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home » festivals » V Festivals » V2000 (Chelmsford) 2000
Saturday overviewV2000 (Chelmsford) reviewsThursday 24th August 2000 If you didn't come because you thought it might rain, you've missed a lovely sunny festival. On top of that, we were treated to a beautiful sunset. With the gates staying shut until 12:30, it meant things were immediately running late. The first acts were on stage before the pre-opening queues had got through the gates, meaning that they had little chance to shine. In the JJB Arena - with mainly live dance acts - Cardiff metal-techno team Manchild had a hard job to win a small crowd, but they fully took their chance, and gave their normal energetic performance. This tent had the most appreciative dance crowd seen at a general festival this summer - with "novelty" "fun" act Bentley Rhythm Ace getting serious, and blowing the crowd away. Underworld were last on (after the strangely scheduled Flaming Lips, who followed Moloko), and couldn't believe the crowd... nothing was going to stop this lot dancing.  The downside to this stage is the size limitation, and with the stewards being overly cautious, they shut the entrances to stop more going in although there was plenty of space away from the sides. Outside the JJB tent though there were a few small sound systems set up so you could dance around outside with the funny yellow and orange clothed folk - who were refreshing us with small bowls of cereal. In the DJ'ed Club Tent, the stage is set in the middle, with dancefloor on all sides. This led to little room on two sides, and space for a football match on the other two. On the peoplesound stage, Bloodhound Gang got up their normal antics, insulting anyone and anything that took their fancy (they don't think much of your cola Mr Branson!), and they had the Big Breakfast's Donna Air and All Saints Natalie Appleton on stage with them, but they couldn't be persuaded to show their boobies.  The end of the Gang saw them leave the stage, only to re-appear in orange pig suits.. can I have some of what they're on please? Mansun had a good billing on the Peoplesound stage, Paul Draper making a strong presence running up and down the stage, though their old stuff was better received than the new material. The V Stage saw a newly confident Morcheeba (the albums out, and selling well) deliver their songs knowing that people would know them, and as each song went past the crowd showed more appreciation. All Saints followed, and they must have taken some lessons since T in the Park, because this time they hit more notes in tune than out of it... or did they just use more backing tracks?? Ocean Colour Scene came on, played a bit of rock 'n' roll and left, with Liam Gallagher watching on in appreciation, though we wonder if he caught All Saints' set? Last up were Supergrass who strolled onto the stage and started playing without so much as a "Hello Chelmsford!!". But we didn't mind. They played magnificently, kicking off with 'Moving' and throwing in as many singalonga's from 'I Should Coco" as new stuff. Who needs on stage antics when the music's sooo good? Everything was over by 11pm, so everyone made their own amusement back at the campsite or got an early night. review by Neil Greenway photos by Neil Greenway 
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