Features T In The Park 2012: Bands To Watch

T In The Park is traditionally Scotland’s largest and most well known festival, and this weekend’s 18th edition of the jamboree in Balado offers up a heavyweight line up of traditional T favourites, a couple of extremely high profile reunited Manchester legends and a number of big name pop acts. While Snow Patrol, The Stone Roses and Kasabian provide the main stage headlining thrills ably supported by the likes of New Order and Noel Gallagher, the rest of the line up offers innumerable treats. A number of the UK’s most promising bands feature alongside a selection of Scotland’s best new talent on the T Break stage, a stage with a well established tradition of being a launch pad for future greatness. DIY will be on hand for all three days at the site to report back on all the events, and here is a selection of the must see bands on offer.

New OrderThe re-united Manchester legends may now be Peter Hook-less but while they have lost their garrulous bassist, they have regained original keyboardist Gillian Gilbert. As any true New Order fan knows that is a fair trade off. Their 2012 reunion has seen the group playing a career spanning greatest hits set and their can be no greater thrill than seeing those timeless songs being played once again.



The Cribs2012 has been another landmark year for the Jarman brothers. Reduced to a three piece again following the departure of Johnny Marr, the band have responded with career highlight fourth album ‘In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull’ which they will showcase on their fourth visit to T.



Bwani JunctionThere can be no better location than Scotland’s biggest festival to display the talents of some of Scotland’s best new bands. Bwani Junction from Edinburgh is certainly in that category and their bright afro tinged guitar pop is perfect for a summer festival.



United FruitRock music has always gone down well at T therefore the pulverising guitar attack of Glasgow’s United Fruit should go down a storm on the BBC Introducing stage.



Alabama ShakesGet there very early for this one as Alabama Shakes are likely to be one of the most in demand bands of the whole festival. Their soulful take on blues-rock seems to have struck a chord and their extraordinarily powerful live set has been a big part of their rise.



Alt-JAlt-J are a band that defies convention and all attempts at categorization. The Cambridge art pop four piece are one of the most idiosyncratic pleasures on offer at T this year and their live set is a beguiling show that is not be missed. In amongst the bombast of some of the big name acts Alt-J’s subtle and inventive sounds offer a welcome counterpoint.



Django DjangoDjango Django are another band from a decidedly progressive background and are arguably the best live band in Britain at the moment. See for yourself when they take to the stage on Saturday afternoon.



The Machine RoomThe Machine Room from Edinburgh are one of the number of unsigned bands that feature on the T Break stage and amidst a number of undiscovered gems lurking on that stage this group making swoon some gossamer smooth dream pop may be the best.



Miaoux MiaouxT in the Park has a long and storied reputation for promoting electronic music through their association with Slam and this years Slam tent line up is as impressive as ever featuring a headline set from Orbital. Perhaps the most interesting and certainly the most exciting electronic music on site though may come from Glasgow based producer Miaoux Miaoux who plays the BBC Introducing stage on Sunday.



ElbowFinally, it would be remiss to wrap up this preview without mentioning Elbow a band who have come of age at festivals over the years and are now masters of their craft. Expect another glorious heart swelling performance. Who knows, the may also give a debut airing to their Olympics anthem as well.