After receiving notification at 2am on Saturday evening/Sunday morning that I had 2 tickets to V Festival, I spent the next hour trying to arrange how/when I would actually get hold of the tickets. After waking up at 9 am for a potential delivery, it turned out that I had to pick them up at the festival!
Fatigue fought off I made my way as far eastside as I have ever been to meet friends at Gants Hill. Once all accounted for we were driven in style (my friend's Jeep) to the festival.
40 minutes later as we were driving through the never ending country roads, it did seem at one point that we would never get there so you can imagine my excitement when I saw a sign for Chelmsford!
20 minutes later… What? We’re STILL not there?!
Fatigue fought off I made my way as far eastside as I have ever been to meet friends at Gants Hill. Once all accounted for we were driven in style (my friend's Jeep) to the festival.
40 minutes later as we were driving through the never ending country roads, it did seem at one point that we would never get there so you can imagine my excitement when I saw a sign for Chelmsford!
20 minutes later… What? We’re STILL not there?!
Chelmsford itself created a few more challenges, I mean they were hosting one of the country's biggest festivals but seemed to be doing their best to pretend it wasn't happening. No road signs at all until were practically at the venue!
Now do not get me started on the entrance gates... every 'official' had a different version of how to get to our gate, and at one point to our dismay two of them started arguing with each other about who was giving the best directions! We just wanted to get inside!
Once inside our VIP/side stage/Guest area we breathed a sigh of relief and started the hunt for food! A gourmet hot dog later we took time out to laze in the sun listening to the not so upbeat tunes of Athlete who were performing on the 4n Music stage.
Now do not get me started on the entrance gates... every 'official' had a different version of how to get to our gate, and at one point to our dismay two of them started arguing with each other about who was giving the best directions! We just wanted to get inside!
Once inside our VIP/side stage/Guest area we breathed a sigh of relief and started the hunt for food! A gourmet hot dog later we took time out to laze in the sun listening to the not so upbeat tunes of Athlete who were performing on the 4n Music stage.
Next on for 4 Music was Katy Perry who performed hits I Kissed and Girl and my personal favorite Waking Up In Vegas.
We then decided to check out the Arena stage and after a 20 minute hike through the crowds we made it just in time to catch Human League.
As far back as we were the atmosphere in the tent was electric and the crowd was buzzing. The group performed hits Electric Dreams and Don’t you want me.
Now getting out of the Arena tent was nearly as traumatic as our journey home which I will come to later. Although you would think that being squeezed in between hoards of shirtless Essex boys doesn't sound so bad, the novelty wore off fast. Especially since after 15 minutes we were still trying to get out, despite having been stood next to an exit for the entire performance!
Once free from the Arena we headed to the Louder Lounge aka press/pr/guests playground. This journey led us past the V main stage where Snow patrol were beginning their 'slash your wrists set' (joking), they do have some great tracks, just not the most cheerful…
We eventually made it to the lounge where we would spend the rest of the evening with friends, drinks and food! Plus our own personal DJ!
After a few hours spent enjoying the shenanigans of the free bar and instant photo booth.. It was time to start thinking about the journey back to London. Luckily the shuttle bus to Chelmsford station was just around the corner so after literally dragging ourselves from the party we headed towards the bus stop.
There was however no bus and all other were cancelled due to road closures. Suddenly flashbacks of the horrors encountered during my trek out of V Festival 2008 came flooding back!
Once free from the Arena we headed to the Louder Lounge aka press/pr/guests playground. This journey led us past the V main stage where Snow patrol were beginning their 'slash your wrists set' (joking), they do have some great tracks, just not the most cheerful…
We eventually made it to the lounge where we would spend the rest of the evening with friends, drinks and food! Plus our own personal DJ!
After a few hours spent enjoying the shenanigans of the free bar and instant photo booth.. It was time to start thinking about the journey back to London. Luckily the shuttle bus to Chelmsford station was just around the corner so after literally dragging ourselves from the party we headed towards the bus stop.
There was however no bus and all other were cancelled due to road closures. Suddenly flashbacks of the horrors encountered during my trek out of V Festival 2008 came flooding back!
“Go round to the other side” said the official, “walk around the edge, you will avoid the crowds and get there faster”... 1 hour later we were still walking down a path that lead us into an abyss with no lights!
We soon decided to take a detour and go the long way round through the crowd and we managed to navigate ourselves to a fleet of waiting buses!
One train journey and an Addison Lee later I was back home just in time to catch the 3 and a half hour's sleep before work on Monday morning, but it was all worth it and I will be back for the third time in August 2010.
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