British Music Festival Review - T in the Park!

T in the Park (also known as T) is in it's 22nd year and this year it's moving to Strathallan Castle in Perthshire. It was on the 10th July - 12th July 2015. It also happened to be my first year at the festival! 

 

Preparation
 

I got an early bird ticket to T last July and I already knew I would be camping at my friends house who's birthday was on the Saturday. We plus one other friend were travelling by CityLink every day to and from the grounds. 
 

I also prepared 3 outfits which covered all weathers (it is Scotland after all) and checked the weather forecast religiously. I bought clothes from Primark as if they got muddy I wouldn't be too upset. I think all my clothes cost me £40 for the whole 3 days!! 
 

The line up this year also looked really good! Names such as Sam Smith, Avicii, Hozier, Kodaline, Ella Eyre, Jessie J, George Ezra, The Script, Charli XCX, The View, James Bay, Noel Gallaghers' High Flying Birds and Paloma Faith were all going to be there. 
 

Before going to T I felt really excited that I was part of the hype for the festival but also a bit apprehensive that it was going to live up to the expectations of recent years. Watching T20 and T21 on television was amazing but I hoped the atmosphere that was shown on TV would be the same if not better in person.
 

Friday 10th July
 

I watched:

- Main Stage -
 

Sam Smith, Rudimental, Hozier
 

- Radio 1 Stage -
 

David Guetta, Sigma, Fuse ODG
 

- King Tuts Wah Wah Tent -
 

Jessie Ware, Hannah Wants
 

The first set I watched at T was the last half of Jessie Ware's. I'd never heard of her before but she was an absolutely incredible performer! She was gorgeous too and had an amazing voice! Hannah Wants was after that and likewise was a stunning singer.
 

I then started to watch a bit of The Wombats but I didn't really enjoy their songs so we quickly moved to Fuse ODG which was great! I'm not usually a fan of that style of music but this weekend completely changed that and alongside Sigma really got my weekend started. When Sigma played "Higher" and "Nobody to Love" the crowd went crazy it was such a good atmosphere!
 

I then went to see Hozier. All I can say is Wow. His voice sounds better on stage than it does on CD. My favourite song was 'Someone New' it blew me away! When he played 'Take Me To Church' I was overwhelmed how amazing he sounded! I'll definitely be buying a few more tunes of his!
 

After that was Rudimental and although I didn't think I knew any of their stuff a few pieces came up that I knew and sung along to. They were great performers and knew how to keep the crowd going.
 

Sam Smith. I love him. He was the highlight of Day 1 and I absolutely loved every second of his set. An incredible voice and a great song choice. If you just read some of the verses from his songs they make perfect sense and have such deep meanings which he explained briefly to us. I am now waiting for him to tour back up to Scotland to see him again. A very good performance.
 

To close my first day at T I went to see David Guetta. I really enjoyed his set and was dancing around with everyone else. A lot of people turned out to see Guetta and it was a real party atmosphere that deserved the main stage rather than Radio 1 stage.

Saturday 11th July

I watched:

- Main Stage -
 

Avicii, The Script, George Ezra, Jessie J
 

- Radio 1 Stage -
 

Alt-J, Charli XCX
 

To start my second day off we went to see Charli XCX. We were really close up to the front as well which was amazing!! I don't like to comment on women's figures but she's obviously worked really hard for her body and deserves a massive compliment! She is absolutely stunning! Her set was really good too and set me up for the day.
 

Next was Jessie J and likewise had an amazing set. She held the stage so well and kept the crowd entertained with her dancing and her funny comments. Straight after was George Ezra and he was a breath-taking singer. I couldn't believe he'd written so many songs! Would definitely like to see both of them again soon.
 

I feel that The Script are honestly the most dedicated to their fans. I mean why else would they go into the audience and take photos with people mid song. I'd forgotten about most of the songs they had sung and it was great to relive them. A fantastic set for a fantastic band.
 

Avicii was last on for Saturday night. He was another party-starter. I loved his stage set too with all the LED boards and polytechnics in sync with the beat of the music. I great end to Day 2.
 

