Rob Horgan
WITH Glastonbury, Reading and Benicassim out of the way, the much anticipated Gibraltar Music Festival took centre stage this weekend.
Headlined by Irish boy band The Script and UK sensation Rita Ora, Gibraltarians kicked off their national celebrations in style at Victoria Park.
As the sun dipped behind the grandstand Rita Ora appeared on stage to a chorus of screaming girls and oogle-eyed males.
After a pulsating start involving four gyrating dancers, the pop diva turned up the heat by firstly removing her red stilettos and then stripping down to her bra.
With the crowd well and truly warmed up, The Script bounced onto stage and were greeted by glow sticks and Ireland flags waving from the masses.
And lead singer Danny O’Donoghue almost started a mass brawl when he launched his coat into the audience.
An hour-long set rounded off a great festival and sent the punters home happy.
Other highlights included Newton Faulkner’s medley of Queen songs, Nothing But Knives’ Jack White-esque performance and John Newman’s outrageous dance moves.
Maxi Priest drew the biggest reaction from the fans, with reggae lovers crammed in by the support stage to watch the British vocalist.
Last minute replacement Scouting for Girls transported onlookers back to 2008 after stepping in for Clean Bandit who dropped out 24 hours before the event.
It turned out to be such a late change that organisers embarrassingly flashed up ‘Clean Bandit’ on the big screen during Scouting for Girls’ opening song.
