By Michelle Norris and Phil Harrison
Festival goers flocked to Chelmsford in their thousands last weekend as one of the most glamourous of all Festivals celebrated it’s 15th birthday in style.
That’s right, Virgin Media’s V Festival was back, better and louder than ever before! And with headliners including Kasabian, Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, Faithless and Florence and the Machine, it was definitely a celebration to remember!
With around 85,000 revellers and campers descending on Chelmsford, Hylands Park was transformed into a musical bliss, with heaving campsites, packed car parks, four main stages and enough bars and burger vans to keep stomachs full and bodies buzzing for the whole weekend, this was the place for any music lover to be.
And it was down to the legendary Feeder to open the festival on V’s main Stage on Saturday afternoon, with performances of Buck Rogers and new material from their album Renegade. But it was their classic Just the Way I’m Feeling that really created the ultimate Festival atmosphere, signalling the official opening of V Festival 2010!
Paloma Faith soon followed, looking incredible on the 4 Music Stage wearing a floor length pink dress and an over sized tiara, performing hits including New York, and a cover of David Guetta’s Sexy Chick.
Lucy Penn, 23, from Folkstone loved every minute of her set, saying: “Paloma Faith’s cover of Sexy Chick was bloody brilliant - it brought down the house!”
Newton Faulkner was next up on the 4 Music stage, giving a haunting performance of hit song Teardrops. And though the sun dropped behind a cloud you could tell the stars were coming out before it got dark.
Meanwhile, Tinie Tempah was getting the crowds in the mood to party in the Nissan Juke Arena, with an energetic performance of Frisky, before belting out the lyrics to Pass Out. As an explosion of euphoria hit the crowds, who leapt in the air to the beat and incredible light show, Tinie Tempah jumped off the stage into the revellers, who welcomed him with open arms.
“Tinie Tempah was incredible!” says 24-year-old Stacey James from Wickford. “It was such a great atmosphere in there – I want to go back in!”
But next up in the Nissan Juke Arena was Jason Derulo, who unfortunately let his vocals faulter through his heavily choreographed routines – but he still looked great and the audience loved singing along to hits including Ridin’ Solo.
The Editors arrived on the main V stage just before 5pm on Saturday, beginning the evening with a near perfect rendition of their eerily beautiful indy hits. Tracks like Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors rang around the Chelmsford park as fans lapped up a commanding performance.
Trying something a little less mainstream, a new female performer who looks set for a bright future was found on the Virgin Media Union stage.
From across the Atlantic came the surprisingly powerful voice of Lissie - a blonde bombshell with a voice that filled the arena.
Flanked by guitar and bass with drums as a backdrop she brought rock chick to the festival as she strummed and sang to an adoring audience.
Her harmonies for stand out tune Cuckoo were simple yet elegant and complemented a performance that suggested there's a lot more to come from this Canadian-born singer who seems to ooze catchy tunes that you find yourself singing along to the first time you hear them.
Later, as you strolled past the main stage you could hear the now timeless line “you do something to me” and as couples swayed Paul Weller demonstrated how his music has grabbed generations as he once again wowed the crowd.
But it was at the 4 Music Stage where the magic was truly happening as Florence and the Machine put on the ultimate festival performance.
Bare foot, Florence entered the florally decorated stage to an eruption of applause. Performing Heavy in Your Arms, she showed off her effortless vocals, before calling out: “I’d like to dedicate this next song to a friend of mine, who’s here, but not performing. So, Dizzee, wherever you are, this one’s for you!” The crowds went wild as the first few chords of You’ve Got The Love rang out giving thousands of festival goers a goosebump moment they will never forget.
Elsewhere, the Stereophonics’ timeless Welsh charm and constant hits entertained for over an hour on the Main Stage as rain began to come down on the festival.
It could not dampen the atmosphere though as they performed classics like Mr Writer, Just Looking and Dakota to pull in one of the biggest crowds of the weekend, including Sir Richard Branson himself.
Becky Campbell, 24, from Maidstone couldn’t get enough of the Welsh lads, stating: “Dakota by the Stereophonics was the song of the festival!”
However, headliners Kings of Leon put in an understated performance to close on the Saturday night. Although their hits triggered a sea of frenzy through the capacity crowd the tempo could not be held for the full hour and a half set closing the first full day of music.
“Paolo Nutini was awesome but Kings of Leon were a bit of a let down as headliners,” adds Becky from Maidstone.
And Sian Keeble, 24, from Basildon agreed saying: “I’m so happy that Groove Armada are here! I’d choose them over Kings of Leon any day.”
Sunday’s festival was opened by Brentwood’s own Pixie Lott, who looked stunning and sounded great with beautiful sunshine to match.
Harriet Flood, 22, from Westcliff-on-sea, said: “Pixie Lott’s performance was amazing - what a great sense of style and her voice was fantastic. A powerful performance overall!”
But it seems there is a quirky young singer waiting in the wings to steal her limelight with the recent discovery of Eliza Doolittle. Flanked by clean cut 60’s style backing singers on drums, guitar and double bass she is the quintessential tween idol.
Her single Rollerblades - coming out in October - got the acapella treatment in a brilliant intro that grabbed an audience comprising of anyone from tweenies to older male admirers.
Finishing with this year’s summer hit Pack Up a surprise appearance from sampled artist Lloyd Wade came as a shock but completed a bright and bubbly set.
Plan B played the 4 Music stage to a huge crowd for the relatively early 2pm set as revellers rolled out of their sleeping bags to catch the rapper/singer who had a brilliant 2010.
Amy Wagstaff, 23, from Chelmsford said: “Plan B really got the crowd going and had an amazing beat box guy who seemed to just be able to make any noise with his mouth!”
Meanwhile, X Factor star Diana Vickers entertained the crowds in the Nissan Juke Arena, with an energetic performance of Once – however her dancing ended up in a slight wardrobe malfunction as her trousers ripped!
Afterwards, Diana explained: “I was dancing my little bum off. I was proper going for it and I split my trousers I was dancing so hard.”
The Union tent saw Detroit Social Club triumph as hangovers were left behind thanks to an energetic performance from lead man David Burn as he got fans clapping and dancing along to tunes from the Tyneside five piece.
Next up was a trip to Shed Seven’s set with a crowd that turned back the clock to the days of hits like Going for Gold as the tape generation dropped the i-pods for half an hour to dance to some pre-internet indy anthems.
Lead singer Rick Witter joined the crowd mid-set for a crowd sing-along as V united to hear a surprisingly good rendition of Getting Better.
Twenty years on from their formation Chasing Rainbows completed a set that must have been a big personal highlight of V 2010 for all twenty-somethings.
As the afternoon downpour finally fell on V-Fest it became the job of Madness to get fans dancing in the rain which they happily obliged.
The open field in front of V’s main stage was packed as Suggs easily controlled a capacity crowd with effortless charm singing It Must Be Love.
The neon paint was out in force for Calvin Harris’ dance set with Hyland’s Park now resembling something of a bomb site as revellers made the most of the last couple of hours.
Technical problems meant a unique version of hit song Hide and Seek as Imogen Heap improvised with the V crowd and a keytar giving a true demonstration of her powerful vocal prowess.
Kasabian and The Prodigy closed the festival on Sunday night, but they definitely weren’t performances to be forgotten.
As the festival came to a close and the hangovers began to kick in, the campers awoke on Monday morning to make their long and aching journey home.
But no-one will ever forget the hidden surprises and musical gems of V Festival 2010. All that’s left to say is bring on 2011!