17th August 2008: Parting words

The Verve closed V Festival, Chelmsford in style on Sunday night, defying reports the band were about to split, again. As the rain started to fall, singer Richard Ashcroft said: "If you think it's wet tonight you should have seen last night!" He was of course referring to the torrential rain that had threatened to put a stop to their Staffordshire show the previous night. Ashcroft later paid a moving tribute to the late soul legend Isaac Hayes, who recently died of a stroke, and dedicated The Rolling People to him.

Up in Staffordshire, Muse closed the northern leg of V Fest 2008, with another impressive display. However, the band indicated that the gig will be their last for a while, as they head back to the studio. "See you again next year," said drummer Dominic Howard at the climax of the band's set. "We'll have some new music."

See more Verve >>

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17th August 2008: Fans of The King

Scouting For Girls provoked a mass sing-along with a medley of Elvis Presley's Can't Help Falling In Love and their own hit Elvis Ain't Dead, which sent fans into a frenzy. The band later played the VIP tent, and were were joined on stage by Spandau Ballet's Tony Hadley for a cover of another Elvis classic, Suspicious Minds.

See more Scounting For Girls >>

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17th August 2008: The great escape

Despite turning in a shaky performance and arriving late for a second time, Amy Winehouse escaped being booed at V Fest Chelmsford. The troubled singer had been barracked when she arrived late on stage at the event's leg in Staffordshire on Saturday. Amy's vocals were often only partially audible, but nevertheless she had the crowd singing along by the time she closed with her version of The Zutons' Valerie.

See more Amy Winehouse >>

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17th August 2008: You can't buy that sort of class

Festival fashionista Coleen Rooney was banned from taking a load of champagne bottles out of the VIP area with her, as she set off to see The Stereophonics play. But not one to waste a drop of booze, she poured the bubbly into plastic pint glasses so she could carry on drinking with pals during the performance. Coleen and footballer hubbie Wayne are massive fans of the Welsh band – Coleen booked them to play their wedding earlier in the year, as a surprise gift for beloved.

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17th August 2008: Bigger than God

Previous Road To V winners The Young Knives joked that they were "bigger than God" during their early evening set. "We're the biggest band in the world," bassist The House Of Lords declared. "We're bigger than this festival. We're bigger than God." He then went on to praise fellow festival band Girls Aloud. "I don't know what it is about them I like," he mused, "it must be their music."

Check out the 2008 Road To V winners >>

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17th August 2008: Play that funky music

Guitar god Lenny Kravitz made a triumphant return to the UK festival scene at V with a rocking early evening set. Prowling the stage in a black leather jacket and skin-tight trousers, the American had the crowd whipped into a frenzy in no time, playing all of his classic hits.

See more Lenny Kravitz >>

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17th August 2008: Spotted

Virgin heirs Sam and Holly Branson hanging out together. Martine McCutcheon with a new shorter hair-do. Holly Willoughby posing for pics with Leigh Francis AKA Avid Merrion. Chris Parker. A very orange Gareth Gates trying and failing to do 'festival cool'. Kim Marsh with new fella Jamie Lomas (Warren from Hollyoaks). Socialite Camilla Al Fayed dressed more for Bond St than watching bands. Kelly Osbourne in a tartan House of Holland blazer, with her boyfriend Luke. Kimberly Stewart, minus boy toy Rhys Ifans. Jo and Leah Wood enjoying some mother/daughter time away from their recent family dramas.

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16th August 2008: A heady end to day one

Muse were billed as the festival act to end all festival acts, and the band, playing their only festival date of the year at V Fest, didn't disappoint. After a tense build-up, Matt Bellamy and co. walked on stage as the enormous satellite dishes that had been erected on either side of the stage began spinning and glowing, firing huge beams of light into the crowd. They ended their beefed-up set by releasing scores of white balloons into the sky.

See more Muse >>

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16th August 2008: Kinky

Indie kids The Kooks were given an injection of old-school cool when they were joined on stage by The Kinks' frontman Ray Davies. The singer joined the band halfway through their set for a rendition of his former band's track Victoria. Earlier in the day The Kooks had hinted their fans were in for a big surprise, and boy where they right. Spectacular.

See more Kooks >>

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16th August 2008: Spotted

Coleen Rooney looking very glam in patent wellies, happily chatting to fans, and saying 'chillax' a lot. Steve Jones wedged between a blonde and a brunette looking confused. Jodie Kidd hovering at the entrance looking worse for wear. Jamie Oliver with a huge entourage, but no sign of the wife. Alexa Chung being very grumpy with fans wanting to get pictures with her.

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16th August 2008: In the nick of time

At least she's consistent! In true Winehouse style, Amy nearly didn't make her V Festival performance. Having kept the crowd waiting for half an hour, she finally stumbled on stage to a mixture of boos and cheers. But whatever bad feeling there was, it dissolved as Amy delivered a strong set featuring all her big hits. Rehab got the biggest cheer, while a dedication to incarcerated hubbie Blake scored a resounding chorus of boos from fans.

