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V2001, Weston Park, Staffordshire

Festivals are exciting.  The thought of so many bands playing one venue over two days is enough to entice thousands of people, and V2001 was no exception.  After a quick glance over the line-up and times Saturday morning, it looked like there was going to be lots of dashing between stages with little time for anything else!

Saturday

Of course, there was going to be some clashes between bands I wanted to see!  First were Ed Harcourt and his band, and they meant to impress.  The set was very energetic and entertaining with lots of audience interaction � always a good thing, especially at a festival.  The second track �Hanging With The Wrong Crowd� Ed sarcastically dedicated to Atomic Kitten who were also �playing� at the festival, saying that he and James from Starsailor were going to go and do backing vocals!  The last song they played, �Apple Of My Eye� turned into a lively and dynamic finish with the band going absolutely mad on their instruments.  Especially so Ed, who pummelled his keyboard so hard that the table it was on fell apart!

Turin Brakes were in stark contrast almost the antithesis of the confident audience engaging Ed Harcourt, but were very good nonetheless.  The first few songs they played from the album went down well, but failed to motivate the crowd.  However when they played their previous single �Underdog� this all changed and the audience erupted into a mass sing along!  In-between each song the only words uttered were a subdued �thank you� followed by the next song title.  The band seemed nervous.  That�s not to say that this quiet persona is a bad thing, as Turin Brakes exhibit it in such a way that you can�t help but warm to the band.  The last song they performed was a grand extended version of �Emergency 72� and again the audience exploded � a superb finale to their performance.  No doubt after this set sales of �The Optimist� heightened.

For me one of the hi-lights of the weekend was A Camp, Nina Persson�s of Cardigans fame solo project.  I had previously fallen in love with the then-to-be-released �I Can Buy You� single and so had an idea of what to expect.  �This is out first show, so be gentle with us�, Nina openly admitted when she came on stage.  The set was a good mixture of slow beautiful songs and the more upbeat ones from the then forthcoming album, all of which went down very well with the audience.

After a dash to the other side of the festival ground, I found myself in the Arena awaiting Sparklehorse.  The benefits of being sheltered from the elements inside the Arena were shattered because of the poor sound quality and distorted bass that the band had to battle with.  Despite this, they still delivered.  In-between tracks the only audience interaction was �thank you� to the applause.  Halfway through the set Mark Linkous announced to everyone �Our friend Nina�s gonna help us with this one� and none other than Nina Persson walked on stage.  Then she disappeared again into the dark after that one song.  What really struck me about the band was the sheer talent of all the members.  In-between songs everyone was exchanging instruments, moving seemingly effortlessly from guitar, to keyboard and even one of the band members onto an electrified violin - amazing to watch.

I arrived for Grandaddy (back in the Arena) late, after catching the first twenty minutes of the Foo Fighters.  The Arena was packed full.  From my vantage point in the middle, I had a good view of the fantastic rolling video screen that was behind the band as they played their grand, electronic indie-pop.  Images of swirling patterns, cows, horses, planes and even a kid�s birthday party filled the screen.  Then came on some old racecar footage culminating in a tremendous death defying crash, which made the whole audience exclaim.

I decided to finish the night by staying in the Arena for Ian Brown.  As the crowds anticipation mounted and pushed to the front, a familiar football chant rang out with �Ian Brown� substituted for the words.  Funnily, the same football chant always precedes a gig for fellow Manchunian Morrissey.  However, that�s where the similarity ends!  When Ian finally came on stage, he did so in style � riding a bike!  The crowd went mad and Ian spent several minutes bouncing around on stage on the bike, posing for those trying to take photographs.  Sadly, this was the most entertaining that he got.  His performance soon became boring with similar sounding songs and even more similar and repetitive mannerisms and crowd banter.  Halfway through his set I decided that the beer back at the tent was far more appealing, and left.

Sunday

It was bound to happen.  The sky was bruised.  And whilst carrying the tent back to the car the heavens opened and gave us an impromptu shower!  Luckily, we were able to get changed at the car, but the rain kept on coming.  Fortunately, the car was parked next to the festival site enclosure, just at the spot that was next to the WTV stage where Snow Patrol were playing.  So unlike everyone else we were able to wind the window down and enjoy the performance without getting wet!

