T in the Park hails 'vibrant' festival fans

Music fans at the T in the Park festival were praised today for their “vibrant” spirits.

The rain clouds that gathered yesterday over Balado and soaked revellers cleared away, bringing sunny but windy weather for the final day of Scotland’s biggest festival.

Event manager Colin Rodger said: “We have had a good and relatively quiet night on site and there is a vibrant spirit in the campsite.

“Although we’ve had some wet weather we are hopeful of a break in the clouds and some sunshine for the final day of the festival.”

By noon, 536 people had been seen at the hospital tent and 17 were taken for further treatment at off-site hospitals.

Neil MacDonald, the ambulance service event commander, said it had been a “quieter” year with fewer casualties.

He also praised the “good spirit” of festival goers, who battled wet weather to see one of the most eclectic line-ups in the event’s 16-year history.

US rapper Jay-Z will take to the main stage this evening, followed by Kasabian who will bring the three-day festival to a close.

French DJ and producer David Guetta and Irish band Ash will also play.

London Grime artist Dizzee Rascal is on stage this afternoon, while Biffy Clyro and The View will represent Scotland.

The View’s bassist Kieran Webster said he had been coming to the festival since he was a child.

He said: “It’s our favourite place to play. It’s just outside Dundee and it’s like playing to our home crowd.

“This is my ninth year in a row at T in the Park. I would come anyway so being able to play is a bonus.

“We’ve got a couple of new songs off our third album, but apart from that we’ll play the greatest hits set. Hopefully it will get the crowd going.”

Skunk Anansie will also take to the main stage, while Ellie Goulding, Corinne Bailey Rae and Eliza Doolittle complete a line-up of female singing and songwriting talent.

Eliza Doolittle, whose self-titled album is released on Monday, praised the resurgent “girl power” in the UK music industry.

She said: “There are a lot more female artists out there now and I think that’s brilliant because it hasn’t been like this before and its great that there’s more girl power.

“It’s been really good so far and it’s really nice to see everybody smiling and happy despite the rainy weather.

“I haven’t been to that many festivals before, but I really like it when I have been, so I want to be more of a festival girl in the future. As long as you’ve got wellies, it’s no worries.”

Police took 40 people into custody during the event – and 14 are due to appear in court on Monday.

Chief Superintendent Craig Suttie said: “There have been no incidents of note overnight and everyone is enjoying the carnival atmosphere and festival spirit.

“T in the Park has established itself as being one of the best and most enjoyable music events around, with a richly deserved reputation for providing an atmosphere that is both vibrant and friendly.”