DON'T try to tell anyone you preferred them before they were famous: Bach 'n' roll is coming to T in the Park.
Plans have been unveiled to introduce classical concerts, ballet and theatre to the extravaganza of music at Balado.
This year tens of thousands of revellers will be blasted by the raucous sounds of Franz Ferdinand, Blur and Kings of Leon.
But
now its director believes more high-brow entertainment should be introduced to the iPod generation.
T in the Park already features comedy, ceilidh music and jazz alongside some of the world's biggest rock, indie and dance acts and Geoff Ellis is keen to extend the range still further.
The festival director said: "It would be great if national arts organisations such as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO), Scottish Ballet and theatre companies were to use T in the Park to develop their audience.
"I think the people who come to the festival would appreciate a concerto at the main gates or a mini theatre production in the campsite.
"It would also reap return benefits for these companies who would be communicating with new, younger audiences."
But while Ellis feels classical newcomers would broaden the festival's appeal he stressed there was no danger of them dislodging rock stars from topping the bill.
"Nicola Benedetti is incredibly talented and is a great ambassador for Scotland.
"But she is not necessarily the kind of artist that our audience demands for the Main Stage." Instead, this year's event, which takes place from July 10-12, will feature reformed ska favourites The Specials, pop princess Lily Allen, Scottish-based rockers Snow Patrol, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, American chart topper Katy Perry, the Tings Tings and veterans the Manic Street Preachers and the Pet Shop Boys.
The RSNO were keen to meet with the festival chief to discuss the proposals.
Spokesman David Stark said: "We would be delighted to work with Geoff and explore ways we could collaborate.
"As Scotland's national orchestra, we want as many people as possible, no matter how diverse their musical taste, to experience the unique sounds of a live symphony orchestra and the opportunity to take the RSNO to T in the Park would be fantastic."
Stark said they were already benefiting from making overtures to a more youthful audience.
"In the last year we have had over 5,000 young people at our concerts, which is a testament to the orchestra's versatility and popularity. Our 90-piece 'band' is at home whether they're playing chilled out, relaxing classics, film music, video game themes or even gigs with a hip-hop DJ or a rock icon like Elvis Costello."
Scottish violin virtuoso Nicola Benedetti said she would be keen to bring her music to the Balado crowds.
She said: "If I was invited, and allowed to perform in the way I do usually, then I would definitely do it.
"My friend goes to T in the Park every single year, but I have never been before. I'm sure I'd absolutely love it when I got there.
"I wouldn't mind living in a tent and the fact it would most likely be really rainy and muddy. As long as I loved the music and was with people that I liked that really wouldn't bother me."
The Classical Brit Award winner, who is a fan of X Factor winner Leona Lewis, soul diva Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson, has already performed at the Glastonbury Festival and relished the experience.
"It was a huge audience, but was still mostly made up of people who appreciate classical music.
"I really enjoyed it. People listened all the way through without talking and applauded at the end, which is all you can ask."
Collins can't wait for T-timeNeurosurgeons initially declared his condition inoperable and news of his apparent demise was reported on Wikipedia.
But now, four years after suffering two massive brain haemorrhages, Edwyn Collins is to cap his remarkable recovery by playing Scotland's biggest music festival. Scotland on Sunday can reveal the former Orange Juice frontman will perform at T in the Park this summer.
Collins could not walk or talk, let alone sing, and doctors were unsure he would ever recover from a series of brain operations. But now, after exceeding the best hopes of his medics, the 49-year-old is preparing to play in front of one of the biggest crowds of his career.
The Edinburgh-born singer-songwriter felt his chance to play at the Balado gathering was a dream come true.
He said: "It's really exciting to be playing at T in the Park. I've never been there before, but my son, nephews and niece are there every year and they reckon it's about time I got there."
Collins will be joined on stage by Aztec Camera frontman Roddy Frame, who he enlisted to play guitar at the gig. He said the chance to perform at the festival would mean more to him than the earlier successes of his career which saw him hit the top 10 around the world.
"Since I have come back from my illness, I love playing more than I ever have. I've wanted to do this for a long time."