Everything has a price.  By the time Embrace came on the main stage I had gotten a superb spot right at the front.  The downside to getting this sought after position?  It was right in the middle of a very muddy puddle!  Still, it was a relatively small price to pay and definitely worth it.  Embrace gave a fantastic performance.  Danny was very eager to get the crowd involved and there was lots of audience interaction.  A good balance was struck between their old and newer material, and the songs they played from their then forthcoming album went down very well.  Definitely worth standing (and jumping!) in a puddle for!

It was quite by accident that I saw Faithless.  They were sandwiched in-between Embrace and Coldplay, and I wanted to keep my spot right at the front.  And I got quite a surprise � they were good!  Their front man revelled in the attention that being on stage offers, telling everyone at the end of their set that they had been a �proper crowd�.

Coldplay must have one of the most energetic front men in pop.  On stage, Chris bounced around all over the place whilst playing guitar, jumped down to the audience and even climbed up some metal bars that were at the side of the stage � Fantastic!  Half way through the set Chris told everyone that it would make his day if he�d phone his Mum on stage and everyone shout out a loud �Hello!�  Of course, the entire crowd were well up for doing just that, and did!

Good but short � that�s how I�d describe JJ72�s performance.  They came on late and finished early.  Still they delivered a superb set and drew a very large crowd, most very eager to get right down to the front and jump around.

There was no contest.  For the finale to the entire V festival it was a choice between Texas and Muse � after less than a millisecond Muse won out and I was treated to one of the best stage performances I�ve ever seen.  Lots of different coloured lighting effects danced around the stage whilst small confetti like pieces of paper swirled buoyantly in the air.  During the entire performance, five massive white balloons stood pinned up in the air at the back of the stage.  Right at the end of the show these massive balloons were exploded in a dazzling flash of white light.  Then several other large balloons were let out onto the crowd so they could bounce them around.  The crowd was also one of the most energetic ones I�ve seen and been right in the middle of!  So energetic that at several times a few people almost toppled over.  One girl I was near to at one point nearly went over with several others and the look of terror on her face as she thought she was going to get crushed was haunting.  One of the great things about such a crowd though is that everyone helps each other out.  She and the others were soon picked up off the floor and were bouncing around again.

At the end of Sunday night, we tried to make a swift getaway.  It turned out that everyone else had had the same idea and by 1 o�clock, we finally got out of the car park.  Still, it was worth it.  Our heads were buzzing after seeing so many bands in one fantastic weekend.

Austin Booth

Thursday 23^rd August

We arrive at Paddington train station with our bags packed high on our backs; we were ready and raring to go. The sun is shining, the temperature is rising and the atmosphere amongst travellers is beginning to build.

So let�s set the scene. It�s a glorious summer�s day, we�ve met up with half our group with no hassle, we�ve all got train tickets and festival tickets, I mean what could possibly go wrong?�

30 minutes down the line we arrive at Reading train station. No sooner do we step off the train than the heavens start to open. Yes this glorious summer�s day has quickly descended in a true traditional Reading downpour!

After spending about an hour trying to meet with various people, we arrive tried, yet still optimist, at the campsite. Unfortunately *our* spot has gone so off we toddle to find another suitable area! After walking about 3 miles (around the same camp site) for about 2 hours we decide our legs can no longer take it, so we set up camp. Choosing the only marshland in the whole of the otherwise bone-dry campsite we have made our makeshift home for the next 4 days�. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Yellow Camp C (soon to be delightfully christened the �bad� area), just follow the yellow road and take the first right at yellow road 2, you can�t miss it, it�s the waterlogged one!

As the sunsets and the moonrises we partake in all the traditional reading activities, everyone is in high-spirits, with the alcohol a-flowing and the music a-pumping. It�s time for only one more thing, the traditional shout of� �BOOOOLLLLLOOOOCCCCKKKKS!� Yes it�s not big it�s not clever but hey it�s tradition! In addition to this the newly adopted phrase amongst campers this year was the family friendly �TIMMMMYYYY�.

Friday 24^th August

We wake on Friday to the melodic sound of fellow campers enjoying an early morning sing-along. Popping our sleepy heads outside the tent we emerge to see the sun is high in the sky, it�s a glorious day we have been blessed.

After struggling back from what seems like a five-mile hike from the town, we enter the arena to the sound of The Donnas bracing the main stage with their blend of jangly girly pop rock. To be honest this isn�t exactly my thing, and I�m not at my best in the morning, but on first impressions it seemed to be a well balanced set, certainly fresh enough to wipe the sleep from our eyes and open our ears ready for the weekend�s music.

