The Final Fling: 15 to see at T in the Park's last year in Balado

So, farewell then Balado. The former airfield, a name that few had ever heard of pre-1997, will soon no longer be home to Scotland’s biggest music festival. From 2015, T in the Park will shift some 20 miles north to the picturesque surrounds of Strathallan Castle, in the heart of Perthshire's countryside. The switch follows a long-running Health and Safety Executive gripe regarding the current site; apparently you really shouldn’t have thousands of revellers in close proximity to a gigantic oil pipeline – not that this has ever stopped the residents of Grangemouth, of course.

Many folk won’t miss the trek along the M90 to the rather featureless venue near Kinross, but let’s not forget thatthe festival would unlikely have grown to become the 85.000 capacity behemoth it is now without moving from its original home in Strathclyde Park. Perhaps this next reinvention will give the festival another shot in the arm. 

The final Balado shebang is on 11-13 July; let The Skinny be your guide, with a rundown of the rookies, veterans and wildcards who will be packing their wellies and lugging their flight cases into hire vans to make the pilgrimage this month.

THE ROOKIES

Atom Tree (T Break Tent, Saturday)
Glasgow trio Atom Tree are one of the few bands with the distinction of playing both T in the Park and Wickerman this month. Given the quality of the densely textured soundscapes they create, which retain a firm pop sensibility, it’s not difficult to understand why they are such an in-demand booking. The perfect accompaniment for the kind of warm afternoon/early evening weather which is of course guaranteed at every large-scale outdoor event in Scotland.

Vladimir (T Break Tent, Friday)
Festivals are not all sweetness and light. Not when there’s the mud, the warm lager and the skull-cracking hangovers to contend with. If you feel an existential crisis developing, then Vladimir will give you a refreshingly tight embrace within their dense wall of guitars. It’s a violent cocktail that’s one part Pyschocandy and three parts fuck-me-this-band-are-loud. Then again, even if you’re a sensible sort that drinks moderately, this Dundee four-piece remain definite must-sees.  

Royal Blood (King Tut's Tent, Friday)
If Michael Gove’s list of supposed British values had any basis in reality, it would include the national desire to select a band on the verge of releasing their debut album and anoint them as ‘ones to watch’ at the summer festivals. This summer, that honour/albatross has been handed to Brighton duo Royal Blood. But don’t let the hype put you off; these guys do actually have songs, and their basic bass and drums set-up provides surprisingly rich and varied returns. Think QOTSA meets DeathFromAbove1979, then punch yourself in the face.

Birdhead (T Break Tent, Saturday)
When is the optimal time to take to the stage at T in the Park? Midnight on Saturday is when the right sort of wild-eyed punters are in their most desperate need of sustenance, away from the crowded main stages, and that’s exactly when Edinburgh duo Birdhead will power out their progressive cocktail of mega synths, sharp guitars and powering drum sounds. Precisely the sort of pick-me-up you’ll need to take you through to the Sunday morning.

Drenge (King Tut's Tent, Friday)
Another two-piece. With album artwork that depicts a Sheffield graveyard and a bizarre public endorsement from a West Bromwich MP, Drenge were never going to sing harmonies about California beach life. working from a rough post-punk template that recalls The Mozfather fronting the White Stripes (honest, like), the brother duo Loveless have a real snotty side, with album standout I Wanna Break You In Half being a case in point. Not one for the bairns.

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THE VETERANS

Biffy Clyro (Main Stage, Friday)
It’s remarkable it has taken this long for our native Biffy to headline T in the Park. In so many ways, they are the ideal candidates; their recent anthemic output is ideal for lighter-waving opportunities, but they can still rock out with the best of them. There’s also the homegrown factor, but that’s never been entirely sound festival recruitment criteria (see: Travis). Simon Neil has promised their tenth appearance (more than any other returning band) will be the best show they’ve ever done. If that kind of prediction doesn’t kindle your interest, nothing will. 

