T in the Park 2009 - Saturday: Part I

It was a foreboding atmosphere that began the day, with dark clouds and a cool bite in the air, not to mention bleary eyes and sore head. Some would have thought that the chilling notion of Lady Ga Ga on the main stage would have forced the Gods to conjure such tension. The more sensible would have put it down to Scottish weather and a bit of a late one the night before.

There was no need to worry though, with the sun and cheers immediately coming for ABBA tribute band, Bjorn Again, to start the day on the main stage.

Hundreds of people singing along to 'Waterloo' may not seem like the best idea for a headache cure, but within minutes it was gone, and the enthusiasm of a crowd keen to wave their arms and clap along to these pseudo Swedes turned T into Mamma Mia for half an hour. And no Pierce Brosnan singing off key!

The hairiest member of the quartet even treated the crowd to his own unique Scandinavian rap stylings in the middle of 'Take A Chance.' I'm not too sure what the other members of the group thought, or if they even knew such a special moment would happen, but the man himself did look very proud of his efforts.

Which brings us on to Alex Gardner – the first act of the weekend on the cosy BBC Introducing Stage. Radio One's Huw Stephens promised us big things from this diminutive stage over the weekend, with Broken Records and the Twilight Sad to look forward to. Gardner was a rocky start though, appearing to be no more than Paulo Nutini's less cool, less interesting brother, even if he did have the cocksure attitude, and trilby hat, to suggest otherwise.

M83 at King Tut's brought us back to the T we'd hoped for. Their French electro indie matched the sexual aesthetic of the duo, face to face over keyboards out front, with drumkit behind a perspex class. Why? I don't really know. It worked though, and 'Kim and Jessie' will undoubtedly prove to be a highlight of the weekend.

As too will the French Quarter's entire set. Though marred slightly by those tedious 'technical difficulties' with a distorted bass and crackling vocals creeping into some songs, their Mogwai influenced post-rock, and baritone vocals to terrify Ian Curtis, sounded epic in the tiny T Break tent. They'll be taking Mogwai's place headlining the second stage in no time.

Then Lady Ga Ga began, and became as ubiquitous in the arena as she is on the radio, with her mask covered face plastering the big screens. The mammoth crowd seemed entranced though, and her mirror festooned dress did at least show some effort. There was really no need for her to show more arse than a baboon though.

I could just bare the one song (still one too many?), and the prospect of former Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros men, Ant Genn and Martin Slattery, in their new outfit, The Hours, was an enticing one.

They duly delivered, with a surprisingly rapturous and involved crowd feeling the emotion in tracks like 'Ali in the Jungle' and matching it with their cheers.

An excellent day so far certainly, which even the mighty Ga Ga could not destroy. Let's hope the evening delivers the goods as well.