We decide to head over to the Evening Session Stage, in preparation for one of the �Must Watch� bands of the weekend: The Moldy Peaches. Unfortunately in order to retain a good pitch we have to sit through Crapout, sorry I mean Crackout. As you may have guessed I�m not a fan of this band, in fact I think they�re fucking awful. Their sound seems to be a combination of crap-rock mixed with American style punk-pop topped off with a singer that well lacks the ability to sing. I think the less said about this band the better.

After what seems like a lifetime, The Moldy Peaches took to the stage, wearing perhaps *the* dress code of the weekend. Don�t ask me what two of the band members were meant to be, I was too busy looking at the Robin Hood costume. The set was very well articulated, with songs just perfect for the occasion. It�s fair to say they created quite a storm in the session tent, with all fractions of the crowd, me included merrily hopping, jumping and leaping to the pleasant sounds of �Who�s got the crack� it�s safe to say a thoroughly good time was had by all.

Struggling out of the now packed Evening Session tent we amble across to the Carling stage in the hope of catching Tahiti 80, by this point the day�s sun has well and truly got to me, my nose is pink, by back is pink and I�m sleepy. A truly ambient, gorgeously gentle, and sublimely relaxing Tahiti 80 set allowed me to while away the hours slowly drifting in and out of a mid-afternoon slumber. Possibly my favourite band of the weekend so far�

After what seemed like hours of deep anticipation, the crowd waiting with baited breathe to catch the first glimpse of Bright Eyes and in particular a certain Mr Conor Obest they take to the stage with Conor much to my disappointment opting for a sit down sing-along. Each song is as perfect sounding as I�d imagined and hoped for, add to this a little spark of that festival magic and BOOM! The band/man is fantastic, the songs are fantastic, the set was fantastic. Enough said really. Anyone that doesn�t own at least one Bright Eyes record should hurry up and do so.

And the most hyped award goes to�. The Strokes. After what must seem like a whirlwind of a year, The Strokes are about to receive their next big surprise, they�re being moved on to the main stage. Now unless you�ve been living in some sort of cave for the past few months you can�t fail to have come across this band, in one shape or form. They are quite literally everywhere; in fact if the NME suck arse anymore�. To be perfectly frank I was bitterly disappointed. Prior to reading I�d heard many a story of how this amazing band were going to change my life for the better, how they were going to reinvent music and above all else, how they were going to give me the performance of my life. Needless to say they failed. Even though the firework had been lit there were defiantly no sparks. The set consisted purely of a recital of the aptly named album �It this it?� I may as well have been listening to the album coming out of my CD speakers and not the festival stage. It was exactly the same. Although some people like to hear a recital I prefer to hear/watch a performance. Every riff, each tremble may have been pitch perfect and adequately timed but where was this life changing element? After about three songs my mind began to wander� there I�ll admit it The Strokes bored me senseless so now I�ll just move on and await the backlash�.

After grabbing a delightful sample of overpriced, over cooked, under flavoured festival food we sit to watch the tail end of a fairly amusing Iggy Pop set. I say amusing mainly due to the antics of one of the so-called *fakers* invited to appear on stage for the finale of �Lust For Life�. Soon it would be time for the three bands in succession that we wanted to see the first being PJ Harvey�

Appearing on stage dressed only in a black bra, PVC mini skirt and knee-high bitch-boots. Polly-Jean Harvey reaffirmed herself as the queen of girly-rock. Trust me she looked fantastic, there wasn�t a man in the audience who�s heart wasn�t pumping hard and fast. Now I love this woman, her harsh toned almost edgy voice perfectly compliments the rawer tracks, while her softer more angelic vocals work fantastically on the sweeter sounding guitar piano combos. Playing a well balanced selection of new and old, including the recent single �This is Love� Polly-Jean entered the hearts, minds and memories of all the adoring audience, men, women and children included.

(Celebrity star spot #1: - Kev from Billy Mahonie mingling with the crowd�s in front of a packed stage before PJ Harvey)

Everyone loved The Lemonheads and everyone in the Evening Session tent loves their lead singer, country-rock-pop guru Evan Dando. Playing mainly a classic selection of Lemonheads songs, Evan was in fine voice. Singing about friendship, lifestlye and of course the age old country theme of love and broken hearts, the atmosphere can only be described as triumphant and jovial. A special mention has to be given to my personal set highlight �Into your arms� a song that can only be describes as *the* perfect love song with its light guitar work bordering on the jangly and it�s soft, loving, tentative lyrics, that will lovingly draw you into their soft embrace. This has to be one of the greatest festival songs, the lyrics and melody just call out to be sang-along to, festival styly!

