T In The Park 2008

[Blast!]

Who's going this year?

For years and years I wanted to go but have never bought a ticket. Which seemed a shame in the past but now feels like a blessing.

Do you T In The Park regulars feel let down over the last few years? From what I've seen, the line up has been pretty poor for 4 or 5 years now with only a handful of really good artists appearing. From what I remember, T In The Park used to be a festival for people who actually enjoyed music and cared about the line up.

It seems those days have gone. People who buy tickets the day after the previous years events seem to have a complete disregard for the lineup. Buying a ticket when you have no idea who's playing proves this.

Do you feel cheated by DF Concerts? Or are you happy to spend hundreds of pounds going to a festival where they will put on any old crap. Scouting For Girls, Newton Faulkner, The Hoosiers, Bowling For Soup, Shed Seven, The Feeling, Kaiser Chiefs, The Wombats, The Enemy and The Pigeon Detectives are just a few of the tripe bands they have signed up.

Do T just exclusively target the central belt neds and chavs who descend upon Balado every year? Have they found their target audience?

It really is a shame. T In The Park used to be something Scotland could be proud of. It seems those days are over. It's credibility is being thrown out of the window by a promoter hungry for more cash.

T In The Park has lost it's appeal. Real music fans are being cheated.

Sugababes on the Main Stage on Saturday? You've got to be joking. T In The Park isn't a One Big Weekend type festival....or is it?

Hmmm.

[moncur]

A lot of the bands at TITP are tripe BUT there are a lot of good artists on the smaller stages. None of the NME stage acts appealed to me last year so I went between King Tuts, The Main Stage (for about 4 bands maximum!) and the Pet Sounds stage.

TITP looks like it tries to cater for a lot of popular genres (except metal grrrrr), so its not like the other festivals around.

There has been some pretty good acts headlining in the past though, The Who, RHCP, Foo Fighters to name from the couple of times I've been before. AND RATM are headlining this year! The good bands are there, you just need to do a lot of walking between stages!

[The Pepsi Challenge]

http://www.melodytrip.com/MTNews/Def...px?NewsID=6035

[Jeid]

There has been some pretty good acts headlining in the past though, The Who, RHCP, Foo Fighters to name from the couple of times I've been before. AND RATM are headlining this year! The good bands are there, you just need to do a lot of walking between stages!

The Who? Jesus biy... perhaps I'm wrong, but half that band are dead now? I don't think Entwistle played with them at TITP? They were at the top of their game many years ago.

RHCP? If it was 1991 or earlier, then superb... but it was 2006 (I think)... hardly at their peak.

RATM? Awesome band... and I'm sure they'll be great, but can you see a pattern emerging... great bands, just a bit past their peak.

[loganbiffy]

I agree to an extent, RHCP's last great album was One Hot Minute (IMO), Californication is average(bummed up too much) and after that well the less said the better.

Apart from 2005 when the Foo's and Green Day headlined, the line-up has been poor.

It is really a festival for the masses which is why i prefer Reading and Leeds and my experience at Leeds '02 was amazing!

[moncur]

I think the general consensus with festival headliners is usually a dissappointment in one way or another. Look at last year, Friday was Arctic Baboons and Sunday was Slow Patrol (hide the knives folks!). The handy thing about festivals is that if you dont like the band on the main stage, you can go watch another band somewhere else.

When Jeid mentioned great bands past their best, I can only reply with an example from Download '07. On Friday it was My chemical romance (main stage) vs Korn (2nd Stage). Now Korn are obviously not in their prime but its no contest who had the best crowd. And the Saturday was Linkin Park (Main) vs Motley Crue (2nd). hmmmmm hard decision!

Heres a question for all the people playing in young generation bands (anyone under 30 playing in a band): If you got a chance to play TITP, would you turn it down?

[Jeid]

Korn are indeed past their best, in such a situation... head for the beer tent. At least the Download organisers realised that Korn were not a band of the moment, but still had a large following, so putting them on to headline the 2nd stage made sense.

