I think it’s pretty safe to say that this year in Sydney we are in the midst of a very British summer, and for those of you who are not from Isles, that’s code for wet and rainy.

With that in mind I think it’s pretty safe to say that this years Big Day Out  at the Olympic Park in Homebush Bay  on Australia Day was a far cry from last years blood boiling suffocating heat.  Not that I’m complaining, not one little bit, well may a bit… when I got caught in the only shower of the day walking into the venue, just enough to ruin the hair do, but you’ll be relieved to know I got over it.

This year’s Big Day Out has been fraught with controversy. Half the events were scaled back, and it would seem that none of them came close to selling out. For the 20^th anniversary of the festival, it must be disappointing for the promoters.  I think it’s common knowledge by now that it was indeed an odd line up.

However all of this aside I bundled up my cameras and took to the all ages crowd with abandon. Kicking off my day were the American band Cage the Elephant, whose stage antics and constant crowd surfing definitely injected some energy into the day.

In keeping with the crowd surfing theme OFWGKTA threw themselves at their sweaty mangled crowd with unrelenting frequency, often seemingly swallowed by the dark cavernous boiler room, only to emerge victorious & alive, moments later.

A good solid local Sydney act was next on the bill, Faker whose brave use of face paint on a very humid day did not go un-noticed, even if it was slowly making it’s way down Nathan Hudson’s chest.

Norwegians Röyksopp brooded into their moody set complete with costumes that I can only describe as various bags over their heads and possible washing machine parts around their necks, but despite their aversion to facial attention they played out a killer set as they paraded out more weird and wonderful costumes including a big robot and what I think was a strange Mr Potato head.

In keeping with the Brit & Euro fest, we headed over to catch The Vaccines whose popularity was clearly evident as they jumped their way through their pop driven set.

The afternoon was upon us and our first foray onto the main stages was made. My Chemical Romance with their legions of female fans performed to their adoring crowd as only those bigger American bands seem to pull off.

Saying that however, Kasabian did give them a run for their money, withTom & Serge proving exactly why they are one of the biggest UK acts of our time.

In between all of this we managed to head over to the skate ramp and check out skating hero Tony Hawke and his merry band of skaters tearing it up and busting out moves I’ve seen no other retiree manage with such grace and skill.

Who said the 90’s were over? Soundgarden throbbed their way onto the stage complete with a long -haired Cornell, and when they played Black Hole Sun for a moment there, I could pretend that I was  once again the same age as the patrons crammed in behind me.

Bringing my Big Day to a close was Kanye West, personal opinions aside one thing can be said, the man can draw a crowd. I pity the other acts who drew that same time slot, as it would appear that every punter at the festival had arrived to witness the spectacle of Kanye  on a scissor lift, then cavorting with his scantily clad dancers on a smoke filled stage, it was theatrical to say the least.

Now as I nurse my poor aching body I’m left wondering if the institute of The Big Day Out will be with us next year, it would certainly be a shame if it wasn’t.