Now something�s not right here, it�s not raining and we�re off to try and squeeze into an over packed, completely cramped Carling stage to be blown away by Must See band #2 Arab Strap. Though due to no fault of their own tonight it wasn�t going to be *just* Arab Strap ooh no� tonight Matthew�. Arab �Travis� Strap. Front man Aidan Moffat like the rest of the crowd was less than impressed with the Reading sound system�with anyone beyond about row 3 having to struggle to hear them over the sound of Indie kids and mums favourite Travis, blasting their sound from the main stage. Now let me explain unlike the happy club merrily playing away on the main stage, Arab Strap are anything BUT happy, in fact their gorgeously broody sounds are more than a little miserable. Adian�s dark vocals send shivers of pure sexual tension up your spine and across every waking part of your body. Never before has a voice been laced with such seedy, sexy, sub textual qualities. Proving that even the most grim and miserable of sounds can in fact be the most beautiful. Arab Strap tug firmly at the deepest depths of your soul, while plucking mercilessly at your fragile heart strings, only to culminate in a mass of sexual inadequacy, frustration and tension. Quite simply perfect right down to the very last quiver.

Saturday 25^th August

After only a few hours of sleep we pop our heads our to a mist filled morning, the air is humid and not a cloud can be seen for miles in the sky� something�s not right I mean it�s sunny! Today was going to be a scorcher on all fronts and I�m not just talking about the weather.

After queuing for what seemed like hours at a cash point and missing The Zephyrs we stumble in on The Soft Parade now having seen them a few months previous I can safely say they haven�t altered, this is defiantly not a good thing. They sound drab, average and unoriginal. Though in fairness sitting through this set did have one advantage, and that was in the shape of Celebrity star spot #2! Kevin and David from my favourite band Seafood. After exchanging both sun cream and festival stories, we both go our separate ways... which unfortunately for us lead us straight into the path of a laughable OMP set, you know the ones that released �Heaven is a Half-pipe� or whatever that god-awful song was called!

But it can�t be helped as on soon are the fantastic AUWKUBTTOD  (And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead). Having released one of the best albums of recent times �Madonna� the band played a mix of new and old songs. Perhaps not quite as powerful or venomous as last years set on the Evening Session stage, the set still contained adequate energy to get everyone moving, despite the almost unbearable heat. Despite looking slightly dwarfed by their main stage surrounding, the band easily produced the performance of the day so far, which given the circumstances (i.e. the other bands) wasn�t too hard. Celebrity star spot #3 Charles from Seafood, just enough time for a quick smile and a wave... both of us laughing about the last time we met�

Next up on the evening session stage are Gorky�s Zygotic Mynci not only does this set give us a chance to escape the mid-day sun it also opens our ears to one of the most angelic voices of the weekend� Euros Childs. Appearing on stage with the usual range of instruments and band members, the set is as beautiful and melodic as ever. Rich but gentle vocals are laid on top of a whole cavalcade of instruments including, guitar, piano and violin add to this elegant, soothing and gorgeous lyrics, a perfect set to sooth away the afternoon.

Staying in the Evening session tent for a while lead to Celebrity star spot #4 Various members of Trail of dead, fresh for their stunning performance earlier in the day. Next up a band I can�t stand... and for personal reasons Elbow without wanting to go into details I fucking hate this band, added to the fact I genuinely find them bland, lacklustre and boring and this set was no exception. Churning out countless songs off of the recent album �Asleep In The back� Elbow�s set wasn�t exactly the most inspiring thing I�d ever heard, the only saving grace was that it was relatively short.

 Lou Barlow has to go down as one of my all time musical heroes, the man is a musical genius, bearing that in mind you can imagine my sheer delight when I read that his latest band Folk Implosion has been announced. My anticipation and excitement was rewarded by a fantastic set I certainly wasn�t disappointed.  Playing a selection of new songs, that one can only hope will feature on a forthcoming album, blended with some older- classic FI songs the set was perfectly balanced and well articulated down to the finest details. Playing a number of my favourite songs, �Free to go� and �Merry-go-down� to name but two, the set was finished with a slightly modified and certainly intensified rendition of Natural one. Quite possibly the only way to end a near faultless selection.

