V Festival 2004

United Kingdom | 22 August 2004

Organised with near military precision, V boasts one of the best line-ups of the UK festival season and the biggest concentration of hairdressers anywhere. A cut above or cropped too close?

There are three visions that stick in our mind from the 2004 V Festival. First, is the two men refilling the toilet rolls in the portaloos - both wear fluorescent vests, presumably in case they fall in - and they don't wear any gloves. Second up, is the fight taking place in the car park between a skinny fan wearing a Muse t-shirt and two lagered up JJB Sports fans. Third, is the stripper who adorns the V Stage before The Charlatans appear, having been introduced by Richard Branson himself. A weird day indeed which ends with Muse ripping the place apart - in the dry!

The debate continues to rage on like a bloody chapter from the War of The Roses as to which festival site - Stafford or Chelmsford - provides the biggest party, the best atmosphere and the slickest operation. So VF travels to both, focusing on the ever-packed JJB Arena and the Music Choice Stage at Staffs and the V Stage and NME Stage at Chelmsford.

As always, the crowd at both V Festivals are a mixed bunch, ensuring possibly the most civilised summer festival - not as lary or boistrous as Carling Reading/Leeds, lacking any of the spirituality and fairy tale of Glastonbury, and failing to tap into any single niche like Download or Bulldog Bash. What V offers is a no-nonsense run out of some of the world's biggest bands and solo acts - from Pixies to Pink, Jamie Cullum to Jamelia, and Kings Of Leon to Basement Jaxx - catering for almost every popular genre out there today.

Click on the links below for full reviews:

Saturday (Chelmsford) - V Stage and NME Stage
Saturday (Staffs) - JJB Arena and Music Choice Stage
Sunday (Chelmsford) - V Stage and NME Stage
Sunday (Staffs) - JJB Arena and Music Choice Stage

Click here for the V Staffs photo gallery
Click here for the V Chelmsford photo gallery