Bjorn Again open day two , and Mumford & Sons perform a brilliantly accomplished set

T in the Park 2009 review

By Gary Walker | Published: Wed 15th Jul 2009

T in the Park 2009

Friday 10th to Sunday 12th July 2009
Balado, nr Kinross. Scotland, KY13 0NJ, Scotland MAP
weekend £170 - SOLD OUT, day tickets Friday £60, and Saturday or Sunday £72.50

Daily capacity: 80,000

Early risers, and those who haven't yet gone to bed on day two of T in the Park are treated to another morning of glorious, unbroken sunshine, with respite provided by a cooling breeze.

A spectacular aerodynamic display takes place in the skies above the site, and it draws to its climax and the pilots shoot their gravity defying mini-planes away into the distance. And first on the Main Stage, perfectly suited to the prevailing weather conditions are Bjorn Again.

Dressed all in flowing white and piling bucket-loads of sugary, infectious, classic pop over a remarkably enthusiastic looking crowd for the early hour, they real out hit after hit, opening with 'Waterloo' and following up with 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' and 'Super Trooper'.

Taking shade inside the King Tut's Wah Wah Tent, London act Mumford & Sons are a treat well stumbled upon.

Combining double bass, banjos, keyboards and acoustic guitars they purvey lovely, shuffling folk and bluegrass and such is the tightness and musical nous on show, that it takes half a song to realise the band don't have a full-time drummer behind their kit.

Lead singer Marcus Johnstone thumps away at a kick-drum pedal at the foot of his mic stand as quadruple harmonies build pretty, melancholy, delicate verses into soaring choruses.

'Roll Away Your Stone' is a lilting folk song, with guitar and banjos duelling and the thumping bass drum pushing everything along incessantly.

'Thistle and Weeds' sees double bassist Ted Dwayne move behind the kit and a quick swap of instruments. It's a dark, slow, moody song with ominous-sounding booming floor toms and grand piano chords.

'The Cave and The Open Sea', the title track from their most recent ep, is instantly recognised by a small, yet enthusiastic, section of the crowd and it rises steadily into an epic climax built on pounding drums, thick double bass and stabbing piano.

Johnstone, who also drums for Laura Marling, takes his turn at the drums for the final song 'Dust Bowl Dance', a majestic tale of regret and lost love that explodes into an extended outro that culminates in a brilliant, huge sound, not unlike a suitcase full of snare drums and a grand piano being thrown down a fire escape.

Mumford And Sons perform a brilliantly accomplished set and I, for one, will be getting hold of a copy of their debut album when it emerges in October.

review by: Gary Walker

photos by: Steve Palmer