Next up My Vitriol now having seen this band 11 times before today I wasn�t particularly enthralled especially as every set seems to be the same, right down to the order of the set list. I suppose for a MV virgin the set would have been brilliant, I mean I remember my first time, they�re loud, angsty, shouty and Som borders on the aggressive with his instrument thrashing and screaming during the finale of  ï¿½Tongue tied�

It�s surprising how many songs of the next band you seem to know without well knowing it I�m talking about Teenage Fanclub the band that seem to have been around forever without you really noticing them. I was shocked when they hurtled into their set and I found myself singing along, scarier still I seemed to know all the words! Unfortunately the only song I really wanted to hear by the band, they seemed to have omitted from their set, but that aside it wasn�t bad. I think the phrase pretty best sums it all up. Nothing spectacular, just nice plain and simple easy listening.

It�s 20 minutes into the set and the band have just announced the first song title, it�s 30 minutes into the set and the speaker has been blown by this mass of noise, who am I watching? It could *only* be Mogwai. The atmosphere inside the tent can only be described as electric, the crowd seem tense with anticipation as the band amble on to the stage, you just knew that this was going to be something special, you could feel it in your bones! And trust me our expectations were not only met, they were thoroughly surpassed. The set was a combination of the loudest loud, combined with the most delicate quietness and beautiful silence. Each instrument is set apart but pulled together in a noisy explosive cohesion of sound, ambience and atmosphere. Never before have my ears been exposed to such a mass of tangled up sound, working together in amazing timing and harmony. Simply Breathtaking. The evening is warm but crisp, looking up into the clear cloudless skies we can see a million and one stars, I�m on the arms of the one I love and Mogwai are thrashing, brawling, giving it their all on stage life just doesn�t get any better than this!

We go to sleep that night with our ears ringing and our heart pumping... thanks Mogwai

(Celebrity star spot #5: Steve Lamacq LEAVING the tent� tut tut tut!)

Sunday 26^th August

 We wake today to the more familiar sound of good ol� festival rain. The heavens had opened.

Setting off at an ungodly hour in the morning we managed to get dead centre at the barrier on the evening session stage where we shall remain for some time. Well at least until Seafood have finished.

First up, a band I�ve literally been shouting about for the past 6 months or so, Biffy Clyro.  They�re young, energetic, explosive and above all else loud. After waiting what seemed like an age, the band take to the stage, tearing straight into a slightly (but unintentionally) modified version of �Hope for an angel� stunningly angelic to begin with, before erupting into a frenzy of tense built up explosive emotion, noise and feeling.  My only regret about this performance would have to be that it wasn�t longer. Unfortunately being at the bottom of the bill meant they only got 30 mins, but what a 30 minutes it was. Once again Biffy had left me just stunned, what a way to start a morning!

Hundred Reasons were the next band on the bill due to a cancellation. It was during their set that I really regretted my decision to stand at the barrier, what with the weight of a couple of hundred um... Hundred Reasons fans bearing down upon me. Now rule one, these are not ATDI rule number 2 do not mention ATDI!

Although they may share a similar sound to the aforementioned band, there are a few fundamental differences, for starters HR are from Surrey! This set was certainly jumpy, quite powerful. Nice and loud and most definitely attitude splattered.

Time for the band we keep running into: Seafood!  Now I�ve seen this band a few times before, and each time they just get better and better, this performance was certainly no exception (though it would have been improved had I managed to grab one of the water pistols that the band threw into the crowd!)

The atmosphere throughout the crowd was certainly charged, with David the lead singer seemingly picking up on this feature. The beautifully not to mention powerfully articulated set was a fantastic balance of new and old songs including fan�s firm favourite �Porchlight�. The set was opened with the pumping sound of the �Cloaking� intro as the band ambled on stage to a rapturous applause. Each song seemed set apart yet some how blended in to the sense of momentous occasion, this was a band going places...and evidently they know it because at this point David announces jokingly to the crowd that they�re the most important band in the UK and I couldn�t agree more!

But as quickly as it had all began unfortunately it all drew to a grand finale... and what a finale it was. Helped on stage by a member of the seafood crew the band lurked into a noisy, chaotic, bustling, bursting rendition of �FSC�

Once more the heaven�s opened, so we thought we�d go for the lesser of two evils and watch Grand Theft Audio sadly we were much mistaken, after sitting through 45 minutes of complete shite everyone agreed that the rain was probably a better and certainly more entertaining option. It wasn�t so much the lack of talent, or the crapness of songs that really annoyed me, it was more to do with the sheer stupidity not to mention rudeness of the band where the lead singer couldn�t talk to the crowd without saying �motherfucker� �fuck you� etc at least 5 times per sentence!