Sunday 12th July

I watched:

- Main Stage -
 

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Paloma Faith, James Bay
 

- King Tuts Wah Wah Tent -
 

Above & Beyond, Clean Bandit
 

For my final day we started with James Bay. He was really good and when he sang "Hold Back The River" the crowd singing blew me away. He had a really good set but I felt the atmosphere was somewhat lacking.

Next act of the day was Paloma Faith. WOW! Her personality really shone through and I really wish she had a longer set. She came across as a really likeable person and sung amazingly too. I'm definitely looking out for a tour ticket soon!

After Paloma's jaw-dropping show we headed to Clean Bandit! I loved Clean Bandit already because let's be honest who else can get orchestral instruments into the charts? They blew me away and I'm looking for a gig of theirs because they were another act who were so much better live than on iTunes.

Once Clean Bandit finished it was a quick food stop then back to Above and Beyond. They were the only band I disliked as there club music didn't really make me feel like dance. Nevertheless there were plenty of people enjoying themselves - each to their own I suppose

We made it back to see the end of Noel Gallagher's set and sung along to 'Don't Look Back in Anger'. A great song to end my first T!


For anyone wondering whether they should go or not I recommend you do. Not only do you see so many singers in one place over one weekend but you meet so many new people! Everyone at music festivals are super friendly and so chilled out it's refreshing to speak to them!

I hope you've enjoyed my review and I'll see you next time!

Teen Tips: Prom Planning!

It's prom season! In Scotland we have prom as well but it's not on the same scale as it is in America. Having said that it is still essential to plan every detail and I am here to help!

Step 1: Make a List

It's quite easy to forget something so have a list on your phone of everything you need. If you remember you've not put something down then add it! My list included a dress, flat shoes (I'm 6 foot 4 so I wanted to look reasonable height in photos), hair ideas, nail ideas, make up ideas (I was doing them all myself), jewellery, bag, and a disposable camera. My school ran a bus to transport everyone to this really fancy hotel so I didn't need to worry about that but for your prom you might have to add that to your list.

Item 1: Dress

It's really important that you feel comfortable in your dress. If you don't feel comfortable then you won't enjoy yourself as much. I made sure that I went dress shopping first thing in the morning after breakfast. That way my measurements included a full stomach so I didn't have to starve myself on prom day.

Another point to add is that you don't have to be 'skinny' for prom. I refused to go on a prom diet just to fit a dress. I chose a dress that fitted me as I was and not what I hoped to be!

Item 2: Shoes

If you're in the same position as me and don't want to look too tall in photos then wear flat shoes!! There is no shame in wearing a cute pair of sandals because by the end of the night most girls high heels will be off anyway!!

However if you are tall and want to wear heels then go for it! It's only for one night and you'll get loads of complements on how long your legs look!

Item 3: Hair Ideas

The dreaded issue of hair! For this I'm going to come up with a few ideas for short, medium, long hair because that usually covers the majority of hair styles. I have long, thick hair so I'm having waterfall braids around the side of my head and curling the ends.

Short Hair: For shorter hair a classic side up-do is perfect! You can pleat the front of your hair into it or you can scrape it back and decorate it with flower pins or little diamante pins.

Medium Length Hair: Curls are always popular! You can go for beach waves or you can waterfall braid. Your hair is very versatile as it can fit into a classic up-do too.

Long Hair: Long curls are always an option but so is straightening! You can use some of your hair from the front to give your hair some height and if you are worried about the size of your forehead this will also help. Long hair can be pleated all the way around your head as well.

Item 4: Nail Ideas

For your nails I advise to keep them simple. Glitter polishes and accent nails are as far as I'd go to make them fancy. Depending on the colour of your dress will depend on the colour of your nail polish and if you do want accent nails then a silver glitter polish is brilliant!

Item 5: Make-Up Ideas

For make up you need to watch make-up tutorials on YouTube. Find a Youtuber with similar eye colour to you and watch how they put the make-up on. Try it a few times at home before prom and try recreate your hairstyle at the same time then put your dress on - see if you suit it and if you like it!

