Checking in at the Big Day Out

BY TRACEY BOND

Last updated 05:00 16/01/2010

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Big Day Out 2010

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OPINION: It was the crowds rather than the clouds which came to Big Day Out at Mount Smart Stadium.

45,000 people turned out to watch their favourite bands take to the stage.

Despite forecasts for showers later in the day, the weather held, there was even a rainbow over the Essential Stage as the sun was going down.

And for most of the day the sun did beat down on festival-goers, most of whom chose to wear as little as possible, but hats were de-rigour.

It was nice to see free sunscreen dispensers dotted around the venue and unlike previous years stalls didn't run out of free water, maybe because the taps were more visible.

But still it's annoying that energy drinks are cheaper to buy than a bottle of water.

This year old favourite eateries returned, but with cheaper food options on offer.

The shaved ice stall was a huge hit and the scent of fresh donuts wafted over the Essential Stage.

Moving the Local Produce stage so far away from the other stages might not have been a good move as it deterred people from making their way over the gravel to watch upcoming Kiwi acts.

If there was one thing that defined this year's event it was queues. You had to queue to get a wristband to enable you to buy beer, you then had to queue to buy your beer.

Then you had to queue to go to the toilet.

As well as bands and beer there was a chance to buy floaty dresses, quirky T-shirts, blow-up guitars and temporary tattoos.

For the socially-conscious there was a chance to sign a minimum wage petition.

A couple of performers chose the day to highlight the plight of people in Haiti after the devastating earthquake there - including The Temper Trap, Ladyhawke and The Dead Prez.

Peaches got everyone to take their shirts off in the Boiler Room and The Decemberists managed to get everyone watching them on the Green Stage to sit down.

Big Day Out 2010 will be remembered as the year that Dizzee Rascal drove the crowd Bonkers, Lily Allen had a sneaky smoke on stage, a man wearing a jetpack flew over the main stage and Muse used lasers to prove why they consistently get named as the best live act.

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