The rains subsided as we ambled into a packed carling tent to catch the end of Haven having seen them support Biffy earlier in the year I knew exactly what to expect. Travis/Coldplay like vocals on top of Travis like guitar work. Haven are possibly *the* most indie band around, I�m sure my mum would love them; it�s a shame I don�t really. Celebrity star spot #6 Lou Barlow

While waiting for Lowgold in the EST we catch the tail end of Mark B and blades set, and by all accounts it was actually a good set. Ok so it may not be my thing but for those of you that like them, then you would have loved this.  ï¿½Ya don�t see the signs� was a definite highlight not to mention crowd pleaser especially with the inclusion of a small 10 yr old boy/rapper and the whole crowd sing-along section.

The set was finished with them telling/daring the crowd to crowd surf, and trust me the crowd did just that much to the horror of the poor bouncers! Having said that though it did look very funny!

Lowgold now I remember a time when I actually wanted to see them, I spent weeks anticipating their gig and I can safely say I have never been so disappointed. Over a year on and nothing has changed, they�re still as boring and as dull as ever only this time I knew every song and how it should sound on the record. The tragic thing about Lowgold is that if you use to like their records and experience the type of gig I did then well you�ll never want to hear another track again. About 3 inches of dust now covers my lowgold cd�s posters and t-shirts� tragic isn�t it! Their set was the usual dull droning, with the band playing songs off of the horrendously milked �Just backwards of square� album.  The only thing slightly redeeming about this band is a) they�re polite and b) Miles! Oh well maybe their next album will be fantastic live; I mean stranger things have happened. Celebrity Star spot #7 Hefner 

After meeting up with a friend who some how managed to not only sip Champagne with the Manics but also GOT TO USE THEIR MARBLE BOUND TOILET!!!! We all sit together and watch Cat Power; yet again we spot another member of Seafood (this time it�s Caz and Kev.) To say that this set was quiet is like saying the pope is a bit religious... it�s a bit of an understatement. We managed to just about block out the sounds of Papa Roach to hear wee snippets of the women�s frail and rather scraggy vocals, and by the sounds of it we needn�t have bothered.

We�re now on to the last three bands of the festival, first up Clearlake again I was shocked to find myself happily singing along. Slightly darker in sound than anything I�d heard of them before, this was a more than adequate live performance. Messy slightly Egyptian sounding Guitar riffs are spliced over a range of vocal sounds to produce quite a unique finish to say the very least.

A time progressed and the air got colder and the night drew in, everyone�s spirits were running high, this jovial mood was echoed in the ambience of Clearlake�s performance, I would defiantly recommend seeing these again.

Only one more before the Headline act, but oh dear it just happens to be none other than Glam-punk-rock-god-knows-what-wannabe�s yes you�ve guessed it Gaydad remember them? Once upon a time Gaydad seemed to have everything going for them, they had a hit single�. Ok so that was it, one hit single and the NME jumping firmly on the bandwagon. Having said that though the set was very amusing, I mean I couldn�t stop myself from laughing and even at one point shaking those hips!

Finally it was time for the Headline act of Sunday... no not Eminem or D12, instead we opted for the much better option of Hefner.

This truly felt like a headline performance on the last day of a major festival, and it was great. The atmosphere amongst fellow fans was just amazing, everyone singing dancing and cheering together almost like one big happy family. I bet they didn�t get that over at the Main stage! Lead singer Darren, thanked the crowd for seeing him and not Eminem, jokily saying who we were missing out on a treat but from where I was standing it certainly didn�t seem that way.

The set was comprised purely of the classic Hefner songs and including crowd sing-along favourites such as �Hello Kitten�, �Pull yourself together� and �The greedy ugly people�. Thankfully the only songs omitted from the set list were those off of the recent, new and frankly appalling album �Dead Media�.  This was certainly a performance worthy of the final day, and as we danced for many hours into the night with encore after encore, we were glad we�d gone to see Hefner

There was nothing much left to do than drink and be merry ooh and if you�re in Yellow camp C, then you knock down your fire tower, domino your street lights oooh blow up the portaloos� I can�t wait till next year�I�ll see you there!

Vic Bird