Maximum Effect
Last year Maximo Park got a mid afternoon slot on this stage and it's a mark of how far they've come that this year they return as headliners and pack the tent out.
Sporting his trademark trilby, singer Paul Smith gives a great performance throughout what turns out to be a fine set. Crowd favourite 'Grafitti' is played early on in the set and gets everyone dancing both inside and outside the tent. They showcase some new songs tonight and it's evident that Maximo Park are a band on top of their game as the quality of these songs easily matches that of their back catalogue.
There are a couple of surprises with songs like 'Wasteland' taken from the Warchild album but there are plenty of old favourites like 'The Night I Lost My Head' and 'Going Missing', which prompts a mass crowd sing a long. 'Kiss You Better' is dedicated to all the ladies in the audience as well as Leonard Cohen and it's no surprise that they finish off with the excellent 'Apply Some Pressure'. It's some sight to see a packed crowd and the band both giving it 100% simultaneously, especially at the end when smoke jets blow a shower of paper into the crowd. It's an excellent end to a thoroughly enjoyable set and the crowd loves it.