The weather has arguably been the star performer so far at Oxegen 2011 after heavy and thundery showers forecast to engulf Punchestown Racecourse for the day disappeared in the afternoon.
There were a few brief showers tonight as acts such as Calvin Harris, The Script and The Strokes took to the festival stages but they failed to stop the numbers gathering in and around the festival's main stage from swelling.
Danny O'Donoghue, frontman of Dublin act The Script, told the audience he was delighted to be playing infront of a local crowd.
"We're on home turf, " he said. "This is our festival."
Fun Lovin' Criminals got proceedings under way on the main stage at 2pm. The New York rock-funk act dipped into their back catalogue playing hits such as Loco, Scooby Snacks and Love Unlimited.
Frontman Huey Morgan had a few soft words for the crowd of hundreds that gathered to see their set amid a persistent drizzle. "We're so f***ing happy to be here," he told them. "Over the years Oxegen has been our favourite. We have a lot of friends here."
The Heineken Green Spheres stage, 2FM Hotpress Academy stage and Vodaphone stage opened to disappointing crowds, with scores rather than hundreds gathering to see Gypsies on the Autobahn, Madisun and Glenn Cal respectively.
Oxegen's organisers have rejected claims that ticket sales have been slow. They expect crowds of 70,000 to 80,000 to attend over the weekend. But this was not reflected by the numbers around the stages tonight.
There was plenty of activity in the campsites, however, with fans perhaps keeping a low profile before venturing into the main arena for the headline acts.
House of Pain, New Order bassist Peter Hook, Tinie Tempah and My Chemical Romance got the gradually growing crowds warmed up this evening ahead of tonight's headline act The Black Eyed Peas.
Weezer drew one of the largest audiences early in the day and renditions of hits such as Say it ain't so, My name is Jonas, Island in the Sun and covers of Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus, and Radiohead's Paranoid Android struck a chord with the festival crowd.
Fans arriving appeared well prepared for the bad weather, which has become an Oxegen staple in recent years, with Wellington boots, hats and rainwear the must have items around the festival site.
“I know better than to come without these bad boys,” said James O’Donnell from Limerick, pointing to his green weather-beaten Dunlop wellies. “They've served me well here over the years. . . . After a few hours you just forget about it.”
Many fans arrived on site more than 24 hours ago, and they were not left idle. A funfair was up and running in the blue campsite last night as well as a stage featuring tribute acts such as Man in the Mirror, a tribute to Michael Jackson; Legend, a tribute to Bob Marley; and Definitely MightBe, an Oasis tribute band.
Seventeen-year-old Donaghmore, Co Tyrone duo Clare McQuaid and Victoria Quinn said they were thoroughly enjoying their maiden festival experience.
"It's been brilliant so," said Victoria. "I didn't really know what to expect but it has exceeded our expectations."
“It’s been great,” Clare said. “We’ve been having the craic with our neighbours on the campsite…Everyone has been so happy.”
Beyoncé, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys, Deadmau5, Slash, The National, Paolo Nutini, Brandon Flowers and Primal Scream are among the performers scheduled over the next two days.
The forecast for tomorrow and Sunday looks a little more promising - Met Éireann says both days should “a lot drier than of late” with some scattered showers and temperatures rising to 20 degrees.
Traffic was busy but flowing well between Naas and Punchestown with only minor delays facing those driving to the site. Dublin Bus services to the festival resume from Parnell Square at noon tomorrow, while a park-and-ride service is available from Goffs off the M7.
A Garda spokesman said the crowd had been largely well behaved but that there were about 20 arrests for public order and drug offences.