tinthepark.com
T IN THE PARK
BIG BREAK
As Scotland’s premier music festival rolls into town once again, getting on the T Break stage is an invaluable moment for new bands. Kirstyn Smith chats to Hector Bizerk and Tuff Love about their own career-boosting experiences
I t’s hard to argue that this year’s T in the Park isn’t dominated by the Stone Roses. With their i rst single in 21 years just released, and a new album rumoured to be dropping this summer, their live dalliances (they’re also playing Manchester, New York and Dublin) are all about the old sound being brought into the 21st century.
What to do, though, if you want T to bring you something a little fresher? The answer, since 1996 at least, has been to head straight for the T Break stage. Its line-up of unsigned acts provides a buffet of the best of Scotland’s up-and-comers eager to follow in their predecessors’ successful footsteps. For how to make the most of the T Break experience, we spoke to Hector Bizerk and Tuff Love. ‘We were fortunate to land a very good slot, which I think is crucial,’ says Louie, of MC / drum duo Hector Bizerk, who played the T Break
stage back in 2013. ‘The buzz in the lead-up to the festival and the media coverage around it is priceless. When you’re starting out and don’t have management or an agent, getting to play T in the Park is the ultimate accolade.’ While timing may well be important, the i ckle i nger of fate could mean that you’re up against some pretty big names. This was the case for Tuff Love on their 2014 T Break experience. ‘We were on at the same time as the Pixies,’ they say. ‘We know where we’d rather be.’
Tough break. Still, you gotta take the rough with the smooth. ‘Those that were there were really nice about it. We drank beer and got to watch some great bands: Wolf Alice were playing the same stage a few hours earlier and their set was awesome.’
But what do you do once the halcyon weekend comes to an end >
2 Jun–1 Sep 2016 THE LIST 23