Talk About Rock Music

The V Festival has always offered a strange commercial blend to its music line-ups over the years. While Leeds/Reading and T in the Park have largely (apart from this year at T, surprisingly enough) focused on a core of rock and indie acts, V has always been made up of a diverse mix of artists.

For once, this commercially-orientated festival seems to have more indie acts than T in the Park. Apart from Muse, Kasabian and Stereophonics, the artists at T include rappers Jay-Z, Dizzee Rascal and Eminem. At the V Festival it may still have pop artists like Cheryl Cole and Paolo Nutini, but it also boasts Kasabian and Stereophonics as well as Kings Of Leon, Paul Weller, Skunk Anansie, The Charlatans, Editors and Shed 7.

The event, taking place between the two sites in Chelmsford and Staffordshire between 21st and 22nd August is still devoid of hard rock acts, but for indie music this seems like a viable option…

That is unless you are going to see AC/DC, Them Crooked Vultures and Deftones at Download!

Like many people, I did not actually go to the festival but was happy enough to Sky+ all the BBC highlights so I could watch my favourite acts at my own convenience and fast forward the rest. I must say that although the festival has generally been acclaimed this year, I have certainly seen, and indeed been to, many festivals with a stronger (rock) line up. For example, Download looked particularly inviting this year.

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