Item 6: Jewellery

Plain and simple jewellery will complement your dress. Pandora rings were very popular amongst my year group and if you had one then you wore it! Small chain necklaces with a small pendant works really well if you want to fill the space between your face and your dress. Just don't overdo it!

Item 7: Bag

When I say bag I mean clutch and this is really difficult to find because it needs to match your dress and your jewellery. If you're having no luck then glitter clutches are a safe option.

Item 8: Camera

No matter what - you need a camera! Capture the last night of your high school life and buy an album and stick them all in! Then when you have a family and they ask you about your prom you can show them all your photos!


Most of all, enjoy prom and enjoy the prom build-up! It will most likely be the last night with everyone from school so make the most of the time!

Sorry!!!

I'm so sorry I've not been able to blog recently! I'm currently studying for my exams to get me into University next year!

However my silence has resulted in me having a lot of inspiration for my writing to everyone reading! In the near future I will be posting:

• Teen Tips: Planning Your Future
• Prom Planning!
• Summer Make-Up Essentials
• Top 5 Thursday: Candle Edition
• British Music Festival Review

Exciting stuff!! I look forward to writing every bit of every post over the next few months! Stay tuned and I'll see you very shortly!

Reasons To Learn A Musical Instrument

I've been playing my viola for the past 10 years and I honestly can't remember what my life was like before music. Music is my favourite relaxation activity and I love nothing more than sitting down at my piano and learning new classical melodies.

I've played in an orchestra since I was 9 years old. My local council runs massive orchestras for any pupil receiving instrumental tuition and I have gone through the ranks to make it to the local Youth Orchestra. Orchestra is where I've made most of my friends as no one else quite understands that music comes before everything else.

My musical friends are the most understanding people I've ever met. Music has kept them grounded and sensible!! I only know very few musicians that fit the stereotypical 'snotty child prodigy' and even then they can be quite nice when it suits them!!

Through playing in the Orchestra I've also been on the annual residential. A week away learning new music to perform at a concert at the end of the week. A whole concert worth of music learnt in a week requires around 5-6 hours of music a day per band. Quite a lot of my friends are in 2 or 3 bands, resulting in 10-12 hours of music a day!!

By going away to a music residential from the age of 9 I am more independent as a result. I know that when I am at university I won't get homesick as I'm used to being away from my parents. I also don't panic when it comes to sharing a little personal space and bathrooms as I'm sure you can imagine 12 girls in a dorm room can be quite a squeeze.

Learning a musical instrument also gives you more self confidence. Although it's hard to get used to constant solos, duos, quartets and orchestra performances I can assure you that every time it gets easier. I love performing with my friends on stage and although I never see myself as Scotland's next Nicola Benedetti I can still go out and perform to enjoy it.

I hope if you are ever given the opportunity to learn music you grab it with both hands. It is the most worthwhile decision I've ever made and has led to some amazing memories.

Solar Partial Eclipse!!!

My inner science geek was alive and well today as I got to see a partial solar eclipse over Scotland!!!!

For those of you who don't know about them I will explain! There is 1 eclipse every 18 months however only 1 year in 375 years will you see the eclipse in the same spot. This is because the 'perfect' shadow (known as the umbral shadow) covers less than 1% of the Earth - making it incredibly difficult to see one.

From my Biology teachers camera around 20mins before peak.

The eclipse I saw today was a 96% eclipse which is why on my photos you can see a crescent shape. I found it really exciting as it is predicted the next eclipse in my area with the same coverage would be in 2093! Even better my whole school had came in with wielding masks or 'pinhole cameras' (2 pieces of paper and one has a hole in it to reflect the sun onto the other piece) to watch so it was a really good atmosphere. Teachers had brought in cameras and were taking photos to stitch into a video too so they had a memento of the occasion.

Using 'Pinhole Cameras' to view the eclipse

All around Scotland there was a real buzz about the eclipse and I wanted to be part of it! I think it's really cool watching something that humans can't change. Nowadays more than ever we can change most aspects of our life however the eclipse is a phenomenon which remains as before.

If you ever have the opportunity to see a partial or even a total eclipse then please do! Although the hype for some was completely anti-climatic I still think it's an amazing thing to talk about and the chances of seeing it again is slim!