T In The Park, Sunday 11th July

Kicking off Sunday’s main stage are veteran punk rockers The Stranglers. Still going strong after 35 years and with drummer Jet Black into his 70’s, they open with ‘Hanging Around’. The set also includes ‘(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)’, ‘Something Better Change’ and well known hit ‘Peaches’, the band giving it their all as always.

We swiftly head to the NME stage for the day’s second installment of punk, with an added touch of folk, from Frank Turner. He begins his first T in the Park experience with his one yearly can of Tennants (quickly turning into two after the wind knocks the original over) and has the crowd singing and clapping along to his catchy songs in no time, playing a set of his better known tracks ‘The Road’, ‘Poetry of the Deed’, ‘Reasons Not To Be an Idiot’ and ‘Long Live the Queen’. Before his usual set ender ‘Photosynthesis’, Frank asks punters to grab a partner and get ready to do the do-si-do. “Now I’ll play and everybody will sing, a perfect way for the festival to begin”.

As Frank Turner’s set comes to a close, Darwin Deez is just beginning. With possibly the most memorable entrance of the entire weekend - coming onto the King Tuts stage to Peanut Butter Jelly Time, it really only gives a taste of what can be expected from his set. ‘Constellations’ has the crowd swaying before Darwin asks “where are all the single ladies at?” Followed by a spectacular dance routine to none other than, you guessed it, Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’. Several other rather well choreographed dance routines later, set ender ‘Radar Detector’ gets the crowd moving more than ever. A fantastic show that keeps everyone in the tent entertained.

Back over to NME for yet more punk, this time it’s from Canadian rockers Billy Talent. Arriving at the stage in time to hear the hard hitting ‘Try Honesty’, lead singer Ben Kowalewicz is darting around with vast amounts of energy. In an attempt to get the crowd moving, he reveals “I love Scotland so much I got engaged to a Scottish girl!” As the sun starts to shine, Billy Talent provide a fantastic lively and fun performance throughout, with ‘Red Flag’ bringing their set to a close.

Accross the field, Kassidy stride out onto the King Tuts stage with great confidence; this up and coming Scottish band have been getting a lot of attention lately. With a strong alt-country / rock sound, Barrie-James O’Neill, Hamish Fingland, Lewis Andrew and Chris Potter powerfully command the stage together with thumping guitar rhythms and anthemic harmonies throughout.

Upbeat Irish electropop/indie-rockers, Two Door Cinema Club create a fun atmosphere for the audience next in the Futures tent. Big singalongs and claps appear to be compulsary during almost every song. With a brilliant collection of tracks to get everyone dancing, the band play ideal festival music.

The drizzle and mist shrouding the main arena are blown away by the fierce Scottish wind as the crowds mass for one of the weekends most anticipated bands. Bare chested and feral Biffy Clyro burst on to the stage to the thunderous opening chords of ‘That Golden Rule’. Game over. T in the Park love Biffy. In a set heavy with tracks from this years ‘Only Revolutions’, the band are in total control. Passionate and sweat drenched the Ayrshire trio are completely absorbed in the moment. No need for party tricks, this is pure, passionate rock. Biffy Clyro belong to T in the Park. Every lyric, from every tune is sung en masse. “Mon the Biffy” t-shirts, flags and face paint are the accessory of the day. By the time Simon Neil plays the opening bars of ‘The Captain’ to conclude their intense fifteen song set, the crowd are hoarse and exhausted. Like a great roller coaster you are relieved it’s over but can’t wait to get back on for another ride. Nine years of T performances every one better than the last, surely Biffy Clyro are destined for headline status next year.

After playing the BBC Introducing stage last year, Unicorn Kid comes back to an even bigger crowd in this years T Break tent. Wearing what appears to be a rabbit costume, and playing a set of popular tunes including ‘Wee Monsters’ and more recent release ‘Dream Catcher’, this young composer goes down a storm. Oliver Sabin has the whole crowd jumping, dancing and clapping with his electro-pop/synthesiser/video-game-sounding beats, from start to finish.

This years smaller stages seem to have some of the best bands of the festival on them. Lightguides are no exception. Second song ‘Swizzlestick’ is a definite highlight, sticking in our heads long after the set comes to an end. With vibes of Biffy Clyro, Twin Atlantic and The Xcerts, the Scottish progressive/alt-rockers play through an upbeat set that has everyone merrily dancing along.

When Ash take to the stage to bring the festival to a conclusion in the Red Bull Futures tent, you can’t help feel that it is strangely ironic. Touring on the back of their singles package ‘A-Z’ you wonder what their future holds. The masses enduring Kasabian on the main stage would have been better served getting sweaty in the loudest tent at the festival, as Ash belt out crowd pleasing anthems song after song. Yes you do know them all, much to your surprise. Not just that one from Gran Turismo. Russell Lissack (Bloc Party) beefs up the sound in the absence of previous guitarist Charlotte Hatherley, so the crowd are treated to tracks not played live since Charlotte’s departure in 2006. Few bands this weekend will have made you smile quite as broadly and lose yourself in the revolutionary spirit of ‘1977’ quite as completely.