V Festival

V Festival
Location(s)	England Chelmsford Staffordshire
Years active	1996 - present
Founded by
Date(s)	Penultimate weekend of August (2 days)
Genre(s)	Rock, Pop
Website	http://www.vfestival.com

For the North American spin-off of the rock festival, see Virgin Festival

For the Australian spin-off, see V Festival (Australia)

The V Festival is an annual music festival in England, the first to be held simultaneously at two sites - currently Hylands Park in Chelmsford and Weston Park in Stafford. Originally, the festival took the name of the current year, with the first festival being named "V96". Since 2003 it has been known as simply the V Festival. The Northern leg of the first festival in 1996 was held in Warrington, moving to Temple Newsam, Leeds for "V97" and "V98" and moving again in 1999 to its current home at Weston Park, Stafford.[1] The "V" represents the Virgin Group, and began as another means of promoting Richard Branson's companies. The event is sponsored by Virgin Mobile, with Virgin Radio the official radio station. The festival generally takes place during the penultimate weekend of August. Its critics dislike its corporate sponsorship and reputation for being the most "posh" of the major British music festivals, such as the Reading and Leeds Festivals. However its weekend format, low queuing times and professional organisation have given it a loyal audience. The festival sold out in record time in 2006. Although predominantly rock music, the festival books a wide range of music and is probably the most likely amongst UK festivals to book some pop acts each year. Mel C, Dido, and N.E.R.D. have all performed at the festival, and both Razorlight and Faithless performed in 2006. V showcases a mix of British and international musicians, from up-and-coming bands such as Coldplay in 2000 and the Kaiser Chiefs in 2003, and glam rockers El Presidente in 2005, to veteran crooner Tony Christie. Girls Aloud also performed at the 2006 show, and received rave reviews for their performance. McFly performed at the festival in 2007 and received a huge turnout and great reviews that were not expected.

Contents 1 Festivals and line-ups by year 1.1 V96 1.2 V97 1.3 V98 1.4 V99 1.5 V2000 1.6 V2001 1.7 V2002 1.8 V2003 1.9 V2004 1.10 V2005 1.11 V2006 1.12 V2007 2 Atmosphere and reputation 3 Gatecrashers 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

Festivals and line-ups by year

V96

The first year had two stages and one tent. V stage: Pulp, Paul Weller, Supergrass, The Charlatans, Cast, Lightning Seeds, Gary Numan, Shed Seven, Stereolab, Incognito, Jonathan Richman, The Mike Flowers Pops, Longpigs, Edge Park 2nd Stage: Elastica, Sleeper, Heavy Stereo, Menswear, Fluffy, The Cardigans, Super Furry Animals, The Wannadies, Denim, Kula Shaker, Gorkys Zygotic Mynci, Space, Tiger, Pusherman, Orbital Dance Arena: Tricky, The Aloof, Morcheeba, Lamb, Mad Professor

V97

This year introduced the NME stage. V Stage: Blur, The Prodigy, Kula Shaker, Beck, Dodgy, Foo Fighters, Reef, Placebo, Pavement, Fluke, Teenage Fanclub, Apollo 440, The Supernaturals, Echobelly NME Stage: Ash, The Bluetones, Mansun, Gene, The Divine Comedy, Longpigs, Monaco, Echo and the Bunnymen, Symposium, Geneva, Silver Sun, Veruca Salt, Embrace, Hurricane #1, ac acoustics, Stereophonics, Linoleum, The Driven Virgin High Energy Tent: The Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, Dreadzone, Propellerheads, Death in Vegas, Sneaker Pimps, Gus Gus, Lionrock, Jimi Tenor, Olive, Finley Quaye, Bentley Rhythm Ace, Carl Cox

V98

V Stage: The Verve, The Charlatans, The Seahorses, Texas, Green Day, Robbie Williams, Lightning Seeds, Space, Iggy Pop, James, Chumbawumba, Stereophonics, Marion, Feeder, Whale, Rialto, Young Offenders, Headswim NME Stage: Underworld, Fun Lovin Criminals, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Ian Brown, Catatonia, PJ Harvey, Saint Etienne, Morcheeba, Lo Fidelity Allstars, Republica, Gomez, Dandy Warhols, Montrose Avenue, theaudience, Midget, One Lady Owner, Superstar, The Smiles Dance Tent: James Brown, All Saints, Roni Size, K-Gee, Bjorn Again, Cornershop, Roachford, 67y, Karen Ramirez, Faithless, Regular Fries, DJ Norman Jay, Tin Star, Lionrock, Dean Thatcher, Moloko, Boom Boom Satellites, Disque Blu, Cuba