See more Amy >>

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16th August 2008: Can't dance, won't dance

Wearing a tiny gingham dress, Welsh songstress Duffy had a confession to make at V Festival today. After performing her first track Distant Dreamer, Duffy said: "I have to admit V Festival that I can't dance so dance with me please!" And dance they did as she belted out No.1 track Mercy.

See more Duffy >>

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16th August 2008: Classic covers

The Feeling channeled their inner 80s popstar at V 2008, with crowd pleasing covers of A-Ha's Take On Me and Buggles' Video Killed The Radio Star. As well as their massive sing-along songs, the band also performed their new track Join With Us, which recently featured in a car advert.

The feeling in pictures >>

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16th August 2008: Girls just wanna have fun

Playing to the biggest crowd of the festival so far, Girls Aloud wowed the V crowds with a stunning, covers-packed set. Highlights included covers of Robyn's With Every Heartbeat, and Salt n' Pepa's Push It. The group added a girlie touch to proceedings with pink-diamond studded microphones and were accompanied by five male dancers.

Girls Aloud in pictures >>

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16th August 2008: Arriving in style

Queen WAG Coleen Rooney has been granted a special permit to allow her to helicopter into the festival. The wife of England and MU striker Wayne has booked a luxury break for her and a pal at the festival in Chelmsford, and even plans to put on a performance of her own , DJing in the Virgin Mobile Louder Lounge VIP bar. Not even big names like Amy Winehouse and Girls Aloud have been allowed to use a helicopter at the site. Coleen will stay in a luxury Winnebago on Saturday night.

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16th August 2008: Saturday sound bites

Despite claiming he loves to get dirty, Will Young admitted he's doing the festival in style this year, staying in his fully kitted-out tour bus.

Playing backstage early in the afternoon, The Pigeon Detective's Matt Bowman urged the assembled VIP crowd to go and see them play later in the afternoon, rather than the rival Stereophonics who are on the main stage at the same time.

Music fan Mathew Horne aka Gavin from Gavin and Stacey, has already been spotted cruising the VIP area, checking out the acts playing the marquee.

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16th August 2008: Let's get this party started

The ever popular Hoosiers stormed the marquee to kick-off V Festival 2008 with a rousing three-song set. The band will be back later this afternoon with a full set on the 4Music stage. Over on the main stage, huge crowds gathered to see The Futureheads. The band didn't disappoint, playing an extended live version of their fab cover of Kate Bush's Hounds of Love.

See more Hoosiers >>

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16th August 2008: Kings of Brixton

V Festival favourites Kings of Leon 'came home' to Brixton on Thursday night in an exclusive warm-up show for their hotly anticipated V Festival gig. Playing to a crowd that included Arctic Monkey Alex Turner and girlfriend Alexa Chung, the band used the occasion to give single 'Sex On Fire' its British debut. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for all that and more at V.

Download Kings of Leon wallpaper >>

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14th August 2008: Announcing Virgin Media's celebrity blogger

Now here's some exciting news, V Fest fans - TV presenter extraordinaire Holly Willoughby (of Dancing On Ice fame) will be joining us from the front lines of V Festival in Chelmsford to share her thoughts over the weekend in our exclusive video blog. Keep your eyes glued on our V Festival video blog page for updates from the lovely Ms Willoughby as the weekend unfolds...

Holly Willoughby in pictures >>

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14th August 2008: Girls Aloud's rider revealed?

The Mirror claim to have got their hands on a leaked copy of Girls Aloud's backstage rider for V Festival - and it's not a pretty sight. The requests apparently range from fatty junk food - McDonald's Egg McMuffins, double cheeseburgers and fries for Nicola, Southern fried chicken and waffles for Cheryl - to sweet-tooth treats - Haribo sweets for Sarah and red devil cupcakes for Nadine. Kimberley, meanwhile, is going Mexican with fajitas and nachos. An "insider" was reported as saying: "It's the most colourful rider we've received in years. It certainly beats the usual crisps and beer riders from other bands"...

Girls Aloud in pictures >>

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14th August 2008: Road To V winners announced

After months of battling it out in front of our panel of experts (including Dirty Pretty Things' Carl Barat) and legions of online fans, 2 hot new acts have finally been selected for the golden opportunity to open V Festival 2008. Congratulations to London singer-songwriter Matt Trakker and Southampton's synth-pop super-band The Rebs! To hear their winning songs and discover what swayed our experts, visit www.roadtov.com...

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12th August 2008: Harding's feller gets DJ slot

Girls Aloud's Sarah Harding has made sure she and her bandmates can let their hair down in style at the end of their set – she's got her boyfriend Tom Crane to DJ in the Virgin Mobile Louder Lounge. Whether Tom brings along any Girls Aloud tracks for Sarah and the gang remains to be seen, but we're pretty sure the One True Voice singles can stay at home...

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12th August 2008: Chanelle gets cold shoulder

Former Big Brother contestant Chanelle Hayes has allegedly had her chance to sing backstage at the V Festival scuppered. Chanelle, who made the Top 30 earlier this year with her single I Want It, wanted to sing backstage at the Louder Lounge VIP area, but festival bosses have told her her services won't be required...

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