Essex: Record numbers pack V site to rock with the stars

9:10am Monday 18th August 2008

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A RECORD 160,000 music lovers enjoyed two days of top entertainment at the 13th V Festival.

Organisers were able to increase the capacity at Hylands Park, Chelmsford’s.

And they didn’t let the crowds down with another formidable line-up.

The decision to swap the location of the two main stages – the V Stage and the 4Music Stage – to give the V Stage a bigger viewing capacity, also seemed to work.

Even the weather played its part on Saturday as bright skies replaced the forecast rain and wellies made way for flip-flops.

Festival-goers had a first day dilemma of epic musical proportions as they had to choose between Muse and The Prodigy.

Muse put on pure theatre on the V Stage with a breathtaking set that included favourites like Starlight and Supermassive Black Hole.

Essex boys The Prodigy produced an awesome performance and had fans bouncing all the way home or back to their campsites.

They were just two of about 80 acts on four main stages and more than 20 on the up-and-coming Sessions Stage.

On top of that there were dozens of acts on show in dedicated DJ bars.

The Verve topped the bill on Sunday, headlining along with the Kaiser Chiefs.

Amy Winehouse made up for last year’s no-show before Kings of Leon wowed the crowds.