V99

V Stage: Manic Street Preachers, Suede, The Beautiful South, Stereophonics, Placebo, Happy Mondays, Supergrass, Cast, The Levellers, Gomez, Faithless, The Cardigans, Eagle Eye Cherry, Afro Celt Sound System, The Saw Doctors, Melanie C NME Stage: James Brown, Massive Attack, Super Furry Animals, Mercury Rev, Shed Seven, DJ Shadow, Travis, Gay Dad, dEUS, Red Snapper, A, Death In Vegas, Dot Allison, Eve 6, Liz Horman, YY29, Medal, One Lady Owner Reebox Arena: Paul Oakenfold, DJ Sneak, Dave Ralph, Derek Carter, Dope Smugglaz, Justin Robertson, Aphrodite, Dave Angel, Jumpin Jack Frost, Andy Wetheral, Layo, Mr C, Matthew B

V2000

Richard Ashcroft (of The Verve) goes solo and Travis unveil their cover of Britney Spears' "...Baby One More Time" V Stage: Travis, Richard Ashcroft, Macy Gray, Paul Weller, Ocean Colour Scene, James, All Saints, Cypress Hill, Morcheeba, Barenaked Ladies, Semisonic, Brand New Heavies, Bootleg Beatles, Björn Again, Andreas Johnson, Toploader MTV Stage: Supergrass, Moby, Mansun, Beth Orton, The Bloodhound Gang, Joe Strummer, Saint Etienne, Feeder, Dum Dums, Dandy Warhols, Soulwax, Coldplay, Hefner, SX 10, Big Leaves, The Webb Brothers JJB Puma Arena: Underworld, Leftfield, Flaming Lips, Death in Vegas, Moloko, Groove Armada, Bentley Rhythm Ace, Kelis, MJ Cole, Horace Andy, Jamelia, Day One, ManCHILD, LSK, Emiliana Torrini, Hybrid, Dara Shockwaves Club Tent: Pete Bromley, Dander Kleinenburg, Guy Ornadel, Sasha, Seb Fontaine, Hybrid, Junkie XL, Lee Burridge, Dean Wilson, Craig Richards

V2001

V Stage: Texas, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Charlatans, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, David Gray, Faithless, Placebo, Embrace, Neil Finn, Nelly Furtado, Idlewild, The Spooks, Powderfinger, Jimmy Barnes, Witness WTV Stage:, Muse, Toploader, JJ72, The Divine Comedy, Shed Seven, Doves, Wheatus, Starsailor, Ben Folds, Nina Persson, Spearhead, Webb Brothers, Phoenix, Turin Brakes, Snow Patrol, Ed Harcourt, Ben's Symphonic Orchestra, Lifehouse (Hylands Park only), Santa's Boyfriend (Weston Park only) JJB Puma Arena: Kylie Minogue, Ian Brown, The Avalanches, Grandaddy, Mos Def, Tricky, Alabama 3, Sparklehouse, Zero 7, Rea and Christian, Atomic Kitten (Weston Park only both days), Red Snapper (Hylands Park only both days), Hooverphonic, Alfie, Big Dog, The Bush The Tree And Me, Relish Slinky Dance Tent: Daniel Bailey, Andy Passman, Garry White, Scott Nuskool, Chris B, Matt Cassar, Marc Vedo, Dave Lea, John Dale

V2002

V Stage: Chemical Brothers, Stereophonics, Alanis Morissette, Primal Scream, Nickelback, Gomez, Supergrass, Starsailor (band), Elvis Costello, Counting Crows, Bluetones, Kosheen, Mull Historical Society, Beverly Knight, Ed Harcourt, Rhianna NME Stage: Manic Street Preachers, Basement Jaxx, Ian Brown, Doves, Beta Band, Idlewild, Sigur Rós, Elbow, My Vitriol, The Coral, Halo, The Donnas, Athlete, Seafood, The Burn, Phantom Planet (Hyland Park only), The Leaves, Crescent, Longview JJB Puma Stage: Badly Drawn Boy, Groove Armada, Turin Brakes, Soft Cell, Paul Heaton, Lamb, Stereo MCs, Royksopp, McAlmont and Butler, Sugababes, Gemma Hayes, Custom, Damien Rice, Ashton Lane, Kid Galahad, Venus Hum, Montana High Rise, Rachel Mari Kimber Strongbow Golden Dance Arena: Stanton Warriors, David Holmes, Adam Freeland, Effects, Plumb DJs, DJ Touche, Ali B, Medicine, Dean Wilson, Pete Bromley, James Camm, Sounds, The Freestylers, Tayo, Complete Communion, Dean Wilson

