By Alan Wilson, Rocktalk writer

IT WAS the start everybody wanted but hardly anybody predicted.

As if by magic, sunshine greeted the first acts on to the stage at T in the Park when the smart money was on yet another torrential downpour.

Fears that, for the second year in a row the festival would become a mudbath from the off were immediately dispelled. Instead, thousands of fans were able to discard their waterproofs to reveal some amazing festival outfits, and the party began.

It was also a triumph for DF Concerts and the police, as their five-point plan swung into action allowing 50,000 fans into the arena by the start of play, a record for T in the Park.

It was all so different from last year and lent to the festival atmosphere for the fans, who made the most of the sunshine and plentiful supplies of alcohol.

Event manager Colin Rodger said, “Despite a tricky lead up to the event with challenging weather conditions, the traffic management plan has worked extremely well with great weather kicking in right on cue.

“All queues into the event cleared in record time and we look forward to welcoming the remaining fans.”

Festival director Geoff Ellis was equally delighted.

“We have already had some really brilliant performances from acts like KT Tunstall, Los Campesinos and Scouting For Girls.

“Stereophonics went down an absolute storm with the crowd setting the bar high for the rest of the weekend!”

Onsite emergency services also reported a positive start.

Chief Superintendent Matt Hamilton said, “It has been a really encouraging first day. The crowd is in great spirits and so far only two people have been taken into custody.

“We hope everyone continues to have a good time and looks after their belongings and each other throughout the weekend.”

Head of onsite medical services Bob MacGregor agreed, “It has been a pleasantly quiet first day for onsite medical teams.

“So far 46 people have presented to first aid and 76 people have been treated in the medical tent—in the main for minor reasons.”

It all meant the perfect start to T in the Park 2008 for the audience, most of whom made their way to the main stage for the kick-off by singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner.

Meanwhile scousers The Wombats were whipping up the crowd at the Radio One/NME stage and Welsh indie-punks Los Campesinos were creating a stir in the King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut tent.

Enter KT Tunstall, the nearest resident among the acts at T, who played an excellent greatest hits set from multi-million-selling albums Eye To The Telescope and Drastic Fantastic.

Strangely for the normally-switched on Kate though, she committed the unforgivable sin of welcoming the crowd to Fife, much to the chagrin of site owner Douglas Alexander who was at pains to point out Kinross is in...Kinross-shire.

Predictably the younger audience headed to see popsters Scouting For Girls before a typically punchy set from Stereophonics really rocked the main stage.

But for the Dundonians at T, there was only one place to go, the T-Break stage to see Luva Anna make their long-awaited T in the Park debut.

While the nervous folk-rockers waited backstage, the crowd of around 800 packed into the tent and began a huge chant for the band, almost completely drowning out fifth member Callum McCrimmon, who piped the other four on stage to a massive cheer.

Kicking off with fans’ favourite Wooden Shoe quickly followed by Coma Girl from their new EP, Made Without Compromise, the band delivered a superb performance, stealing the show for Dundee at the T-Break stage for the third year in a row, following on from The View two years ago and The Law last year.

The sight of Kieran Webster and Steve Morrison of The View dancing about wildly in the crowd showed how much they also enjoyed their good pals’ show.

Afterwards Luva Anna lead singer Dave Webster and guitarist and fellow vocalist Drew Gray were both elated despite admitting to the worst nerves they had ever experienced.

“It was really nerve- racking, but what a feeling, it was a great buzz to walk on the stage and hear the crowd all chanting, it was brilliant,” Drew said.

“The crowd was the best part,” Dave said.

“Hearing them singing your name is a fantastic feeling, that’s never really happened before. It feels like a step-up for us.”

Steve Morrison was delighted for his good friends’ success.

“They were excellent, the crowd was really into them and the vibe was great.”

With the crowd split almost equally for headliners The Verve and Stage Two closers The Chemical Brothers, there was a brilliant atmosphere at both gigs which made for the perfect end to a great day.

With sunshine and only occasional showers forecast for today, the scene is set for another tremendous T in the Park day.