No offence, I doubt any band from Caithness will be put in that situation Moncur, in fact, how many young Caithness bands are writing their own material and gigging it?

[theboysintheband]

Our band are...not to say that we'll be playin' T like!

Wat about ur own band Jeid!

[Jeid]

I don't know what bands are in the area... honestly

Not to say I'm writing anyone's chances off, I'm just doubtful it'd happen.

The only (under 30)Caithness bands I know who are writing their own stuff and gigging it are your band... it's the Maydays right? Ourselves, No Exit Wound and that's it. I dunno what the status of BossHogg is and Crimson Tide are based all over the shop now Estrella claim to be an Aberdeen band... so, I dunno if any band up here will ever make a TITP appearance again. (Buddha Crush did it right? But they weren't based here at the time, does that even count?)

I dunno, tbh, I listened to some of the bands that made the heats for Tbreak last year and they were a bit baws. I was hearing good musicianship but nothing was busting out of the speakers, grabbing me by the nuts and screaming in my ears... "YOU MUST LIKE THIS!" and no, I'm not just being prejudice against indie, there were some decent rock bands in there.

Tbreak, the only real chance of getting to play TITP without a record deal, is a funny thing. I know some great bands who have put demos in for it and never got anywhere with it and I've heard some tripe who've had the opposite effect.

I don't think my band would get in, but if we did... I don't think we'd say no. I don't think it would have any great bearing on the bands future, but it'd be a good thing to say you've done.

I was at Tbreak in the Liquid Rooms in 2003 and it was a decent gig, but the bands were a bit... bland I suppose. I know I certainly wasn't the only person who had that opinion.

[The Pepsi Challenge]

T-Break is a political nightmare. I know: I was on the judging panel for a couple of years. You'd all be better off cashing in your ISAs and heading to Hollywood and see if anyone at Capitol Records is interested in your record.

T ain't the be-all and end-all, folks. Seriously. I was offered a guitar-playing slot last year (in the Dance and Bacardi Tent) and turned it down because I had a better paying "gig" elsewhere.

Fight the Power, as Chuck would say...

[Boozeburglar]

The Who? Jesus biy... perhaps I'm wrong, but half that band are dead now? I don't think Entwistle played with them at TITP? They were at the top of their game many years ago.

RHCP? If it was 1991 or earlier, then superb... but it was 2006 (I think)... hardly at their peak.

RATM? Awesome band... and I'm sure they'll be great, but can you see a pattern emerging... great bands, just a bit past their peak.

Having seen RHCP a couple of dozen times since the mid eighties, I would take them on a bad day over most of the many bands I have seen.

Are you band not yet past their 'peak'? Where is the point of peak in Caithness? Oh, I mind, Caithness really has no high peaks.

Someday you might peak at average.

I would listen to current 50% Who line up play a medley of folk dirges on a washing line of wet socks over your 'un-peaked' band, mate!

You forgot to mention REM too, aren't they well past their 'peak' boy?

Hijack a thread about TITP to talk about your band by all means, just to see its name on the same page as the likes of The Who, Rage, Peppers, etc.

Just keep telling yourself that age is all that matters, that that single fact somehow elevates you.

Playing TITP would make no difference to you?

Well now, do the rest of your band know you have such limited ambition, and are you being honest?

[rob murray]

T-Break is a political nightmare. I know: I was on the judging panel for a couple of years. You'd all be better off cashing in your ISAs and heading to Hollywood and see if anyone at Capitol Records is interested in your record.

T ain't the be-all and end-all, folks. Seriously. I was offered a guitar-playing slot last year (in the Dance and Bacardi Tent) and turned it down because I had a better paying "gig" elsewhere.

Fight the Power, as Chuck would say...

Well said ! the same logic applies to the so called Go North programme and also the seedlings tent at Belladrum. Last year there was one Highlands based band playing at the seedlings tent ( Theatre Fall ) this wasnt because there are no suitable bands in the highlands, more that established record companies use leverage to ensure that their bands appear first.Best band I saw there was the Wallbirds ( from Yorkshire !! ) Sergeant ( from Glenrothes ) currenlty signed to a major, staged ( and I mean staged ) a stage invasion at the behest and organstion of thier company. As for Go North the same applies. It really is fight the power if you are based in the Highlands and yes you would have a statistically better chance doorstepping Capitol at least you would actually have the pleasure of being told to move on !!