V2003

V Stage: Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, David Gray, Ash, Queens of the Stone Age, The Hives, PJ Harvey, The Cardigans, Morcheeba, Reel Big Fish, Inspiral Carpets, Echo and The Bunnymen, Skin, Eisley, Tom McRae NME Stage: Feeder, Underworld, Turin Brakes, The Coral, Killing Joke, Tim Burgess, Athlete, Evan Dando, Damien Rice, Distillers, The Bees Shack, The Basement, Spearhead, Martin Grech, Haven, Futureheads, The Stands, Rachel Mari Kimber, The Zutons JJB Puma Arena: Lemon Jelly, Kosheen, Moloko, Asian Dub Foundation, Goldfrapp, Appleton, David Holmes, Mint Royale, Misteeq, Dirty Vegas, I Am Kloot, Gus Gus, Slovo, Jamie Cullum, Uncut, Amy Winehouse, The Rainband, Just Jack, Bell X-1, Speedway (band), Mankato Strongbow Golden Dance Arena: Jon Carter (Hyland Park only), Jacques Lu Cont (Weston Park only), Way Out West, Junior Sanchez, Freq Nasty, West London Deep, Freestylers, Themroc, Barry Ashworth, Will White, Tayo

V2004

V Stage, Muse, The Strokes, Dido, Pixies, The Charlatans, N.E.R.D, Faithless, The Thrills, Pink, Badly Drawn Boy, Athlete, Snow Patrol, The Divine Comedy, Jamie Cullum, Big Brovaz, Kosheen NME Stage, Kings of Leon, Massive Attack, Embrace, Starsailor, Elbow, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Keane, Scissor Sisters, Dashboard Confessional, The Zutons, All American Rejects, Fountains of Wayne, The Killers, Mull Historical Society, Hal, Goldie Lookin Chain, Thirteen Senses, Chikinki, 10,000 Things, Kasabian, Blacklight JJB Puma Arena, Basement Jaxx, Primal Scream, Kelis, Groove Armada, Amy Winehouse, Beverly Knight, Human League, Audio Bullys, Jamelia, Roni Size, Freestylers, Kristian Leontiou, Aqualung, Josh Ritter, Phoenix, Chicane, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Fried, Backlight, Headway New Band Stage: The Bees, The Delays, Hope of the States, The Stands, Longview, The Concretes, Tim Booth, South, Easyworld, InMe, The Dead 60s, The Infidels, The Crimea, Thea Gilmore, Cath Davey, Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club, Kevin Mark Trail, Rooster, Polly Paulsuma, The Casuals, Colour of Fire, Magnet, Mohair, Stateless

V2005

The 10th V Festival took place from Saturday 20 August to Sunday 21 August 2005, headlining with Oasis, Franz Ferdinand, and Scissor Sisters. Performing acts included: V Stage (Main stage): Oasis, Scissor Sisters, Franz Ferdinand, The Streets, Jet, Maroon 5, Athlete, Embrace, Idlewild, Tony Christie, Joss Stone, The Zutons, Goldie Lookin' Chain, Goldfrapp Channel 4 (Second) Stage:, El Presidente, The Prodigy, The Chemical Brothers, Kaiser Chiefs, The Hives, Thirteen Senses, Doves, The Music, The Bravery, The Magic Numbers, KT Tunstall, The Ordinary Boys, Good Charlotte JJB Puma Arena: Ian Brown, Sonic Youth, Texas, Robert Plant, Dizzee Rascal, Jem, The Polyphonic Spree, Other Acts:Super Furry Animals, Goldfrapp, Nine Black Alps (replaced The 22-20s)

