SubscribeSo we’d sat through a bit of Joss Stone, but V Festival 2005 began proper with Ordinary Boys: ‘I expected to see middle aged couples picnicking’. And they would have if the stewards had let our chairs in. Nevertheless, some serious skanking took place that awoke the Channel 4 stage.
The snipe comes from the V Festival not quite fitting in with everyone else. Having taken its sponsors name, press coverage can be catty and everyone else seems to have a Radio 1 stage, which V’s obvious association with Virgin Radio rules out. In truth, it carries no more advertising than anyone else and has a better line-up than many.
Back to the Ordinary Boys. Great fun, but if you’re going to cover the Ramones and Buzzcocks, you should expect some of your fans to be sporting the odd grey hair and middle-aged spread.
Skanking turned into a bit of theme, emerging in a more contemporary form from Dizzee Rascal. We’d not been planning to see him through to the end, due to a clash with Franz Ferdinand, but from his signature tune on it was impossible to tear yourself away. When we did get to Franz Ferdinand they were their usual competent, but uninspiring selves. I feel I should like them and perhaps that’s the problem. They know too well which buttons to press, so when they press them it lacks real feeling.
One of the great attractions of festivals is the breadth of music represented and the idea that you’ll see artists you wouldn’t normally go out of your way for. In addition to Joss Stone, Ordinary Boys, Dizzee Rascal and Franz Ferdinand we saw Scissor Sisters, The Zutons, Oasis, KT Tunstall, The Bravery, Kaiser Chiefs, Texas, Goldfrapp and Ian Brown.
And that’s all a bit much one post, so I’ll continue next time…