[Jeid]

Having seen RHCP a couple of dozen times since the mid eighties, I would take them on a bad day over most of the many bands I have seen.

Are you band not yet past their 'peak'? Where is the point of peak in Caithness? Oh, I mind, Caithness really has no high peaks.

Someday you might peak at average.

I would listen to current 50% Who line up play a medley of folk dirges on a washing line of wet socks over your 'un-peaked' band, mate!

You forgot to mention REM too, aren't they well past their 'peak' boy?

Hijack a thread about TITP to talk about your band by all means, just to see its name on the same page as the likes of The Who, Rage, Peppers, etc.

Just keep telling yourself that age is all that matters, that that single fact somehow elevates you.

Playing TITP would make no difference to you?

Well now, do the rest of your band know you have such limited ambition, and are you being honest?

RHCP on 50%? Very good, you're entitled to your opinion.

I think you've taken my posting out of context biy. Past our peak? Have we had one? I dunno. I don't tend to worry about things like that.

Hijacking a thread to talk about ourselves? Not at all. In fact, I was actually responding to a question Moncur had asked and had then gone on to ask which bands in Caithness play their own music and gig it as I actually have no idea.

Get our name on the same page as them? Big deal... I'm not fussed.

I actually think REM have past their peak yeah.

I love how my opinions are turned around onto my band. It's superb. Cheers

I never said playing TITP would make no difference to me... did I? I can't see it anyway.

Do the rest of my band know about my limited ambition? haha... you know very little about my band mate.

Read the facts on this page. Moncur asked a question, I responded to his question(as I play in a band). You're keeping up the promotion of my band though. Cheers

[The Pepsi Challenge]

Well said ! the same logic applies to the so called Go North programme and also the seedlings tent at Belladrum. Last year there was one Highlands based band playing at the seedlings tent ( Theatre Fall ) this wasnt because there are no suitable bands in the highlands, more that established record companies use leverage to ensure that their bands appear first.Best band I saw there was the Wallbirds ( from Yorkshire !! ) Sergeant ( from Glenrothes ) currenlty signed to a major, staged ( and I mean staged ) a stage invasion at the behest and organstion of thier company. As for Go North the same applies. It really is fight the power if you are based in the Highlands and yes you would have a statistically better chance doorstepping Capitol at least you would actually have the pleasure of being told to move on !!

I'll take your word for it regards Belladrum, rob. It could be better. Regards GoNorth: to their credit, they did have a fair stack of highland-based acts playing last year. I can definitely verify that. However, what I highly disapprove of is their lulling bands in to sign up with them - in other words, pay to apply (to play) - thus bringing them in lots of money and with only a small % of the bands who did apply going on to play at the festival; which, in this year's case, will mean playing a few pubs in Dundee at a ridiculously early hour. Now who wants to pay for the privilege of that!? Unfortunately many do, and by doing so, they not only add to their own problems, but others, too. It doesn't help the greater good. Thanks for replying by the way, rob.

[rob murray]

I'll take your word for it regards Belladrum, rob. It could be better. Regards GoNorth: to their credit, they did have a fair stack of highland-based acts playing last year. I can definitely verify that. However, what I highly disapprove of is their lulling bands in to sign up with them - in other words, pay to apply (to play) - thus bringing them in lots of money and with only a small % of the bands who did apply going on to play at the festival; which, in this year's case, will mean playing a few pubs in Dundee at a ridiculously early hour. Now who wants to pay for the privilege of that!? Unfortunately many do, and by doing so, they not only add to their own problems, but others, too. It doesn't help the greater good. Thanks for replying by the way, rob.

