Sunday 13/08/06 Day 3 @ La Route du Rock, Saint Malo, France

Our tickets don't give us access to Isobel Campbell. Instead, we have a game of portball at the campsite. It's rounders, except every player must swig from a bottle of port, or, in fact any alcohol container. Rounding the literal fourth base still isn't as good as rounding metaphorical fourth base. The Television Personalities were supposed to be playing during the portball game. Apparently, the singer is the original Pete Doherty and duly didn't turn up. Grizzly Bear play instead and provide a good soundtrack to the match.

The Spinto Band brings youthful exuberance to the party, all windmill guitar-playing and windswept fringes. In this flashy, Rocawear world, the Dela(soul)ware band gives us what we want, namely scruffy, good-time tunesmithery. The Spinto Band are what Busted were meant to be. The Mandy from 'Oh Mandy' must be the great grand-daughter of The Beach Boys' Wendy, such is that song's beauty.

It 's baffling to see the crowds adoration of Katerine. Maybe it was because they are the token band that speaks the native tongue, this weekend. The singer looks like a poor man's Har Mar Superstar, clad in just speedo's. Given Har Mar is a poor man's Prince, it would seem you can get very poor.

Franz Ferdinand show Katerine how to do glam-rock properly, with 'Do You Want To?'. At one point in their set, a man gives your reporter a shove and naturally gets one back. He gave an aggressive little look, then walked. Yeah, that's right, thought not. With perfect timing, Franz began 'Walk Away'. For their encore, FF start with 'Jacqueline'... "It's always better on holiday, we only work 'cause we need the money" Don't rub it in Alex, the holiday's nearly over. Franz Ferdinand destroy the crowd, but as they say on 'The Fallen', "what's wrong with a little destruction?" It's over too quickly, in a blur of polyester.

Band of Horses sound like a less worn-out My Morning Jacket. One of the portballers said they were bland of horses. That was harsh musically, if not sartorially, as they were clad in plaid. Chloe keeps the party going with techno and at 7:00am the music's still going. Agoria's 'La Onzieme Marche' remind us, after Katerine, that the French can make great music, as well as host a great party.