It’s only been five minutes since Hot Press arrived on site and already this year’s Oxegen feels different to previous outings. Maybe it’s because the festival’s getting a little older (has it really been four years since the first one?) or maybe it’s because everything is bigger and better this time around (‘08’s bash is the first time we’ve had a world class Friday line-up) but all things considered, we’re liking the new-found confidence of the revamped festival. With oodles of acts to choose from on a daily basis, it’s impossible to catch everyone, but we’re going to make a decent stab at it regardless of the overcast weather and chilly temperature.

After a quick look at Paddy Casey on the Main Stage we set off to catch the post-apocatlyptic sound of Battles . Easily one of the most anticipated sets of the day, the Pet Sounds tent is rammed and the atmosphere is electric, but their charisma-free performance leaves this writer a little cold. ‘Atlas’ sounds as monstrous as ever, but for some reason their set just isn’t clicking, so it’s off to watch Belgian berserkers Deus on the O2 Stage. To say that the gothic posturing of tunes such as ‘Vantage Point’ are dying on their arse is an understatement. Despite the band’s efforts, there is no connection with the sparse crowd, and that’s a shame, because this set had the potential to be something pretty special.
Ben Folds also comes a cropper on the O2 stage shortly afterwards. Not only does the piano-man neglect most of his back catalogue, he’s also met with as much apathy as the announcement of an O.T.T. reunion. When he gives us a beautiful cover of the Postal Service’s ‘Great Heights’, we’re almost ready to forgive his lacklustre effort though, and as his young daughter comes out to dance along to her dad’s music, we are even a little charmed.