Music, Style & Culture

5 Bands To See At V Festival ‘09

Ahh, the annual fashion parade that is V Festival is upon us again. As usual, this years installment has thrown up a mixed bag of a lineup, with some of the biggest bands around sharing stages with acts that have more than likely been the subject of a centre-fold poster in Smash Hits. So to sort the wheat from the chaff, here's your very own cut out and keep guide to the 5 bands we think you should definitely check out.

Ahh, the annual fashion parade that is V Festival is upon us again. As usual, this years installment has thrown up a mixed bag of a lineup, with some of the biggest bands around sharing stages with acts that have more than likely been the subject of a centre-fold poster in Smash Hits. So to sort the wheat from the chaff, here's your very own cut out and keep guide to the 5 bands we think you should definitely check out.

---

Elbow

It's been a smashing year for Guy Garvey and co, and such is their experience of the festival circuit we can absolutely guarantee that, whatever the weather, Elbow will put on a faultless, festival defining show. If the epic sound of 'On A Day Like This' in the evening sun isn't enough to seduce you, then we're sure there's a medical tent somewhere on site who'll happily check your pulse.

Listen to Elbowon Spotify

---

Happy Mondays

This is going to be mental. The audience will be almost as smashed as the band and it has the potential to be a real highlight of the entire weekend. Classics like 'Kinky Afro' and 'Step On' will always go down well with a festival crowd but where it goes from there nobody, least of all Shaun Ryder, knows. Unhinged, unscripted and unabashed good fun.

Listen to Happy Mondays on Spotify

---

MGMT

Their finest moment to date came when playing to huge crowds on the John Peel Stage and Park Stage at Glastonbury 2008. So there's no reason that they can't turn in another memorable performance at V and confirm themselves as a great festival band. With mind bendingly good tunes like 'Kids' and 'Time To Pretend' in their locker, MGMT will be contenders for the 'audience participation' prize. If there is one.

Listen to MGMT on Spotify

---

British Sea Power

BSP have a powerful and gloomy sound pieced together from some of the best post punk bands of the last 30 years, yet are always seemingly on the cusp of greatness. It's like they need one spark, a catalyst to set them off and they'll take over the world. The critics are on board, now it's time to show the people just how good they are, and what better place to do it than here?

Listen to British Sea Power on Spotify

---

Howling Bells

Sure to bring 40 minutes or so of darkness to an otherwise sugar coated festival, Howling Bells are the perfect antidote to the corporate, straight-laced image associated with V. While second album 'Radio Wars' wasn't quite on the money, their self titled debut is a modern day classic and played live, promises to be very special indeed.

Listen to Howling Bells on Spotify

For the full line up click here.