Jamie T finds his rhythm again at Reading 2014

Five years out the spotlight and the poor bastard could’ve been accused of being a little bit rusty, and there’s a slight ounce of trepidation when Jamie T takes to the Festival Republic stage and bit-by-bit asserts himself. Today’s secret set is about as secret as the weekend itself - the trusted troublemaker announced his appearance via a snazzy AAA pass picture tweet and that was that. For a guy that’s just announced two nights at Ally Pally, this was always going to be over-subscribed, but as he kicks off with an oldie and the drifting ‘Don’t You Find’, things are off risk at now quite kicking off into full gear.

That’s quickly seen to. From new album ‘Carry On The Grudge’, it’s only his sweeping return track and the more raucous ‘Zombie’ that make an entrance. The rest is devoted to huge singalongs, reminders that here exists a genuine star that’s chosen to shun the forefront for some time. ‘Sticks and Stones’ - the set’s closer - cements the fact, and Reading’s going to be hard-pressed to find a bigger unifying chant than the Stella-swigging ‘Sheila’.

Anyone willing enough to force themselves into this packed-out under-billing witnesses a giant in the making. His return isn’t just down a load of chatter - from oldies to forthcoming new numbers, there’s something spectacular up his sleeve, and the swagger in this returning gambit of a set confirms it.