T in the Park is undoubtedly Scotland’s leading music festival. Held annually in the second weekend of July, it attracts up to 85,000 people, as well as music’s brightest and best. In its 21 years it has seen acts from all corners of the music scene, from Oasis to Beyoncé, Mumford and Sons to David Guetta. Anyone who’s anyone has to make their mark in Scotland by playing to the hyped-up crowds at Balado airfield in Kinross-shire.
This festival isn’t just important for the stars playing it. Going to their first ‘T’ is seen as almost a rite of passage for Scottish teens. It gives them the chance to get away from their parents, have a blast with their mates and see their favourite bands, hopefully with some Scottish sunshine thrown in! These people plan their whole summer – perhaps even their whole year – around their annual trip to T in the Park.
However, whether a festival-goer is a young first-timer or a seasoned attender, they won’t be able to help feeling nostalgic for this year’s T in the Park, which took place last weekend. This was the last time that the festival will be held at the current site at Balado airfield due to health and safety concerns over an oil pipeline that runs underneath the site. Plans have already been made to host next year’s T in the Park at Strathallan Castle in Perthshire. But this isn’t the first time that the location has changed. The first three festivals were held in Strathclyde Park in Lanarkshire, but as the attendance rapidly grew, it became clear that a bigger, better site would have to be found.
It is obvious that no matter where T in the Park is held, the people will come. They know that this festival means amazing acts and good times. Just a mention of the festival’s name conjures up images of endless summer sun, ecstatic crowds and fun with friends, and we’re sure that these memories will be carried on to its new location at Strathallan Castle.
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