FIB Benicassim 2010 delivered everything that makes this festival special: exceptional music, relentless sunshine, and the unique atmosphere of thousands of British festival-goers descending on a small Spanish resort town.
Gorillaz headlined the main stage on the opening night and delivered one of the most visually spectacular shows the festival had seen, with their elaborate multimedia production perfectly suited to the outdoor setting. Kings of Leon, despite some mixed reactions earlier in their 2010 touring schedule, put on a tight, powerful headlining set.
The Manic Street Preachers brought a Welsh-rock masterclass, while La Roux proved that their studio polish translated beautifully to a live setting. On the smaller stages, Vampire Weekend were a revelation for those discovering them for the first time.
The weather, as ever, played its part - temperatures in the low 30s throughout, with evenings warm enough for shorts right through until the early hours. If you were on the fence about attending, 2010 was the year that convinced a generation of UK festival-goers to make Benicassim an annual trip.