V2006

The 11th V Festival took place on Saturday 19 August and Sunday 20 August. Tickets for the festival went on sale on Monday 27 February, exclusively to Virgin Mobile customers, and went on general sale on Friday 3 March. There were complaints from festival-goers in 2006 due to the excessive price of food and merchandise, and lack of prior information about the band schedules, the only timetable available being a programme sold at the festival. Despite knowing the numbers attending, the print run of programmes was sold out.[2] The "Road To V" competition for 2006 was won by Bombay Bicycle Club. V Stage: Radiohead, Morrissey, Faithless, Paul Weller, Beck, Keane, Bloc Party, Sugababes, Hard-Fi, The Magic Numbers, The Dandy Warhols, Kubb, Gavin DeGraw, The Divine Comedy, The Dead 60s, Daniel Powter Channel 4 Stage: Razorlight, The Charlatans, Starsailor, James Dean Bradfield, Delays, The Feeling, Morning Runner, The Rifles, Dogs, Kasabian, Editors, The Ordinary Boys, We Are Scientists, The Cardigans, Orson, Kula Shaker, Biffy Clyro, The Saw Doctors JJB/Puma Arena: Groove Armada, Rufus Wainwright, The Beautiful South, Gomez, Nerina Pallot, Imogen Heap, Richard Hawley, Bic Runga, Lily Allen, Mute Math, The Boy Least Likely To, Fatboy Slim, The Go! Team, Girls Aloud, Kano, Echo & The Bunnymen, Xavier Rudd, Matt Willis, Shack, Phoenix, Pure Reason Revolution, Rushmore Virgin Mobile Social: The Cooper Temple Clause, The Dears, Bell X1, The Pipettes (Weston Park only), The Crimea, Oceansize, Liam Frost and the Slowdown Family, Jim Noir, Lorraine, James Morrison, Butch Walker, The Grates, The Dodgems, Love Bites, Sandi Thom, Mew, Regina Spektor, My Morning Jacket, Matisyahu (Hylands Park Only), Art Brut, The Young Knives, Captain, The Upper Room, Paolo Nutini, Seth Lakeman, Director, Milk Teeth

V2007

The line-up for V Festival 2007 was revealed on Virgin Radio on Monday February 26th 2007. Tickets went on sale on the 1st of March and some tickets sold out quickly. The line-up so far is as follows: V Stage: The Killers, Foo Fighters, Kasabian, Snow Patrol, James, Pink, The Fratellis, Kanye West, KT Tunstall, Paolo Nutini, James Morrison, Editors, The Goo Goo Dolls, The Proclaimers and Just Jack. Channel 4 Stage: The Kooks, Manic Street Preachers, Lily Allen, Mika, Guillemots, The Hours, Basement Jaxx, The Coral, Babyshambles, Jet, The Fray, The Cribs and Captain (The Foo Fighters performed an acoustic set under the name 606.) as well as Road To V winners Rosalita and The Brightlights JJB/Puma Arena: Damien Rice, Corinne Bailey Rae, Iggy Pop & The Stooges, Lemar, Willy Mason, Rilo Kiley, McFly, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Mutya Buena, Seth Lakeman. Primal Scream, Happy Mondays, Jarvis Cocker, Ocean Colour Scene, Dizzee Rascal, Sinead O'Connor, Beverley Knight, Martha Wainwright, Glenn Tilbrook & The Fluffers, Jesse Malin and Chungking. Virgin Mobile Union Graham Coxon, The Bravery, Stephen Fretwell, Bedouin Soundclash, Air Traffic, The Rumble Strips, Remi Nicole, Cherry Ghost, Tiny Dancers, Unklejam, Passengers, The Dodgems, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Boy Kill Boy, Plan B, The Holloways, Mr Hudson And The Library, Mumm-Ra, Switches, The Wombats, Ghosts, The Hoosiers, Pop Levi and Rebbeca. In the end Amy Winehouse was supposed to play but canceled due to admittance into rehab. She was replaced by Happy Mondays. Babyshambles were 3 hours late for their set due to an accident on the road going to the gig.

Atmosphere and reputation

The festival has been noted for its commercial nature^[1] in comparison with other British music festivals. This has been referred to by both the mainstream media and festival fans, comparing it to its rivals^[2]. However the New Statesman argues that this may have some advantages:

"Yet there are undeniable advantages to the [commercial] environment. V is a remarkably non-threatening festival, with few of the rougher edges prevalent at other large-scale gatherings"

^[3]

These "rougher edges" include crowd trouble, alcohol and drug use, mud-bathing and pelting of acts at other festivals such as Reading - although this does not mean these festivals are anarchic or non-commercial. Recently, the festival has begun to include more "edgy" acts, some of whom have made comments such as "Can we get paid now?"^[4].

