Fans, stars, blister in the Big Day Out heat

THE crowd cooked and the musicians melted at the Big Day Out as temperatures soared to more than 40C at both Sydney Big Day Out festivals.

Kasabian fans rock out at Big Day Out 2010. Picture: JJ Sassine / news.com.au

THE crowd cooked and the musicians melted at the Big Day Out as temperatures soared to more than 40C at both Sydney Big Day Out festivals.

That wasn't before an afternoon thunderstorm rained down on the 53,000 sweaty punters and cooled conditions in the early afternoon today.

Festival-goers endured peak temperatures of 42 degrees at 3.30pm (AEDT) which then dropped to 28 degrees in the space of fifteen minutes.

Only hours after the gates opened at 11am, NSW Ambulance officers and St John Ambulance volunteers were busy treating hundreds of people for dehydration and minor injuries.

By 3.30pm on Friday, 250 people had sought medical help, with six taken to hospital suffering minor injuries, heat exhaustion and intoxication.

The Ambulance Service of NSW said the number of patients who had to be treated for dehydration and other injuries were down from Friday but a 27-year-old man was also taken to hospital in a critical condition after a suspected drug overdose at about 2pm (AEDT) today.

By 4pm yesterday, police had made 48 arrests relating to the possession of drugs including cannabis, ecstasy and MDMA.

Commander of Operation Big Day Out, Superintendent Rod Smith, said he was extremely disappointed at the number of arrests on day 1 of the event.

Security staff at the front of the main stages were kept busy pulling the heat-afflicted from the sweltering front rows.

Big Day organisers had planned for the extreme weather by installing misting tents and three water stations.

The majority of the 53,000 music fans spent their time queued in front of water dispensers rather than at bars.

Hundreds of people stripped down to their underwear or swimming costumes to take a cooling dip in the Olympic cauldron fountain.

For the first time in the event's 17-year history, more people watched the action from the shaded grandstand rather than on the main arena under the blistering sun.

Police made 48 arrests during their usual sniffer dog operation outside the festival for possession of drugs. The anti-drug message seems to have cut through to revellers with arrest numbers way down on previous years.

Concert promoter Ken West said one of the reasons why they had staged the event over two days in 2010 was to "make sure these shows run as calmly as possible''.

"The audience is doing a lot of the hard work for us themselves. They turned up slightly later, some seemed to be staying off the booze a little and they are taking advantage of the misting tents and water stations,'' West said.

Local pop sensation Lisa Mitchell, the first Australian Idol finalist to be invited to perform at the world famous festival, was an early highlight after the gates opened with thousands checking out her Green Stage set.

Mitchell pleaded with the crowd not to throw coins during her performance of her breakthrough hit Coin Laundry but was forced to stop after one verse when someone disregarded her plea.

"It hurts. It's like a bullet hitting you. Please stop,'' she said. She finished the set without further incident.
The Temper Trap, who spent most of 2009 touring Europe, have returned to a triumphant homecoming on the Big Day Out bill.

When the band broke into their signature hit Sweet Disposition the sardined mass roared and jumped up and down despite the searing heat. The song has become known as the "girls on shoulders'' hit of the festival with hundreds of female fans being hoisted above the mosh as the band played.

Several of the British acts on the 2010 line-up expressed concern for their ability to perform under the blazing sun.
Kasabian singer Tom Meighan had a vitamin shot injection to boost his energy levels for their set.

British rapper Dizzee Rascal, the undisputed king of the main stage this year, had been working out to keep fit.

Other standout sets yesterday included Eskimo Joe, Hilltop Hoods, Lily Allen, Powderfinger and Muse. Fans were treated to a fireworks and flames display at the end of the night to celebrate their 100th show today, which will be attended 53,000 people.