Sunday’s list of acts at the Party at the Palace in Linlithgow culminated with two of Scotland’s supergroups of the 1980s and 1990s. I went along to pay homage to bands who had been an intrinsic part of my life as a 30 something but came away in awe of the best performance of the day.
That performance did not manifest itself on the stage but came from in front of the stage where thousands of fans refused to allow the atrocious conditions to deflect from the business of the day, which was to party.
It would be easy to dwell on the night Wet Wet Wet becoming Soaked Soaked Soaked and make references to Deacon Blue’s first iconic album Raintown being appropriate for their headline set.
That would be an injustice to the indefatigable spirit of the Palace Party goers who threw the proverbial two fingers in the air at mother nature and just got on with the business in hand.
That business was to have a good time, and a muddy good time was had by everyone we encountered throughout the day.
For me, the bands took second place to the atmosphere. Folk that went along to this festival, now in its sixth year, ranged from 6 to 60 years old and beyond.
Despite the constant rain which tested even the most robust Gore Tex jackets and leggings, the crowds joined in with performances from headliners The Charlatans, KT Tunstall, Deacon Blue and Wet Wet Wet across the weekend as the Scottish festival season continued.
Other acts singing in the rain included Midge Ure, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club and Republica.
In addition to two days of live music, Party at the Palace also featured a fun fair, kids’ entertainment, a market area, a street food scene, and a pamper zone.
By the time of the close of the show, on a night when ‘the man who walks up our street was gonna buy a dinghy’ – he would have been better building an ark – the assembled festival chorus were in full voice to welcome Deacon Blue as they energetically played through the hits from their back catalogue.
Who really needs the Ibiza sun for a music festival… all we need is good music, good bands and a small libation to make it a day and night to remember.
Wha’s like us is the question our national bard Robert Burns once posed. In truth none. We are what we are; a nation of people who can party like no other in conditions which our country can serve up like no other.
Would we have it any other way? Who knows? Maybe that’s our Sweet Little Mystery.
