Anticipation was running high, especially considering that sub-headlining the main stage before Marshall Mathers was one of the biggest pop icons on the planet right now, Rihanna. The chance of seeing the pair team up for a run through of their classic 2010 hit single Love The Way You Lie was also too much to think about as the day got underway, but hopes were high from the outset.
Before we got to the scintillating climax of the main stage on day one of the festival though, there were plenty more act playing across the Staffordshire site, on what was arguably the stronger of the two days of this year’s V Festival.
Opening proceedings over on the Arena Stage was former Busted/Fightstar man Charlie Simpson, performing cuts off his recently released solo album, Young Pilgrim. Showcasing a more acoustic folk-pop driven direction than his previous work, whilst Fightstar take an extended break, Charlie Simpson has clearly been keeping himself busy putting together a solo album of excellent material. He goes down well in the tent too, often evoking memories of the likes of Frank Turner and The Gaslight Anthem’s Brian Fallon with his songs and musicianship. He has a hell of a voice as well, perfectly suited to songs of this ilk as well.
Off the back of this brief 25 minute set, Young Pilgrim is well worth a listen, and is another excellent string to this multi faceted singer songwriter’s bow. Leaving his Busted days behind him, and with an excellent solo project that has seen him gatecrash the Top 10 of the UK album charts as of late, his star will remain firmly in the ascent for the foreseeable future, until he gets back behind the helm of Fightstar.
Next up were Hanson, who, in all honesty, are still trading off that one enormo hit they had back in 1997. In all fairness to the boys, who still only look like they have just reached their 20’s, it is a MASSIVE hit, and as soon as they crack into it towards the latter part of their short set, the place goes off. One of the BIGGEST reactions to any song throughout the entire festival season, in this, or any other year. Hell, one of the biggest reactions live surely ever?!? MMMBop is one of the biggest guilty pleasures around on this day, and it is still such a toe tappingly fantastic song. You cannot but help get it lodged in your head for the rest of the day upon hearing it.
Other than the “hit”, their set is a little bit pedestrian, as the band struggle to shake off the fact that the crowd are there for only one song – but when it comes – it is well worth the wait. One of the loudest and most frenzied reactions I have ever seen, underlining it’s true 90’s pop genius.
Deafening stuff.
Stunning.
Heading over to the main stage area after Hanson meant that I caught the latter part of Squeeze on the main stage. It’s clearly not really my thing, but they got a good reaction from the crowd, particularly during the likes of Cool For Cats, Goodbye Girl and Slap and Tickle. It’s all a little bit old school disco for my liking at times, but it serves it’s purpose for the early arriving punters over at the main stage.
Next up was Ellie Goulding who has an absolutely massive crowd ready to sing along with her to her chart bothering pop songs over the course of a highlight packed 45 minute set. Big singles such as The Writer, Guns and Horses, Under The Sheets, and her version of Elton John’s Your Song go down incredibly well, but it is her closing rendition of Starry Eyed that hits home the hardest.
What is clear throughout though is that she has an incredibly distinctive and unmistakable tone to her voice, and although oftentimes over played on mainstream radio, she has got some cracking songs in her catalogue. She is captivating and adorable whilst up on stage, and although she has never really been someone I have gotten into massively on record, her live show was a pleasant surprise today.
The sizeable crowd also roar their appreciation as she departs having played a hit packed set.
Heading over to the festival’s second stage, You Me At Six are wrapping up Save It For The Bedroom, before they launch into new single Loverboy, the first single from their upcoming third record, Sinners Never Sleep. Josh Franceschi works the crowd like the seasoned pro he is becoming, and by the time they crack into Liquid Confidence and Stay With Me, the crowd are singing along at full pelt.
They close their set to the perennial Underdog, and leave having melted a few hearts, and clearly won a huge set of new fans to their cause in the process.
They will be back, and that third record (due out before the end of the year) could see them bothering the mainstream conscious more than ever.
Setlist - The Consequence / Kiss And Tell / Save It For The Bedroom / Loverboy / Liquid Confidence / Stay With Me / Underdog
The rock infiltration of the most commercially pop oriented festival of the summer continues, with pop punk legends Good Charlotte taking to the stage, after what feels like an age, seemingly due to technically difficulties.
It is these difficulties which inevitably lead to their set being cut short, and them having to miss off a set closing run through of Lifestyles Of The Rich & Famous, but before they go, they blast through some of the biggest pop punk songs of all time. Opening with a riotous The Anthem, followed by a pogo-tastic Girls & Boys, while they are on stage, they are unrelenting in their pop punk assault on the senses, inciting some action down in the pit which is rare sight on the Weston Park stamping ground.
My Bloody Valentine, The Story Of My Old Man (with a run through of Blink 182’s Dammit thrown in for good measure) and a breathtaking The River are all classics, but today it is the blast through the heart-stopping Riot Girl that is a personal highlight of the year. I have waited a long time for them to play that song live, and hearing it today is a truly special moment, and one that will never be forgotten.
