Slam Tent will include Felix Da Housecat, Dave Clarke, Slam, Beardyman, Simian Mobile Disco, Claude Von Stroke and Silicone Soul.

As well as the headliners, top acts Razorlight, Elbow, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Katy Perry, Pendulum, Peter Doherty and White Lies had already committed themselves to T in the Park 2009 before this week’s big launch.

T in the Park director Geoff Ellis said the organisers “had taken four of the biggest names in the world as headliners and added recent Grammy and Brit Award winners, along with some of the hottest international talent from across the globe”.

“With a world-renowned audience, it’s no wonder our early-bird allocation of tickets sold out in under a day,” he said.

George Kyle, head of sponsorship with the event’s founding partners Tennent’s Lager, said DF Concerts had pulled out all the stops to secure so many leading lights.

“Recent weeks have shown that an awe-inspiring line up was always going to be on the cards as we revealed some of the biggest names in music for this year’s T.

“It’s set to be another great festival come July.”

Further announcements about additions to the already impressive bill are expected over the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the organisers are inviting unsigned bands to submit demos in a bid to win a slot on the event’s T Break Stage.

T IN THE PARK was yesterday hailed as “one of Scotland’s biggest annual tourist attractions” by a Perthshire MSP.

Describing the festival as “spectacular”, Murdo Fraser said more than 45% of ticket buyers come from other countries.

“This year’s line-up once again proves that T in the Park is one of the top festivals in the world. T in the Park is one of the top annual events in Scotland, and Perth and Kinross is proud to be the home of Scotland and the UK’s best music festival,” he said.

“Without doubt, this festival is one of the top highlights in many young Scots’ calendars.

He added: “It is well supported by the surrounding communities and it is great for the local area, creating more than £7.5 million for the local economy alone. The festival also brings in another £10.5 million to Scotland’s tourism industry through worldwide media coverage, outlining its importance to Scotland’s tourism industry.’’