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The sun was the star performer at Oxegen this morning with tired revellers emerging from their tents and embracing the clear blue skies they have longed for all weekend.

"It's so hot I couldn't sleep or stay in my tent anymore," said Alan McCann (22) from Co Wicklow as he made his way to the showers in the green campsite in Punchestown. "I suppose I shouldn't complain."

Despite a number of showers yesterday afternoon, Punchestown Racecourse has responded well to the elements and, although, the going has gotten softer under foot over the course of the weekend, the sunshine should ensure the mud bath which spoiled last year’s festival for many, fails to develop.

Met Eireann predicts conditions will remain favourable with moderate southerly winds and temperatures between 16 and 21 Celsius forecast for the day.

Kelly Jones, the pint-sized front man of Welsh rockers the Stereophonics, said bands relish the opportunity of taking to the main stage to entertain their loyal legions of Irish fans.

"The Irish crowd are great," Jones said. "Every time we have played here they have been and we'll be back to seem them again in December."

Meanwhile, another act that wooed the Oxegen crowd were California rockers Counting Crows. A set list packed with some of their best known hits, including Mr Jonesand Holiday in Spain, as well as a showcase of some new
material, left fans screaming for more.

"Gotta go, it's such a great place to be every time. See you at the Point in December," Crows front man Adam Duritz said as he left the stage.

Day 3 begins at 1.30pm with British reggae veteran Eddy Grant on the main stage. The much anticipated, and recently reformed, Rage Against the Machine will close out the festival tonight, with fans expecting a politicised
retrospective from the much revered US rockers back catalogue.

Meanwhile, English dance act the Chemical Brothers, former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown and Irish favourites The Pogues are among the day’s other stand out performers.