They’re a funny thing, awards shows. I guess then, that if Glastonbury is the "Beatles of festivals" as CM once quipped, then the Grammys is pretty much the toppermost of the poppermost when it comes to awards shows - and hence the funniest of funny things.

I've got to be honest, I was expecting the Rotterdam audience to be somewhat - um, 'laid back' I guess is the right phrase. It just goes to show that you never can tell...

It's becoming difficult to keep up with just how many high points keep popping up through this campaign. It really is shaping up to be quite a ride.

Chris and Jonny have decided not to soundcheck. As we give things a quick once over, it turns out to be a pretty good thing, really. The huge, curved high ceiling makes for a pretty good echo chamber and there's little you can do but raise your eyebrows and say it'll sound completely different when the punters are in - and perhaps pray that it's true

A few days after the Cape Town stadium, which was literally at sea level, we pull into the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg and are reminded by stage manager Gary Currier that we're 1,700 metres above sea level. This means thin air, which in turn means it's very easy to get out of breath. Still - at least we're moving up in the world...