Blog in the Park

Live @ Loch Lomond

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:12:26 +0000

It was wet, muddy and smaller than a lot of festivals, but this year's Live @ Loch Lomond was deemed a success by all.

I have to confess, however, that the perpetual wet and lack of sleep got to me, and I didn't hang around to hear the bands on Sunday (which I'm actually annoyed about, because by all accounts the Sex Pistols were the band to see). Saturday's line up, on the other hand, was great.

Former Moloko frontwoman Roisin Murphy brought a touch of class to the proceedings, with stylish outfit changes throughout her set (I'm pretty sure she changed more than four times in a half an hour!!) and her unusual brand of dance/pop created a great mood.

Alabama 3 rocked the house, and after their performance, I was lucky enough to meet them (and nearly fell over in surprise when I discovered that none of them were American and one of them was Glaswegian!!). Known by most for their Sopranos theme song "Woke Up This Moroing", the band were firm crowd favourites at the main stage, and I could have watched them all night.

Over at the Good Vibrations stage, Pete Docherty performed a solo set, including Libertines hit "Can't Stand Me Now". It was a great set, with the stage backdropped by the Loch itself, and as the sun set, Pete got some of the biggest cheers of the night.

Groove Armada headlined the main stage, with a fantastic light show and the feel good dance songs they are known best for. The crowd were dancing, jumping around and just having a great time.

For a festival that has been running for less than five years, Live @ Loch Lomond attracted some pretty big names and acts. There were a few organisational kinks throughout the weekend, but nothing a couple more years of experience wouldn't cure

Live @ Loch Lomond - in pictures

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:12:26 +0000

Apologies for some of the slight blurriness!!

Roisin Murphy in one of her many outfits:

Alabama 3 rock on the main stage:

Pete Docherty, the Good Vibrations stage headliner on Saturday:

Typical!!

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:25:46 +0000

The weather people were claiming that this weekend was going to be a good one, and the day before Live @ Loch Lomond begins, it's pouring with rain.

The good news (if we can believe the meteorologists) is that the weekend is supposed to improve.

However, with the downpour already experienced, taking a pair of wellies to Balloch this weekend would be wise!!

Countdown to Live @ Loch Lomond

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:31:40 +0000

It's only two sleeps until the next of Scotland's big music festivals - Live @ Loch Lomond.

The campsite opens tomorrow morning, and once again Blog in the Park will be in attendance, bringing the best coverage of the event.

And what an event it is going to be, with Groove Armada and the Sex Pistols headlining the main stage on Saturday and Sunday nights, Carl Cox, Sasha, Roger Sanchez, Audio Bullys and Fedde le Grande among the DJs who will be spinning over the weekend, and bands like Ocean Colour Scene, Happy Mondays, Idlewild, Morcheeba and The Dykeenies playing, as well as Pete Docherty and Rosin Murphy of Moloko fame.

The weather is looking good for the weekend, which will be easier. Leave the wellies at home!!

If you are driving up to the festival, be sure to check out www.trafficscotland.org before you set off to make sure there's no delays.

And remember to check back here where we'll have photos, reviews and hopefully some interviews with the people playing and organising the event.

Update on stabbing victim

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:47:45 +0000

Tayside Police have confirmed that the man stabbed in the wee hours of Sunday morning was trying to break up an argument between the two men suspected of the attack and a female in his party.

Although the man, who is in a "serious but stable" condition at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital, was found in the Yellow Zone of the campsite, the attack is thought to have been carried out in the Blue Zone.

The man was stabbed a total of 11 times during the attack, with eight wounds on his body and three to his head.

Police are still searching for the two men thought to have carried out the brutal assault.

Wino pulls it off at T

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:20:42 +0000

Amy Winehouse, looking and sounding a hell of a lot better than we have seen her recently, wowed the crowd at the main stage tonight.

Winehouse blasted out her old favourites and some lesser known songs from her album, with the crowd getting totally behind her and singing along, particularly to "Tears Dry On Their Own", "Rehab" and "You Know I'm No Good".

There was only really one mention of incarcerated hubby Blake Fielder-Civil, who she was delighted to tell those watching is "getting out one week today". But she was wearing the obligatory pin in her hair with her other half's name.

Amy and her band sounded great, although it seems as though all her bad habits have had an effect on her voice, which was not the most powerful we have heard in the past.

And the soul diva managed to get through the gig unscathed and without controversy, perhaps a first for the woman who has racked up more column inches than her insane American counterpart, Britney Spears.

But you can't put it past the Wino to put on a proper show and she really delivered here in Balado.

Camper found dead in T site

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:04:57 +0000

Today took an even sadder twist as it was announced that a 32-year-old man was found dead in his tent at the festival camp site.

Tayside Police confirmed that the man, who has yet to be named, was found by friends at around 11.50am this morning, and that they immediately notified emergency service personnel. Despite their best efforts, the man was pronounced dead within the festival field hospital.

Police officials added that while the cause of death has yet to be established, there are no apparent suspicious circumstances and the death is thought to have been a medical matter.

Officers are in the process of informing next of kin, and as with all sudden deaths, a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

It was also noted that the death is not connected to the stabbing earlier in the morning.

