PARKLIFE returned at the weekend, with music fans flocking to see the likes of Rudimental, Disclosure, Mark Ronson and Fatboy Slim.

Up to 70,000 people descended on Heaton Park each day, with other acts on the stellar line-up including Wu-Tang Clan, FKA twigs, Labrinth and Ben Howard.

Here is a round-up of the acts who entertained music fans with an eclectic mix of dance, drum and bass, rap, hip hop and reggae.

NAS

MY undoubted highlight of the weekend was American rapper Nas performing tracks from his 1994 debut album Illmatic.

Widely considered as one of the best rap albums of all time, it sounded fantastic pumping from the giant speakers of Rodigan's Super Ram Jam stage on Sunday evening.

This was a stark contrast to the poor sound quality of Wu-Tang Clan's set on the main stage on Saturday night. In fact, I avoided the main stage for most of the weekend due to the low volume and lack of atmosphere.

The hip hop group urged the crowd to 'make some noise' but it would have been nice if they had been given the chance to do the same.

Back to Nas and the 41-year-old, from Brooklyn, hollered "If you got Illmatic, put your hands up" before quipping to crowd, 'ever heard of a cassette tape?'

As the sun went down, there was a singalong sample of 1989 Soul II Soul track Back to Life (However Do You Want Me); The World Is Yours — complete with a remix of The Notorious B.I.G, Sky's The Limit — and It Ain't Hard to Tell, the last track on Illmatic which samples Michael Jackson's 1983 hit Human Nature.

He shouted, 'for all my real rap fans' and blasted fake rappers before launching into The Message, taken from his second album, 1997's It Was Written, followed by his song with Lauryn Hill, If I Ruled the World (Imagine That).

There was a blast of classical music with I Can, which samples Beethoven's Fur Elise, followed by 1999 track with Puff Daddy, Hate Me Now.

Earlier in the day on the Ram Jam stage, American producer of trap and bass music, Baauer, best known for his hit song Harlem Shake, literally shook the park with his heavy tunes while a live set from Portuguese outfit Buraka Som Sistema brought an African party vibe to Parklife.

A total of 25,000 revellers flocked to the stage over the weekend and with tunes and energy like the ones displayed on Sunday, it is easy to see why.

JAMES BAY

ON Saturday evening, in the Parklife Big Top, music fans were treated to the gravelled voice and uplifting tunes of James Bay.

The Brit Award winner opened his set to a packed out tent with Collide, followed by Craving before slowing things down for Running.

He went on to perform many songs from his album, Chaos and the Calm, with the whole tent helping out with the chorus of Let It Go but the biggest crowd pleaser was Hold Back the River.

FATBOY SLIM

On Saturday night, dance music legend Fatboy Slim brought an Ibizan party vibe to Heaton Park with his tried-and-tested formula.

Catching the end of Mark Ronson's poptastic set, which featured his hits including his collaboration with Amy Winehouse, Valerie, we made sure we had a good spot for Norman Cook's arrival.

Kicking off with the hi-tempo Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat, it set the tone for the 90 minute set in the Chibuku 15th anniversary tent.

Lasers shone out from the stage as he had the crowd eating from the palm of his hand and looked like he was having as much fun as those below the decks. 

WU-TANG CLAN

by Sarah Yates

AS the clouds drew in and the rain began to pour, Wu-Tang Clan took to Parklife’s main stage.

The weather wasn’t bad enough to put the crowd off the rappers, who have been performing together for more than 20 years.

With their roots in New York, it’s not often the Clan perform in England and no doubt many revellers bought their ticket once the hip hop crew was announced for this year’s line up.

Swaggering on stage, the American group played a mix of their hottest hits including C.R.E.A.M and Protect Ya Neck.

The Clan is a prime example of the eclectic mix of acts Parklife attracts each year.

The sound could have done with being turned up a notch or two, as it took a few tracks for the audience to get into their set but they powered on, entertaining the crowd and it paid off.

JESSIE WARE

CROWDS gathered in the late afternoon to watch a cool and impressive set from Jessie Ware.

Her performance on the main stage grabbed the attention of many fans although she struggled to get everyone dancing.

Many festival-goers remained sitting on the grass as she serenaded the crowds with a set full of soulful pop hits.

Wearing a simple black suit over a white t-shirt, the chart star’s rich voice managed to attract attention with her hit song Champagne Kisses before she really got the crowd going with You're Never Gonna Move.

"This is about as upbeat as I get Parklife,” she shouted, before instructing fans to dance.

The singer owned the stage by the end of her set with Say You Love Me as the crowd rose up to dance with her.

THE COURTEENERS

by David Pye

“I’VE waited 10 years for this.”

And so a dream was realised for Liam Fray — the lead singer of Manchester band The Courteeners as they rocked Heaton Park on Friday night.

From a first gig at the city’s Roadhouse venue, soon after their formation in 2006, the local lads have come a long way to follow in the footsteps of other Mancunian greats such as Oasis and The Stone Roses who have both headlined Heaton Park.

This time it was a group from just down the road in Middleton that thrilled a 25,000 strong crowd with their first home-town gig in two years.

Just 24 hours before Parklife, this was the perfect starter from a band which is also playing V Festival over the weekend of August 22 to 23.

And you sensed from the outset it would be as special for the fans, as well as the band who grew up playing pitch and putt golf at the very same park.

This time they were the big-hitters. There must have been no better feeling than when, after seeing the hordes sing songs like Sycophant and Take Over the World back to him, Fray launched into the finale of Not Nineteen Forever.