Snow Patrol at Sandance

It felt as though the city’s entire expat population - well, certainly 11,000 of us - came out to see Snow Patrol, DJs Calvin Harris and Erick Morillo at the second sold-out Sandance festival on Friday. We would mention M People, but it would seem most of us only beelined for the beach in time for the Irish soft-rock headliners, creating an hour-long queue of traffic (note to self: go earlier next time - or get the metro). Once inside, long toilet queues had to be monitored by weary security, and it was possible - for those hanging at the back - to wait for up to another hour to get a drink (you could get drinks in minutes at the front, but that was only after weaving your way through literally thousands of people).

But there was a reason everyone wanted to be at this gig: Snow Patrol played a killer set, with lead singer Gary Lightbody commenting between hits ‘Take Back the City’ and ‘Open Your Eyes’ that the beachside venue was one of the most beautiful they’d ever played. There was then palpable relief when things cleared out slightly as UK DJ Calvin Harris took to the decks to put on a charged performance, followed by reliable house-hands Erick Morillo.

While the journey home was, again, traffic-ridden, we appreciated the free buses - as well as Calvin Harris's second set at the N'Dulge after-party (attended by a cheerful Snow Patrol as well as TOWIE stars - not together, mind), after which we got a taxi in seconds. Thankfully, we have heard the Sandance team is considering reducing the maximum capacity for future events, after hearing attendees' feedback. Facebook and Twitter is already abuzz with excitement about the next event: Friday April 6, with Armand Van Helden, Kaiser Chiefs, Zane Lowe, Rizzle Kicks and Soul II Soul on the lineup. We'll certainly be there - fingers (and legs) crossed they increase the number of toilets too.