V Festival gets into gear
After a night of discos, funfair rides and classic movie screenings, V Festival was today really starting to get into gear.
After a night of discos, funfair rides and classic movie screenings, V Festival was today really starting to get into gear.
Revellers made the most of their first night of camping in the grounds of Weston Park ready to be entertained by some of the music industry's biggest names today.
The grounds of the South Staffordshire beauty spot have already been transformed into a sea of tents and camper vans as part of the 14th annual V Festival.
Despite the live music not getting under way until today, thousands of fans have been making the most of funfair rides, browsing dozens of stalls, and watching classic films such as ET and Zoolander, which were being shown on a huge screen inside the arena.
After finding novel ways of transporting their alcohol to the campsite, including using wheelbarrows and wheelie bins, festival-goers have also been flocking to swap their warm beers with cold replacements at a special Carling stand filled with fridges.
Chris Wallbank, from Ash Hill, Compton, arrived at Weston Park yesterday as part of a 20-strong group.
The 23-year-old, who has been to the festival for the past nine years, said today: "Everyone is having a really good time so far and seems up for a good time. It is a really fun atmosphere.
"I am most looking forward to seeing the Lightning Seeds and Happy Mondays. I am more looking forward to seeing acts from the 90s than the more modern bands."
Roads around Weston Park were clogged up with miles of traffic tailbacks yesterday as thousands of revellers descended on the site.
Many were armed with crates of beer, disposable barbecues, wellies, camping chairs, tents and wet wipes – the essentials needed to get through the weekend.
And after the first night under canvas, they were today preparing to watch a stellar line-up of music stars take to the stage.
Oasis will be headlining the main stage tonight after performances by Snow Patrol, Mercury Prize winners Elbow, Keane, The Enemy and Human League.
Razorlight, The Specials, Lily Allen, Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal and headliners The Killers will be performing tomorrow.
Around 90,000 fans will be flooding through the gates of Weston Park for this year's musical extravaganza.
A festival organiser said today: "The atmosphere is buzzing. Everyone looks like they are really up for a good time and we are really excited that it is all under way."
Both weekend camping tickets and day tickets sold out hours after they went on sale in March, with all of Midland Box Office's allocation snapped up within 90 minutes in Queen Square, Wolverhampton.
Staffordshire Police bosses have spent months drawing up a safety operation in the build-up to the event, and will again be using automatic number plate recognition cameras to target known offenders or people linked to crime as they enter the site.
All revellers also have to agree to be searched for drugs.
