To a "T"

Apart from the confusion surrounding the last-minute cancellation of Universe '98, dance music festivals in Ireland and the UK have been run smoothly and professionally this year.
Events like Creamfields, Bud Thud and the Soul and Disco Weekender are excellent examples of carefully programmed events which have helped relieve dance music of its illegality tag, while simultaneously combining artistic diversity with fun, spontaneity and good old fashioned messiness.
Dance music has also made serious inroads: this year's Phoenix and Glastonbury - the latter has an exclusive live appearance from Underworld - and, north of the border, at Balado by Kinross in Scotland, T in the Park's dance tent threatens to overshadow the main rock stage.
Organised by Muzik magazine, in conjunction with Scottish soul boys Slam, the tent features a two day long array of predominantly live artists including Laurent Garnier, Richie Hawtin, Propellerheads, Innerzone Orchestra, Monkey Mafia, Bentley Rhythm Ace, Invisible Armies and, of course, Slam themselves.
"We did the dance stage last year, and it was a huge success," offers McMillan. "This year, Muzik are sponsoring the tent. T in the Park is important, because it's the only festival in Scotland this year, and it has a strong dance focus. Logistically, last year was difficult, with performers missing flights, but we got a taste for it, and decided to put our experience into practice again this year. Most of the acts are people myself and Orde (Meikle) like ourselves: the line-up was hand picked as much as was possible."
Although Balado mightn't sound like the centre of the musical universe, McMillan points out that the location lies slap bang in between Edinburgh and Glasgow, making it easy for international visitors and Slam's own unique, barmy, Glaswegian army-following to access.
"Over the two days last year we had roughly 40,000 visitors, and there were times when the dance tent was so full that we had to close it off. Although I did notice some familiar faces, we'll never know where half of them came from. There were punks, crusties and indie kids hanging out with clubbers in the dance tent, because overall, the line-up was really varied."
On a personal level, McMillan says the two musical highlights last year were Daft Punk and Nightmares on Wax, and is "looking forward to hearing Richie Hawtin and Laurent Garnier, but especially Carl Craig as Innerzone Orchestra - he's on at the same time during the afternoon that Nightmares on Wax played, a perfect setting for his mellow, deep stuff. I don't care what band's on the main stage while Craig is playing, I won't be hanging around to find out!"
Finally, and most importantly, the 'T' in T in the Park stands for the sponsors, Tennents lager. Any ideas where we might 'happen' upon any neglected crates of said tipple Stuart? "I'm saying nothing, ha ha!" n
* T in the Park takes place at Balado by Kinross, Scotland, July 11th/12th. Day Tickets: stg #29.50. Weekend Tickets: stg #54. Information Hotline: 0044-0700113114