Back at base the big question on everybody’s lips was ‘Pink or Baby Shambles?’ They were both on at the same time and the assembled photographers had to decide, but Pete Doherty kindly helped out by becoming ‘no-show.’ Apparently the band had been held up by traffic (not sure if it was drugs or road) and would be appearing at a minor venue at 10pm. I had already decided on Pink and our ranks suddenly swelled as we walked down to the main stage. I have never seen her live before and although I’m not a fan of her music I suspected that she was a strong live artist. And indeed she is! Chart single after chart single was trotted out and she sang them like she personally felt every single word. I was impressed with her vocal power and her passionate delivery, which in the live arena certainly added something a bit special to the hook-laden songs. Alongside her was a couple of very capable backing singers and tight guitar band.

Back at base camp it was time to eat as there was some time before the next act would be appearing on the main stage. Not only had it been a very wet day but it was also quite cold – more like mid-winter than mid-summer. When I arrived back at the main stage it struck me that the crowd to catch Snow Patrol had endured both the wet and cold for many hours, something I could not have done. They were heroes. I have witnessed Snow Patrol live before, twice in fact, and both times at the Witnness Festival in Dublin in 1999 and 2000 when they were quite popular in Ireland but virtually unknown in England. A single called ‘Run’ changed all that a few years later and now the guys headline and sell like there’s no tomorrow. In Gary Lightbody the band has a very capable lead man with a decent voice and an audience-friendly grin permanently tattooed to his face (which was also a lot hairier than I remembered). Gary is a big one for the ‘outstretched arm gesture’ (‘I love you all’) which he has been doing since time immemorial, and the songs generate much crowd participation along with staring ‘I love you Gary’ eyes from the girl punters at stage-front. Can’t fail really can they…