T in the Park Kinross, Scotland - 8 July 2001
by Nicky Wright
T in the park Mudbath
Julia and I set off on Friday night from Pendle, just outside of Manchester and drove through torrential downpours to get to Kinross, Just north of Edinburgh! The rain didn’t bode too well for the camping situation!
We arrived at midnight and met our mates who had already put their tents up.
The rain temporarily subsided and we were able to pitch our tent by moonlight.
As the next downpour started we all dived into our little tents, cracked open the drinks and talked into the early hours.
During the night a steward decided to open our tent and poke his head in saying
“do you have any drugs?”, or at least that’s what I think he said, as I was half asleep, and he was plastered.
We were woken the next morning by drips of rain coming in through the tent, last time I went to T in the park it rained all the time, DÉJÀ VU!
Cara and Stuarts tent was like a swimming pool, we bailed the water out in our cups, I think there was enough to fill a small lake!
After sorting the tents out we trudged through the sloppy mud and braved the loos and breakfast (I’m not sure which was the worst)!
We all went up to the arena and watched the bands, luckily the rain stopped so although we were muddy we weren’t too wet!
We saw Turin Brakes, Elbow, Placebo, David Gray, James, Stereophonics and more! All were great but the highlight for me was Turin Brakes, oh and the couple who decided to have a mudfight during James!
Julia and I managed to get lost on our return to the tents, we were sent on a wild goose chase by the stewards so, if you need to know where to go basically you’re on your own!
On Sunday the sun came out – FANTASTIC!
We all waded to the Main Stage, as we were there to see Texas headline that evening.
Julia and I managed to get to the front, along with Alison who arrived that morning.
We saw Feeder, Toploader, Coldplay and Beck before Texas.
Coldplay were phenomenal, just so good I can’t describe, all the crowd sung ‘Yellow’ as the sun came out, what a great atmosphere!
Chris, the lead singer decided to launch himself off the stage into the mud, with his guitair still attached and then he threw himself to the crowd, WHAT A GUY!
Texas…….
The band came on stage to Zero Zero and the crowd were cheering madly, it got pretty squashed up front as they opened with I don’t want a lover and everybody danced in the mud.
Sharleen ,Mark One and Eddie played In Demand as an acoustic version which sounded ‘Tops’!
and of course there was the ritual embarrassing of three Scottish blokes dancing on stage with Sharleen, Charlotte and Nicole, who put the lads to shame!
The set was over all too quick but it was well worth all the mud and rain!
The security guard on stage was actually the same one who I chatted to at the Texas gigs at the SECC, he spotted me on the font row and threw the set list down to me bundled up in a roll of gaffer tape!
What a nice bloke! You can’t beat northerners, they’re the best! But then I would say that seen as though I’m a northener myself!
T in the Park is a really good festival but I tell you what……………………………………………………..
It’s bloody nice to take off your filthy boots and get in the shower!
Nicky
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