Stabbing at T in the Park campsite

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:03:22 +0000

Tayside Police officers are hunting for two men believed to be involved in the stabbing of a 22-year-old man in the Yellow area of the festival campsite.

The incident occurred around 12.40am this morning, and the victim, believed to be from Airdrie, suffered multiple stab wounds. He was treated on the scene by first aiders, and was then taken by ambulance to Dundee's Ninewells Hospital, where his condition was described as "serious but stable". His parents have been contacted, however a name has yet to be released.

The area of the campsite where the horrific crime took place has been cordoned off for forensic examination and officers on the scene are taking witness statements.

Two men are being sought in connection with this crime. The first is described as white, late teens, about 6'1 with a skinny build and short dark brown hair. He was said to be wearing a white tracksuit top.

The second man is described to be white, 5'8 with medium build, with short dark brown hair in a mullet style and wearing a red tracksuit top.

Police officials say that given the severity of the assault both men are likely to have bloodstained clothing.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information should contact Tayside Police on 0845 6005705 or any officer or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Friday night...in pictures

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:26:28 +0000

Police adopting "zero tolerance" drugs policy

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:18:11 +0000

Tayside Police will be cracking down on drugs at this year's T in the Park.

Chief Superintendent Matt Hamilton, in charge of policing in the Perth and Kinross area, is also in charge of the overall policing operation at T in the Park. He said,

''Once again, Tayside Police will be adopting a zero tolerance policy when it comes to drugs. Drugs amnesty bins will be placed at the entrance to the camp sites. Those attending T in the Park can dispose of any illegal substances in these bins before they enter the campsite without risk of exclusion or prosecution. However, once inside the venue, drugs will not be tolerated and anyone caught dealing or carrying drugs will be arrested. We will have plain clothes police officers and specialist drugs dogs operating at T in the Park.

''If you need help or advice while at T in the Park, simply ask a steward or a Police officer who will be happy to help.''

Last year officers made only 66 arrests at the event over the course of the weekend, down slightly on the 70 arrests made in 2006. However, of the 66 arrested in 2007, only 30 people were kept in custody for court. This reflects the nature of offences that came to the attention of police officers at the festival.

Chief Superintendent Hamilton added,
''The overall mood of revellers in 2007 was fantastic with the overwhelming majority of people enjoying what was a terrific event. I think that is testament to the meticulous planning that goes into an event of this scale, the information that is made available to the public beforehand and perhaps the fact that we are seeing T in the Park veterans returning to Kinross year on year.

''Even though we have policed this event for a number of years now, we are never complacent and always make sure that public safety is paramount. We are looking forward to policing T in the Park 2008.''

Travel website set up for festival revellers

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:15:41 +0000

A brand new web-site has been launched for T in the Park 2008 as Traffic Scotland work together with the festival organisers to provide travel information for people both attending and affected by the festival. The site provides travel planning tips and a real-time traffic information service.

Here, T in the Park revellers can find information on planning their journey by public transport, including details of all transport routes provided by Citylink, the event's official transport provider, advice on travelling by car, real-time travel information, help for non-festival road users and detail on travel information services.

Traffic Scotland also features a specialised T in the Park travel information service. This measure forms part of the festival's ongoing commitment to addressing the traffic problems encountered at T in the Park 2007. The site can be visited at www.trafficscotland.org/tinthepark

Inspector Kenny Brown, Head of Road Policing for Perth and Kinross, has been working with the event organisers on the parking and traffic plan. He said,

''Ideally, I'd like to see more people leaving their car at home and using the special public transport to get to T in the Park but I realise that not everyone will.

''This year we will have a 'blimp' to provide us with aerial views of traffic movements. Those attending will see new and improved entrances to the festival car parks, along with steel tracking allowing improved access into the car parks. Last year, three car parks were open at any one time, this has been doubled to six with further additional parking areas having been identified should the need arise.

''The early opening on Thursday has been set up to spread the flow of traffic prior to the festival commencing on Friday lunchtime. A convoy system will also be in place at certain villages near the festival site, with escorted passages to avoid traffic queues in residential areas.

''If you are travelling to T in the Park by car please leave plenty of time to travel to the venue and follow the directions of the localised signing and the road policing officers to keep disruption to a minimum. Please check the Traffic Scotland web-site before you start your journey.

''There will be strictly enforced 'no waiting and parking' areas and any offending vehicles will be removed by the on-site recovery team, with motorists facing a hefty fee to reclaim their vehicle.''

Welcome to the only T in the Park blog that matters

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:48:43 +0000

So we are just one more sleep away from the start of Scotland's number one music festival (sorry Rock Ness, you're not quite there yet!!) and the weather looks as though you should bring your waders.

But, for those of you who have decided to stay at hope out of the rain (or who weren't mental enough to queue overnight for tickets!!) this blog will provide you with all the coverage of T in the Park you will need. The five members of the digital crew will be out in force to get up to the minute news, reviews, videos, sound bytes, pictures and a bit of gossip from behind the scenes at Balado. If you spot them, be sure to chat to them and you may even end up featuring in the blog!!

And of course, if you have any information or pictures that you feel we should put on the blog, email them to kgordon@s-un.co.uk and we'll get them up here.