Gatecrashers

Increasingly, the festival has experienced non-ticket holders attempting to enter the venue illegally via insecure fence boundaries. Also a popular scam is for a member of a group of attendees to "lose" their camping wristband (which allows them entry to the camping area) whereupon a replacement is issued by the organisers. The "lost" band is then distributed to non-camping ticket holders. Other attempts in the past as weekend wristband was blue at the time included attempting to enter the venue using a wristband of the previous year, using electricians tape, (that was until the event introduced the cloth wristband in 2005 which made it less prone to tampering). Common scams includes touting weekend wristbands off to concert goers.

See also

• List of music festivals in the United Kingdom
• V Festival (Australia)
• Virgin Festival
• Virgin Radio

References

External links

• Official site
• Virgin Radio V Festival Site
• virginbrand.com Unofficial blog of the Virgin Group
• Festival News
• Warnfestivals V Festival site
• V Festival 2006 review at musicOMH.com
• eFestivals festival coverage
• V Festival gallery at Festival Photos

•  • e Major British Music Festivals
Dance & Electronic	Creamfields • Global Gathering • The Big Chill • Glade
Metal Music	Bloodstock • Bloodstock Open Air • Damnation Festival • Download Festival • Twisted Realm @ Download
Rock/Alternative Music	Give It A Name Festival • Isle Of Wight Festival • Reading and Leeds Festivals • Rock Ness • T In The Park • V Festival
Others	Bestival • Connect Music Festival • Glastonbury Festival • Godiva Festival • Guilfest • Isle of Skye Music Festival • Latitude Festival • Truck Festival • Wireless Festival • WOMAD Charlton Park

•  • e Notable rock concerts
Woodstock	Woodstock Festival (1969) • Woodstock '79 • Woodstock '89 • Woodstock '94 • Woodstock 1999
Other early festivals	Monterey Pop Festival (1967) • Schaefer Music Festival (1967-1976) • Atlanta International Pop Festival (1969) • Atlantic City Pop Festival (1969) • Isle of Wight Festival 1969 • Altamont Free Concert (1969) • Festival Express (1970) • Bath Festival (1970) • Atlanta International Pop Festival (1970) • Isle of Wight Festival 1970 • Wattstax (1972) • Summer Jam at Watkins Glen (1973) • California Jam (1974) • World Series of Rock (1974-1979) Rock Concert at Poconos raceway, July 8, 1972 (1972) •
Benefit concerts	The Concert for Bangladesh (1971) • Concerts for the People of Kampuchea (1979) • Party in the Park (annual from 1982) • Live Aid (1985) • Farm Aid (1985) • Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute (1988) • The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert (1992) • NetAid (1999) • The Concert for New York City/America: A Tribute to Heroes (2001) • Party at the Palace (2002) • Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto (2003) • Tsunami Aid/WaveAid (2005) • Live 8 (2005) • A Concert for Hurricane Relief / Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast / From the Big Apple to the Big Easy (2005) • Concert for Diana (2007) • Live Earth (2007) • World Peace One (2007)
Benefit/political tours	No Nukes (1979) • A Conspiracy of Hope (1986) • Human Rights Now! (1988) • Vote for Change (2004)
Other festivals and tours	All Tomorrow's Parties • The Bamboozle • Big Day Out • Bonnaroo • Coachella • Download • Edgefest • Electric Picnic • Eurockéennes • EXIT • Family Values • Festival Internacional de Benicàssim • Festival Sudoeste • Fuji Rock • G3 (tour) • Get Happy Tour • Glastonbury • Graspop Metal Meeting • H.O.R.D.E • Hellfest Summer Open Air • Hurricane Festival • Isle of Wight • Le Zénith • Lilith Fair • Lollapalooza • Lowlands • Metal Camp • Monsters of Rock • Montreux Jazz Festival • NEARfest • Open'er Festival • Oxegen • Ozzfest • Paléo Festival • Pentaport Rock Festival • Pinkpop • Pitchfork Music Festival • Projekt Revolution • Przystanek Woodstock • Pukkelpop • Radio 1's Big Weekend • Reading and Leeds Festivals • Rock am Ring • Knebworth Festival • Rock in Rio • Rock Werchter • Roskilde Festival • Sasquatch! Music Festival • Slane • Summer Sonic Festival • Sziget • T in the Park • T On The Fringe • US Festival • V Festival (UK, Australia) • Virgin Festival • Voodoo Music Experience • Vive Latino • Wacken Open Air • Warped Tour • Wave-Gotik-Treffen • Witnness • WOMAD

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