Sunday afternoon saw the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare taken over by the popular one-day festival, T4 on the Beach. Now in its 8th year, the annual event boosts all the tourist attractions and economy in the area by nearly a third, and is a big hit with some of the top popstars across the world. With tickets priced at £35, it was unsurprising that they were snapped up in double-quick time. For those, including myself, at least you can take comfort from watching an afternoon of top-quality music and entertainment live on Channel 4.
The event was hosted by the popular T4 presenters, Rick Edwards, Miquita Oliver and Steve Jones, who keeps coming back to host the prestigious event every year, despite the constant rumours that suggest he is on the verge of signing an exclusive deal with the BBC. The presenters managed to pull all the stops out to attract a dazzling line-up of talent to the 2010 festival – Quite possibly the strongest they’ve managed to attract.
On the bill were the likes of Pixie Lott, JLS, Dizzee Rascal, Scouting for Girls, Jason Derulo, the Saturdays, Plan B, Alexandra Burke, Tiny Tempah, The Hoosiers, Taio Cruz and Ellie Goulding. It promised a lot on paper, but things are never concluded on paper, they have to happen on the day. Sadly, this didn’t seem to be the case. Some of the acts did themselves a load of credit. Derulo got the crowd going, and certainly the pulses of many crazy girl heartbeats, by stripping out of his top during his live performance. Pixie Lott’s reputation continues to grow, with another bustling live performance, and is starting to move ahead of Florence + the Machine, as the biggest breakthrough act of recent times. Another threat for that crown comes from the gifted Ellie Goulding. Goulding, who won the Critics Choice Award at this year’s BRITS, is going from strength and strength, and is only bound to get better, even if she hasn’t won my full support for her talent quite yet. JLS closed the show this year, and put in another top-notch performance, even though it was limited to two songs, and their new single may lack in gaining the attention, that ‘Everybody In Love’ and ‘Beat Again’ manage to acclaim.
Among the disappointments, were The Saturdays, who were lacking the presence of one of their members, through illness? As a result, it showed, as the girls struggled on without her. Derulo aside, most of the international stars seemed more interested in the girls, rather than their own performances. The weather was grey, windy and dismal, which was disappointing, considering the recent heat haze that the country is enjoying. Although Gok Wan did his best as a guest host, the stars of Skins, The Inbetweeners and Hollyoaks – normally full of co-stars, were also distinctly missing from the action in 2010. T4’s surprise guest, the annoying and irritating Jedward turned up and performed. To be honest, the less said about those twins, the better for this country. The day they get a No.1, will be the day that music officially dies. Fingers crossed that will never happen then! They may be entertaining at times, but their vocal talents are simply non-existent. Presenting is more of a possible career path; singing certainly will never fit the talk of X-Factor 2009. Another bloke who you wouldn’t mind giving a good old slap, is Louis Spence from Pineapple Dance Studios. Though his hard work with his studios can’t be faulted, his personality is nothing short of bordering onto pure madness.
I had high hopes for T4 on the Beach 2010, but like many items before this year, such as England’s diabolical World Cup performance, the letdown of Britain’s Got Talent and the expected failure of the Eurovision Song Contest, it lacked some of the entertainment, musical and comedy value that it traditionally brings. It was a disappointing outcome, for such a top-notch bill; let’s hope it bounces back next summer.
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