Pop princess Diana Vickers sparkles in Balado

Jul 13 2010 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

BUDDING pop princess Diana Vickers doesn’t seem like the type of girl to readily blow her own trumpet.

But the 18-year-old whipped out the under-used brass instrument half-way through her T in the Park debut on Saturday.

The move delighted fans gathered in the almost-full King Tut’s Wah Wah tent and shocked naysayers – mainly boyfriends, dads and people sheltering from the rain – inside the renowned venue.

Drenched sceptics had convened expecting to see the former X Factor semi-finalist fall flat on her face while making her Kinross-shire bow.

But the Lancastrian lass showed she’s got more in her armoury than simply the backing of mentor, and national treasure, Cheryl Cole.

Darting onto the stage in a flared red jumpsuit, the starlet began strongly with an energetic version of new single The Boy Who Murdered Love – taken from well-received inaugural album, Songs From The Cherry Tree.

Backed by a talented live band, normally sedate pop number Put It Back Together Again became more energised in the festival arena.

In true T tradition, a number of revellers attempted to shower Ms Vickers with plastic tumblers containing various liquids.

But the Balado baptism didn’t faze her as the 30-minute set drew to a conclusion.

And she went on to showcase her vocal range with a stirring rendition of Snow Patrol’s Just Say Yes.

Out came the instrument, affectionally introduced as ‘Tommy the Trumpet’, and the ensuing credibility.

It was quickly followed by popular number one single Once.

While she will be hard-pushed to be accepted into a jazz orchestra any time soon, her skills earned her the respect of many festival-goers and may well have sealed an invitation to return in future.