There was a time not so long ago when T in the Park’s only concession to the dance music world was the infamous Slam Tent. There was a tacit acknowledgement that T was for the rock and indie kids, and the ravers that did go kept themselves to themselves: sequestered in the dark, foreboding blue marquee in the corner of the festival. The only time the two worlds collided was in the queue for the bar, or if some of the more adventurous rockers ventured over to sneak a peek at what was going on in that sweatiest of tents.

Now, things are very different. In a reflection of today’s popular culture, dance acts are the festival’s main draw, and the guitar bands that once dominated proceedings are relegated to supporting roles. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, of course. Top forty dance names like the mind-melting Disclosure, local boy done good Calvin Harris and bass-heavy London duo Chase & Status are among the acts that will be pumping out crowd-pleasing anthems on the main stage. But, as is so often the case with bigger festivals, it’s on the smaller stages where the real magic happens.

In Jamie xx and LCD Soundsystem, T has two of the world’s most popular indie-minded dance acts as lesser stage headliners. The London DJ brings his outstanding, genre-hopping UK dance revue north of the border for the first time since his sold-out show at the Academy last year. His sets flit between frenetic, jungle-influenced workouts like Gosh, lush, swooning club bangers like the gorgeous Sleep Sound, and the likes of Obvs and Stranger in a Room, which manage to capture the ecstasy and melancholy of London’s nightlife all at once. There’s euphoric beauty in The Rest Is Noise and Girl – these are songs best experienced late at night, alone, through headphones, but they’re just as effective when witnessed communally, in a sweaty tent with a couple of thousand others.

LCD Soundsystem aren’t a typical festival headliner, but James Murphy’s band of jaded punk-funk hipsters are riding a wave of love following their reunion earlier this year. They’ve been touring festivals across Europe and North American this summer, ahead of a new album to be released later in the year. And while it would be easy to roll a collective eye at the irony of a group of dyed-in-the-wool Brooklyn cynics reuniting just a few short years after their big farewell at Madison Square Garden, they’re my favourite band in the whole world, so I’m actually pretty excited. Funny what loyalty does sometimes, isn’t it? They might sit on the border between electronica and indie rock, but listen to those big rave synths on Beat Connection, the classic house pianos that elevate the second movement of Sound of Silver, or One Touch’s gurgling, minimalist techno beats, and tell me they’re not a dance act. Go on, I dare you.

All of this and we’ve still only scratched the surface. Get a load of tomorrow night on the Radio 1 Summer of Dance Stage: Alesso, Pete Tong, Annie Mac, Hannah Wants: a perfect balance of the seminal and the new and exciting. Witness Faithless on the main stage on Sunday evening and experience one of the great UK electronica artists. Right afterwards, Diplo and his frantic brand of eardrum-destroying dubstep.

And then there’s the Slam Tent, serving up a movable feast of the finest house and techno from across the world for three nights. Len Faki and Pan-Pot, makers of slick, thunderous techno; Berlin condensed into a sound. Richie Hawtin, a titan of the genre. Jeff Mills, the space travel-obsessed Detroit veteran whose influence is beyond measure. Seth Troxler, the hell-raising Michigan DJ for whom keeping it authentic is a way of life. Nina Kravitz, the Russian siren who effortlessly slays dancefloors the world over. All under one piece of canvas, on one weekend, just an hour away – if you can find the tent, you’re in luck.

Those heading back to Glasgow tomorrow night have Slam’s official afterparty at the Subbie to look forward to upon their return from Strathallan. The local legends will be laying down classic techno – nothing new there – and they’ll be bringing a special guest from the festival to join in.

There are a hundred other parties this weekend that we could mention, but a bonus midweek recommendation has to go to iAM on Tuesday, where the amazing Nightwave lays down techno, juke and UK Garage alongside Beta and Kappa. Prepare for absolute scenes whether you’re at T, the afterparty, the iAM, or mental enough to do all of them.

• Slam Tent, Thursday – Sunday, Strathallan Castle, £91 day ticket / £194 weekend

• Return to Mono: Slam Tent Afterparty, Friday, Sub Club, 11pm – 3am, £10

• iAM presents: Nightwave, Tuesday, Sub Club, 11pm – 3am, £5