One of the greatest pop punk songs of all time.
The crowd may largely be unfamiliar with the bulk of their set (a sign of exactly which festival we are at alone), but for me, it was a fast paced hit packed set that really got the vocal chords warmed up, even if the rain did start to threaten to pop through and spoil the fun.
Awesome stuff from the Madden bros and co.
Setlist - The Anthem / Girls & Boys / My Bloody Valentine / Dance Floor Anthem / Riot Girl / The River / The Story Of My Old Man / Dammit (Blink 182 cover)
Luckily the rain clouds eventually blew over and didn’t spoil the party, as up next, being greeted by one of the largest crowds of the weekend were N-Dubz.
Buoyed by Tulisa’s rise to the X Factor judging panel, as the nation’s sweetheart-in-waiting, and coming off the back of a hugely successful arena tour earlier in the year, N-Dubz have a massive chance to ram home their brilliance today, and it is a chance they do not waste.
Leaning heavily off the material from their latest album Love.Live.Life, N-Dubz blast through R&B/hip hop soaked pop numbers in a set that packs a massive punch, and incites massive sing-alongs from the swelling crowd. The opening Took It All Away is fantastic, and Best Behaviour is a big song as always, as is the albums title track, and recent single Girls. Playing With Fire is the solo entry from the second record, and Strong Again is the only song that features from the debut, and although fans would love to see some more of this earlier material, the bands set is still an incredible look through how far the band have come on their own terms.
Glaring omissions such as Ouch, I Need You and Cold Shoulder are forgivable at festival appearances, but would still go down a storm had they been included. The set is still a massive success regardless. The interplay and the chemistry between the three is electric, and whilst Dappy is clearly the musical genius behind the group, it is the stunning focal point of Tulisa, whoa lot of the fans here today want to see. She looks more stunning than ever, and although it seems that she has lost some weight (under industry expectations ready for the X Factor run?) she does look more glamourous than ever before. Her vocals are on point throughout as well. Fazer is a livewire as well, working the stage with Dappy as each trade blows in their lyrical content.
All in all, a massive highlight of the weekend, and a set which N-Dubz well and truly smashed. By the time they return, they could well be one of the biggest pop bands in Britain.
The X Factor exposure will certainly do them no harm whatsoever.
Setlist - Took It All Away / Strong Again / Playing With Fire / Girls / Toot It & Boot It / Down (Jay Sean cover) / Love Live Life / Number One / Morning Star / Best Behaviour
The crush to get away from the second stage after the N-Dubz set, coupled with what I think was an early stage time, meant that I missed The Saturdays, having hoped to catch at least a portion of their set after N-Dubz. GUTTING. Their setlist looked pretty cracking as well for a festival slot.
Setlist - Ego / Up / Work / Issues / Forever Is Over / I Need a Dollar (Aloe Blacc cover) / Missing You / Notorious / Higher
Heading over to the main stage, the crowd was already starting to swell for the main attraction(s), so I nestled into the mass of bodies ready for The Script to pull out an hour of hits, amidst a large stage production.
They have come a long way in a very short space of time, but they are now a genuinely massive pop band, capable of selling out massive arenas up and down the country (case in point – see how quickly they sold out their last UK tour, including the MEN Arena, in a phenomenally short space of time). They have the songs too, and for a solid hour, they thrill a packed crowd, pulling songs from both of their full length albums.
It is the material from their seminal debut that goes down the best, especially the heart wrenching The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, which receives a massive reaction from the crowd, as they sing a large portion of the hook at the front man’s request. The Sunday at V Festival 2008 was when their debut album went to number one, and they came out onto the main stage that day between acts to perform their breakthrough single.
Even then you knew that they were on to something very special indeed, and they only justify those credentials on this night. For The First Time and Nothing are big moments from the second album Science & Faith, but We Cry, Talk You Down, Before The Worst and Breakeven totally eclipse those on this evening, as the sun starts to set to their divine melodies.
Setlist - You Won't Feel A Thing / Talk You Down / We Cry / If You Ever Come Back / Before The Worst / Science & Faith / The Man Who Can't Be Moved / Nothing / Rusty Halo / For The First Time / Breakeven
Anticipation reaches fever pitch after The Script finish their fantastic set, as everyone gets ready to welcome the superstar that is Rihanna to the stage.
With an hour’s worth of hits at her disposal, her set it a memorable one too, dripping in sleaze and sex appeal from the moment she appears in her Union Jack crop top, hot pants, fishnets and heels, to the closing refrains of Umbrella, when she struts off the stage.
The crowd goes mental as she arrives on the stage, backed with dancers and her live band, and she unloads the hits from one moment to the next, with the opening one-two of Only Girl (In The World) and Disturbia setting the tone for what is to come. There is a massive production throughout her show, as she straddles a huge cannon for the likes of Hard, and brings out her drum sticks for the closing thunderous climax of Breaking Dishes. The tempo drops only for a reflective performance of Unfaithful, but there are huge dance numbers elsewhere throughout her set, with Rihanna flanked by her dancers for the likes of S&M, Rudeboy and What’s My Name?