Belladrum was a total joke, the seedlings tent was draped with HIAL banners ( Highlands and Islands Artists and Labels ) !! You are right about the Go North application process and indeed the "benefits" of being involved. The Go North Dundee event held last month was a shambles, no promomotion / pr nor any follow through,nothing, I know that as an absolute fact. What absolutely infuriates me is the involvement of the public sector in the "music business", its public money behind Go North, HIAL etc etc and public money has been used to "incubate bands" ie sliders for gig travel, first bite at festivals etc. In my view there should be no role at all for them, music is subjective and is best left to market forces. Why should a bureaucrat spend our money and indeed decide / influence which bands ( from this area ) are worth supporting / endorsing ?? On what criteria do they make decisions ?

You are spot on with what you are saying in this thread, you also have the experience at first hand through your profession to offer a great deal of information. Maybe another thread should be opened up providing real advise / guidance for local bands

Many thanks for your input here !

[theone]

Who's going this year?

I've got a couple of tickets with the extra nights camping.

I was tempted to shamelessly tout them.

Quite fancy shed seven, counting crows and REM on the sunday now though.

[theboss]

I've got a couple of tickets with the extra nights camping.

I was tempted to shamelessly tout them.

Quite fancy shed seven, counting crows and REM on the sunday now though.

You just want to Disco Down!

[Boozeburglar]

Astronut ROOLZ!!!!

Thatz de faktz!

Basically what you are saying is that all these bands that have an average age of 40 or more are past their peak, now I get it!

Tell that to Johnny Fatts, he just keeps getting better and he must be at least 45!

Tell me something though, Jeid, what age are you again?

You see, I am 40.

I don't think you are old enough to have seen any of these bands at their 'peak' as you call it.

So what gives your opinion any credibility?

Take Neil Young, for example.

He still plays songs he wrote in the sixties, and they are as raw and energetic as they were in the eighties and he was playing them.

If you restrict yourself to judging his recorded output, you may well say he peaked in the seventies.

However, 'live' I cannot see how the performances I have seen from him in the 80s, 90s and more recently could be bettered.

You have a lot of bands in question here that are particularly 'live' acts, and the only one you have mentioned that I would agree have lost something are The Who.

The rest were as good the last time I saw them as the first. Different perhaps, but just as good.

Perhaps they don't know they have peaked?

Maybe you need to show them all how to kick real Rock'n'Roll butt!

[Jeid]

Lolz...

Keep bringing us into it, cheers. I like how I'm singled out for bashing... Blast! who started the post has criticised the current line-up and Logan has backed up what I said to an extent.

Anywho...

No, I never said that. I never said it as fact, I said it as my opinion, that most RHCP, RATM, REM and as you agreed, The Who, were booked when they weren't at their peak. Meaning, yeah, they're getting decent bands... but not when they were taking the world by storm and everyone was in awe of said bands. REM and RATM have played TITP before... and headlined, why again? Why not let a band of the moment take the top of the bill? I couldn't exactly think of a band... Muse perhaps?

Lolz... Fatts... moving on.

I'm 25, and when it comes to opinion, age means nothing. Blast! is younger than I, yet his "credibility" hasn't been called into question. If you're going to have a go over something, be consistent.

Very good for Neil Young, I couldn't comment on him as I've never really listened to any of his stuff at great length.

The rest were as good the last time I saw them as the first

That's fair enough, but remember, that's your opinion, not fact.

Perhaps they don't know they've peaked. However, when I listen to the past two RHCP albums... I think it's pretty baws.

Again, your continued promotion of my band is superb. We should hire you

[loganbiffy]

With said bands such as RHCP and REM, maybe they haven't peaked live as was said a few posts ago (also stated about Neil Young), but i can't help the way i feel about their past few albums.

RHCP have not had an album worth listening to since Californication, even that is over-rated, and all this is just MY OPINION.

I would however like to see RATM live as i was about 11 when they played TITP in '94!

I probably would enjoy seeing RHCP live but only if i knew they were not gonna play anything from their last 2 or 3 albums.

Everyone is allowed their own opinion, i just prefer the Reading and Leeds festivals as they have bands that appeal to me more.