EL Presidente front man Dante Gizzi was stuck in Scotland as his country won the World Cup in Germany — but the Italian couldn’t have been any happier.
The lead singer kicked off the festival shortly after midday on Saturday to a rapturous welcome from festival revellers — before ending his weekend, like all other Italians, on a real high note.
The sun shone for El Presidente at T in the Park, just like it did on the Azzuri the next day when they lifted the World Cup in front of billions of fans worldwide.
After playing at T the Glasgow rockers were whisked away to France to perform in another festival on Sunday.
But former Gun member Gizzi says there was only one place he wanted to be this weekend.
“Italy are playing in the World Cup final and I’m spending the weekend in Scotland and France,” he smiled on Saturday.
“How does that work? Although I’m not to keen on being in France when we lift the trophy, I wouldn’t change things for the world because playing in front of the fans at T in the Park is a special feeling.”
Watched by Celtic FC captain Neil Lennon, who told the PA he got out of bed early especially just to see his favourite Glasgow band, El Presidente kicked off their set with hit track “Turn This Thing Around” before wowing the crowd with “Rocket” and “Without You.”
El Presidente were recently crowned Most Stylish Scottish band, beating Franz Ferdinand — who were to star later on Saturday on the Main Stage — and KT Tunstall to the award.
“We’ve played at T for the past three years and this is the first time we have performed on the Main Stage. We’ve been on the NME Stage and King Tut’s in the past, but to be asked to perform on the Main Stage is just a brilliant feeling. The fans here are the best in the world.”
The band’s rocky, funky, light-hearted pop music proved an excellent choice to get the party into full swing early on Saturday as the sun shone before the heavens opened on the 75,000 festival goers later in the afternoon.
It was the fifth time Gizzi himself had performed at T in the Park and his charisma, coupled with first class back-up from band members Laura Marks, Johnny McGlynn, Dawn Zhu and Thomas McNiece proved a real hit on the Main Stage.
Much in the same way as the Italian football team did the following day to complete a dream weekend for the Italian—Scot spearheading the El Presidente show.