Manic Street Preachers (King Tut's Tent, Friday)
The Manics long ago passed the point of needing music hacks to promote their shows; they can rely upon the kind of devotional following that’s beyond the comprehension of new bands. There are some fans who claim the one-time Generation Terrorists’ shows lack the burning intensity of old, but others insist that, on the day, they remain peerless. If you’ve somehow reached 2014 without catching them in the flesh, firstly take a look at yourself and then make sure you're in the King Tut's tent on Friday night at T – a festival they’re on the record as being big fans of since debuting there on day dot back in 1994.

Slam (Slam Tent, Sunday)
The Slam tent might not be quite as cavernous as it was in its mid-00s heyday, but its name still resonates as being home to the biggest dance party in Scotland for one weekend every July. If you’re looking to bid farewell to the Balado field in which you left a sizable part of your mind over successive years, then it's only fitting that you catch the DJs that have curated the arena since its inception. Stuart MacMillan and Orde Meikle need no introduction; co-founders of Soma Quality Recordings, purveyors of the finest techno. They’re certain to give the old place a fitting send off ahead of the flit to Strathallan next year.

James (Main Stage, Saturday)
It seems unfair that James are doomed forever to be associated with that 1991 single which implored everyone to rest their legs. The group were once Manchester’s most respected post-punk outfit long before The Smiths or Stone Roses came along. You could do a lot worse than pull up a pew and explore the extensive back catalogue of this incendiary live band, who still play in the sprawling incarnation that recorded their most revered record, 1993's Laid.

CHVRCHES (King Tut's Tent, Friday)
From producers' side project to transatlantic critical darlings, with sell-out hometown shows at the ABC as well as a wee appearance on Jimmy Fallon along the way (and Glastonbury under their belt by the time you read this), it's fair to say that CHVRCHES have enjoyed a decent two years. While they might not be veterans in the traditional sense, this is their second consecutive T and they've come a long, long way in a short space of time. Their much-anticpated Friday night slot in the King Tut's Tent, essentially playing support to the Manics and Pixies, is sure to be one of the weekend's big draws.

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THE WILDCARDS

The Human League (King Tut's Tent, Saturday)
Not so long ago Sheffield’s synth-pop pioneers were shorthand for early 80s sartorial excess, especially among those too young to remember either their creative peak or a time when people actually visited places advertising themselves as cocktail bars. But The Human League’s lasting influence has never been more apparent, with indebted electro artists ruling the airwaves. None of this will surprise the irrepressible Philip Oakley, a consistent performer with a dazzling range of songs at his disposal.

Factory Floor (Slam Tent, Friday)
If there’s one common complaint about T in the Park line-ups, it’s that there’s not enough industrial post-rock electronic bands with avant-garde leanings. Thankfully, this yawning chasm has been filled with the addition of London’s thrillingly demented Factory Floor. These DFA-signings are hard to pin down but never ever dull; you genuinely do not know what to expect next from their live shows. But be prepared for disappointment if you go in hoping for a hands-together sing-along.

Dan Croll (T Break Tent, Friday)
Music fans with an excessively cynical/jealous streak might turn their noses up at Dan Croll. A music graduate with major label backing, he’s a fine looking chap who’s just released a well-received debut album that neatly follows on from the played-everywhere single From Nowhere. But those open minded enough to ignore the polish are likely to find much to enjoy in his strong harmonies and lush electronica. Arrive early, or you're watching from the back.

Maximo Park (Radio 1 Stage, Friday)
It’s 10 years since Maximo Park first invited us to sing to them in French, but the inventive Geordie alt-rockers have proved more resolute than most of their contemporaries from the indie class of ‘04/’05. They released their fifth album in February and have endured as a popular live draw; thanks in part to the energetic Paul Smith who remains one of the most engaging frontmen around.

Fat Goth (T Break Tent, Saturday)
Fat Goth can’t be classed as a new band (they’re already on album number three) and neither are they first-time visitors to Balado. But The Skinny was at the BBC Introducing stage last year and can confirm it wasn’t packed to the rafters, meaning there’s obviously a load of festival punters still unfamiliar with this Dundee power trio. They’re on the T Break stage this time round, and with the loud, abrasive and totally obnoxious One Hundred Percent Suave to promote, there’s no excuse to miss out again.