V Festival Review

Good Points
Good Bands

Bad Points
Toilets, but it's a festival so nothing new there then.

General Comments
I've been to the V festival in Chelmsford twice, in 1999 and 2002. I camped there in 02, it rained a lot which was a big downer and ruined the festival spirit a bit. There was something really weird but strangely satisfying sheltering from the rain in the dance tent jumping about to hard core trance with a pint of lager and wearing a cagoule at 11am. Anyway enough of my reminiscing and rambling, if you live in that part of the world (SE England) and you like your music you really couldn't do much better than get yourself down to V. I've seen the Chilli's, Faithless, Foo Fighters, Stereophonics, Texas, Nelly Fuartardo, David Grey and loads that I can't even remember. This year's (2004) headliners and acts are Dido, Faithless, Kings Of Leon, Basement Jaxx, NERD, Jet and Massive Attack. So it should be another truly awesome event. Hylands Park is pretty nice too, I guess to a point a field is a field but the place has a bit of character and is not that hard to get to. I have two pieces of advice for this years festival goers, 1. See Faithless!! I liked their music but wasn't that bothered about seeing them live, but they were fantastic and probably the best live band I have ever seen. I've never heard anyone say anything else about them, truly awesome. 2. Tactical toilet stops a must for the campers. Trick is to save up for a big unload on Saturday mourning. When you first get into the arena were the stages are the toilets will be new and un-used, get it all out and wait till you get home on a Sunday. Under no circumstances do you want to be going in there in a Sunday, it will ruin the weekend for you. On a cleaner note, the food was nice but expensive.