Another reason for wanting to cover V was to bag my first Beck performance. V’s main stage provided the opportunity on a bright Sunday evening. Supporting him was a stage full of musicians and some weird and wonderful percussive instruments including a huge bent and battered drink can. As if to remind me how my interest developed in him, Devils Haircut from his classic ODELAY album opened proceedings. It was a brilliant moment for me followed by a Beck style rap complete with a ‘formally’ dressed percussionist adding backing vocals and a weird dance that took him from one side of the massive stage to the other. Loved it…

I’ve read a lot about the Editors but have never heard or seen the band. I’m beginning to realise that more emphasis is being placed on the lead man in bands and the Editors is no exception. Tom Smith provided an animated and passionate display, and at one point strayed a bit too far from his mic and came to a sudden halt when his guitar cable proved to be shorter than he thought it was. This four-piece impressed with epic, tuneful songs, a tight instrumental display, and a lead man at the top of his game.

The last and only time I have witnessed a Radiohead performance was around three years ago at Manchester’s excellent Carling Apollo venue. It was the finest rock show I have ever seen but I was utterly frustrated at not being able to photograph it. I could hardly believe I was standing in the pit at V about to capture the band at work. Checking my camera settings, I hoped that the lighting would prove helpful in getting some decent pictures. The scheduled start time of 9:10 came and went as people scurried around the stage making last minute checks against a massive black curtain backdrop that we were sure would ultimately reveal something weird and wonderful. Lights eventually dimmed and the crowd went berserk as the band wandered onto the stage with Thom Yorke arriving last. The black curtains parted to reveal a series of strange video displays and it became clear that this was an extravagant and expensive set. From the word go Yorke and co showed just why Radiohead is still the best and most inventive rock band in the world. Mid-term tuneful electronic meanderings laid the groundwork and flowed into classic songs that we all know and love ending in a full-on version of Creep. This was a performance with every detail locked down, and a set-list calculated to test and challenge. Ultimately it was a performance that dwarfed every band at V and I was left wondering if and when another truly great UK band will emerge. In the meantime there’s ‘Airbags’ full of music still to come from this band and doubtless some surprises.

Earlier in the day I wandered over to the JJB Tent to catch rapper Kano who proved to be one of the UK’s very best with a solid and surprisingly young fan base. I then left my associate to check out Girls Aloud where he stayed for the whole set (“I couldn’t get out because of the tightly packed crowd…”) and managed to shoot the whole show. Looking at the photos I wondered why, with all the support available to the girls that they ended up with clothes that exposed the worst and hid the best… Check out the pictures and you’ll see exactly what I mean.

My associate also covered the distant Virgin Union Tent where Milk Teeth, Director, Seth Lakeman, Paolo Nutini, Upper Room, Young Knives and Captain provided a mixed bag of music. Lakeman and his band showed just why accolade after accolade have been showered on him, while young Nutini shows a performing maturity well beyond his years. Young Knives and Captain also provided some inspiration. Later the magnificent Regina Spektor showed why she is garnering such fanatical support from fans across the world for her quirky, inventive, adult piano pop.

Subtle changes to the festival site layout meant that this was arguably the most user-friendly major festival of the year and one we will be covering next year. Hopefully in 2007 a heavier rock big hitter will headline on Saturday night (Muse, Green Day?) and Radiohead will return to perform songs from a new album… V is a surprisingly eclectic festival with something for just about everyone. It’s also a very well organised festival and one which was a delight to cover. Our gallery will shortly include many more V photos.