There is an element of vocals being picked up by the backing track or her backup singers as she struts and dances around at full throttle across the stage, but that can only be expected from such a high octance performance. It is utterly captivating. It is a real spectacle to behold, chock full with class, risqué gestures from the ringleader herself and some of the best pop songs of the last few years.
As she leaves to huge cheers, consider the crowd well and truly warmed up. Eminem followed, closing the proceedings on day one in Stafford.
Setlist - Only Girl (In the World) / Disturbia / Shut Up And Drive / Man Down / S&M / Let Me / Hard / Breakin' Dishes / Unfaithful / What's My Name? / Rude Boy / Don't Stop The Music / Umbrella
If Rihanna warmed up the throng though, it is Slim Shady who sends them absolutely supernova with his breathtaking 90 minute headline set. It has been a long time since he graced English shores, but my god was it worth the wait.
Arriving to a massive welcome from the crowd, and opening with a thundering salvo of Won’t Back Down, 3am and Square Dance, the volume is deafening and Eminem ducks and weaves across the stage trading blows with his hype man, and sending the atmosphere through the roof. From that point onwards, he does not relent, and he throws down one of THE classic festival sets of all time. Unquestionably.
With a wealth of material throughout his back catalogue, Slim Shady tends to stick with a handful of verses from many songs, rather than full blown renditions of his tracks, and as such, powers through song after song with a venom and passion as clear as the day he wrote them.
Although the likes of Stan, Sing For The Moment, and the classic such as The Real Slim Shady, My Name Is and others would benefit from a full airing, it is razor sharp, it is straight for the throat, and it is damn well scintillating to watch. In short, it is utterly heart stopping for the entire duration, and completely unforgettable.
The highlight reel is never ending as well, with Eminem forever stalking the stage like a mad man, waxing lyrical and venting his aggression into the mic like a man truly possessed. No Love is huge, as are Kill You, Cleanin’ Out My Closet and The Way I Am. The fact that they all come out early in his set only underlines the impressive wealth of material at his disposal. His brothers in D12 come out for a run through of Fight Music and Purple Pills, and the guest spots don’t stop there.
Royce da 5’9” comes out for a run through of two of their recent Bad Meets Evil numbers, first single Fast Lane, and the anthemic, soon to be legendary, Lighters, which also enlists Bruno Mars (sadly absent here tonight, as he plays on the alternative V Festival day, and is therefore in Chelmsford).
Skylar Grey appears later in the set for her part on Dre’s I Need A Doctor, but as incredible as each guest collaboration proves, there is only one name on everyone’s lips as the inevitable run through of Love The Way You Lie comes out during the latter part of the set.
As expected (and hoped!) Rihanna makes a return to the stage to trade blows with Eminem on their 2010 hit (arguably the best song ever to not make it to number one?) and it is mind-blowing. The reaction is phenomenal, even eclipsing the run through by Hanson of MMMBop earlier that afternoon, and it is a real “I was there” moment to see them go head to head on the track. Eminem spits and flows around Rihanna’s chorus, and induces spine tingling feelings for everyone in attendance. It is a real once in a lifetime experience, and it does not disappoint, as it makes a play for the accolade of best song of the entire festival season
Words cannot even begin to describe just how big that song still sounds, or how powerful the live rendition is here tonight.
Stunning.
A triumvirate of My Name Is / The Real Slim Shady / Without Me is a nod back to the classic Shady era, and the new material such as Cinderella Man and Space Bound fit in seamlessly alongside the older hits. Stan is a massive moment as expected, as is Sing For The Moment and Not Afraid finishes the set proper, before Eminem returns for another outstanding run through of Lose Yourself as his encore. As he leaves the stage, everyone in attendance is left in no doubt as to how special tonight really was.
Utterly breathtaking.
Jay Z and Kanye West have just released a record entitled Watch The Throne – while they have been busy watching it, Slim Shady has swooped straight in, and snatched it straight back from under their noses. The man is simply unstoppable in this form.
The world is his for the taking once again.
Setlist - Won't Back Down / 3 a.m. / Square Dance / W.T.P. / Kill You / No Love / So Bad / Cleanin' Out My Closet / The Way I Am / Fight Music (with D12) / Purple Pills
(with D12) / Fast Lane (with Royce da 5'9") / Lighters (with Royce da 5'9") / Airplanes Part II / Stan / Sing For The Moment / Like Toy Soldiers / Forever / Space Bound / Till I Collapse / Cinderella Man / Love The Way You Lie (with Rihanna) / I Need A Doctor (with Skylar Grey) / My Name Is / The Real Slim Shady / Without Me / Not Afraid / Lose Yourself
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