Rihanna announced as T in the Park 20th birthday guest

T in the Park have announced Rihanna as their first guest to mark the festivals 20th birthday celebrations next year.

The Barbadian singer will make her Scottish festival debut when she headlines one of the three days of T in the Park 2013.

Folk rockers Mumford & Sons are the other major attraction in the first batch of acts to be announced, joning Mercury Prize winners alt-J, teenage indie hero Jake Bugg, Paloma Faith and Of Monsters and Men.

The 20th anniversary celebrations will take place from July 12 to 14 at Balado and a limited batch of tickets will go on sale this Friday from 9am at 2012 prices.

“Seems like only yesterday that the first band took to the stage at Strathclyde Park for our inaugural T in the Park in 94,” said Festival director Geoff Ellis.

“Now here we are in 2012 announcing two of the world’s biggest and best acts to headline our 20th edition.

“We have always worked incredibly hard to bring our T in the Park fans the best line-up possible, and this year is no exception.”

“We are unbelievably excited that Rihanna and Mumford & Sons will be taking to the Main Stage in Kinross – as we are sure our audience will be.

“We have many more fantastic acts in store for everyone and will announce these next year but it’s
shaping up to be one hell of celebration.”

Rihanna’s global domination shows no signs of slowing down with the release of Unapologetic – her third British No1 album in three years.

Mumford & Sons are also world-beating – their current album Babel went to No1 in the UK and America this year.

Another big coup for T is getting alt-J, who have become indie darlings after their debut album An Awesome Wave won this year’s Mercury Music Prize.

T in the Park started in 1994 with 17,000 fans packing out the original site at Strathclyde Park. After moving to Balado in 1997, it has become Scotland’s biggest music festival and one of the biggest in the UK, with a capacity of 85,000 daily.

George Kyle, head of sponsorship at Tennent’s Lager, added: “It’s been an incredible journey for Tennent’s as founding partner.

“We are proud to have put the T in T in the Park for the past 20 years. Since the first outing in 1994, our passion for and commitment to the festival has remained constant.”

A limited number of 2013 tickets will be available at 2012 prices at 9am on Friday – go to
www.tinthepark.com or www.ticketmaster.co.uk or call 08444 999 990.