A few highlights from the NME Stage...

One of the first acts I saw was Horrors-style goth rockers S.C.U.M.. Lead singer Thomas has a unique voice which sounds like a cross between Dracula and a very stoned Barry White.

Glasvegas put on a brave performance to a half filled tent – obviously the kids don’t appreciate their music yet. To be fair, James Allan and co, with their grandiose soundscapes, are for the older generation of indie kids.

The biggest highlight for me at the NME Tent was Foals. Following Dizzee’s performance on the main stage there was a stampede of kids running across the field to catch Yannis and co. The tent was crammed and some pubescent boys even climbed up the scaffolding and gave handjob gestures to girls whilst trying to get a glimpse of the band.

Underage by name, Underage by nature…

Words and pictures by guest blogger Callum Jack, 15

Dizzee Rascal on the main stage, accompanied by backing singer MC Scope and DJ Semtex, was the best act of the day, no question.

Every kid I spoke to was just waiting for Dizzee and he didn’t disappoint. Wearing his trademark low trousers and New Era cap, his opening song 'Jus' A Rascal’ made the crowd explode with excitement and got them moving straight away.

Chrome accompanied Dizzee on the chart-topping ‘Dance Wiv Me’, but Calvin Harris was nowhere to be seen. There was a twist when when Dizzee MC’d the lyrics to 'Stand Up Tall’ while 'The Heartbroken’ was played in the background.

From my point of view it proves, not only that Dizzee has well and truly crossed over into the mainstream, but also that grime now has its place firmly within the indie scene. Dizzee would no doubt say he totally "merked" Underage.

Words and pictures by guest blogger Callum Jack, 15

Condom balloons, paper airplanes and flying Rizla packs brought mayhem to this year's Underage Festival in Victoria Park. Pimp-suited teens brushed shoulders with skinny-jeaned indie kids, uniting as one to have a good time.

The environment was relaxed and wasn’t as hyped as last year. It was weird seeing no one fucked on drugs or wasted on alcohol. The young crowd seemed to have little gig experience.

Disappointment came early on when it was announced that Blaine, lead singer of the Mystery Jets, had a problem with his leg and the band pulled out, which was followed by more bad news when the Horrors were a no-show too.

The biggest highlight was Gallows, making the moshpit form a colossal circle, causing the demented crowd to go wild - if you want to start a party, invite Gallows.

The kids are keeping the spirit of anarchy alive and well at this year's Underage…

Words and pictures by guest blogger Callum Jack, 15

I’ve had a great time today at Underage Festival. It’s nice to go to a festival where you aren’t muscled out the way by ‘grown-ups’. Here are some of my highlights:

1. Two over-enthusiastic fans who had climbed the king pole of the NME Tent during Foals' set being lectured, schoolteacher-style, by a crew member ("Get off the pole. OFF THE POLE! OFF THE POLE!"), and Yannis’s pleas for calm ("Come on kids, be good! Be nice to each other!").

2. Seeing Pull In Emergency getting very excited backstage about getting free things.

3. Meeting Tim Burgess from The Charlatans. I’m the one on the left, in case you didn’t know.

4. Glasvegas' set in the (strangely empty) NME Tent, which was nothing short of amazing. It was everyone else’s loss…

5. Florence of Florence And The Machine out-crazying Frank Gallows when she performed in the Top Man Tent. Screaming ‘FREEDOM!’ after removing a bangle, she proceeded to throw her keyboard player around the stage. Less good were the hordes of punters who turned up to hear ‘Kiss With A Fist’, and then left, not bothering to listen to the rest of the songs.

Now I’m off to Summer Sundae. to watch the relentlessly cheerful Those Dancing Days (again…), but if next year’s line-up is anywhere near as good as this year’s, I’ll see you all here next year!

Words and pictures by NME's guest blogger James Edwards, 15

Seeing as Gallows were the last band of the day, I thought it would be a good idea to head into the photo pit to use the last of my shots to get some good pictures of the band. Boy, I was wrong…

It was how I imagine running the gauntlet on 'Gladiators' would be like, except instead of the Gladiators there were big sweaty (well, bigger and more sweaty) men with zoom lenses.

Almost as soon as they started playing, Frank threw himself off the stage, leading overzealous security to shove everyone out of his way, while bottles rained down, making everyone in the photo area jump around frantically to try and avoid them.

At least I was having a better time than the kid that Frank pulled out of the crowd and poured water over, having taken offence to one of the many bottles being thrown onto the stage.

Not that I’m complaining, of course. Gallows played a cracking set, possibly the best of the day (not including Glasvegas, who were amazing) They even brought out Lethal Bizzle to guest on their Ruts cover, ‘Staring At The Rude Bois’.

Words and pictures by NME's guest blogger James Edwards, 15

This –

…is the view from the very back of the (very small) crowd who turned up to watch
White Williams’s set on the Domino stage.

Williams himself looked somewhat bemused by the tiny crowd (only 2 or 3 rows deep), who were gently swaying to his electronic glam-pop, stopping to read their programmes and politely applaud.

Whereas this -

…is somewhere in the middle of a crowd who were going mental for The Count And Sinden, just fifteen minutes later on the same stage.

Unfair, no?

Words and pictures by NME's guest blogger James Edwards, 15