V Chelmsford's opening day offers a varied musical choice topped by 2ManyDJs

Clearly, the weather read the script this year. After arriving and pitching the tent in the dead of night after a five hour drive south, we awoke in the sweltering sweatbox heat which can only be a tent on a summer morning. Crawling out and to the 4 Music Stage, we stumbled across Road To V competition winners Underline The Sky setting up for the big stage debut. An impressive set was greeted enthusiastically by the rapidly growing crowd, and their infectious pop-punk mix should ensure that this isn't the last time they play on a stage of this stature.

Under the tutelage of Kanye West, Mr Hudson's career has got into overdrive in the past year, but what he has gained in recognition, he seems to have lost, somewhat, in performance. Having followed Mr Hudson's career since the very early days, something is now missing. There was none of the old passion or fire on display today, and it seems that in the never-ending quest for radio play, the edge has been filed out of existence, and the result is a saccharine sweet pop sound which is a world away from what made Mr Hudson great in the first place.

One band with which you always know where you stand is Jet. The Australian rockers' ballsy, bluesy assault, unashamedly cast in the mould of AC/DC, Black Sabbath and the like, rarely varies and rarely disappoints. 'Cold Hard Bitch', 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl' and 'Timothy' get the 4 Music crowd bouncing, and delivers the party atmosphere with aplomb.

It's been Dizzee Rascal's year this year, and with that comes a slot on just about every major festival going. A result of this is that this show was no less than the seventh times I have seen him this year, and the seventh time I have seen exactly the same set. By the time the 'freestyle' part over MIA's 'Paper Planes' comes round, I need to leave. Dizzee has always been a bit of a one trick pony, but it always used to be a good trick. These days, however, it all seems a little stale, and the overexposure has revealed just how limited his repertoire really is.

Having completed his metamorphosis from talent show winner to bona fide star in his own right, Will Young played to a packed Arena, and showed that there is more to him than the one dimensional cartoon character that Pop Idol and the like demand. His superb dance-pop performance, and the omission of his biggest hit 'Evergreen', should see that his forthcoming album ends up in more hands than just those of the under 14s and housewife market.

After a strong start to the year, Howling Bells seem to have slipped out of the public consciousness somewhat, and as such their Union stage performance today was distinctly under-attended (although this may have a lot to do with them clashing with comeback kings The Specials). The Juanita Stein fronted four-piece delivered a beautiful set spanning both albums, including 'Across The Avenue', 'Setting Sun' and a glorious take on recent single 'Break My Back'.

The third of today's Australian upstarts, Pendulum, hit the 4 Music stage for the penultimate date of their fifteen month tour in support of their 'In Silico' album, and it still sounded as fresh as it did at Glade last year near the start of that very tour. Obviously 'Propane Nightmares' received the reception of the festival so far, being as it is, the type of track precision crafted to send festival crowds into spasms of delirium. The old-school fans may still be smarting from the band's departure from drum'n'bass into more metal territory, but there can be no doubt that this is what they do best. For just over an hour they deliver an unabaiting assault on the senses which sets them a mile apart on this all too safe bill.

With the main stages being headlined by festival stalwarts The Killers and Fatboy Slim, the real choice was between Pete(r) Doherty or 2ManyDJs, and with this being Saturday night and all, the mashup kings beckoned. It proved a wise choice. The brothers Dewaele delivered an impeccable set of indie and dance hits, seamlessly mixed to keep the crowd moving. Raiding the catalogue of everyone form Michael Jackson to Marilyn Manson, no stone was left unturned in the quest for the perfect mix, and their hour long headline set showed just why 2ManyDJs have garnered a reputation as one of the most exciting acts around.

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