V Festival 2012 EXCLUSIVE photos, interviews and blog

Well, where do I even start? V Festival 2012, my first encounter with a festival of the V kind, and my word what an introduction it was. Right from the start, when myself and the illustrious Terry Bossons walked down towards the press area of the site, there was a feeling that the next two days were going to change my life. It didn’t take long for us to get going, we hadn’t been there long enough for me to pitch up my tent- which you will hear more of late- before we were walking hastily into the backstage area of the festival. I say walking, at one point during the too-ing and fro-ing we had to break into a run to get there in time for another journalists’ interview. Terry Bossons and Lee Barber running alongside one another, it must have looked like the Del Boy and Rodney scene when they were dressed as Batman and Robin.

Once in the backstage area, I must confess to feeling more than a little in awe of my surroundings. For a start, there was a free bar. Again, more on that one a little later! For now, Dodgy were waiting to chat to 6 Towns Radio after opening V 2012. Being my first interview I can’t say I felt no nerves, but perhaps that is why I am so in love with doing it, and Dodgy held some very great opinions on the music industry both modern day and bands reforming from the Brit pop era. More interviews on the horizon, we two lads of Stoke-on-Trent decided to soak in the atmosphere around us. Frank Turner, gearing up for his set in the afternoon, sits having a relaxing massage, The Feeling, just about to go onstage, sit having a sarnie. LMFAO stroll past all chilled out as expected.

Possibly my personal highlight of the weekend, whilst chatting to local pride All The Young which in itself is a highlight, the legend himself Tom Jones takes to the stage behind us. As I taunt the Dooley brothers for being Vale fans, what better moment for old TJ to kick in with Delilah?! Get in, says I. Get in! The weekend, of course, did enable a slight bit of chill out time for this dynami duo Bossons & Barber, and so we retreated into the Arena to catch local heroes All The Young take to the Undercover Stage. And what a performance it was. Vale shirts were a plenty in the crowd and the boys were magnificent.

Magnificent is not a word that can be used for the 6 Towns Radio boys, however. Having gone to the festival with the modest sum of just £14 in my pocket, I was in serious festival mode, making the most of the great idea of being given ten pence for every beer cup that is returned once empty. Several free beers later and The Killers headline what a day of music it has been at Weston Park. Oh dear. The tent still hasn’t been erected. After only a little struggle, as even when inebriated a pop up tent is still pretty much fool proof. A great sleep awaits.

But an early morning call awaits! Turns out you’re not allowed to camp on the V.I.P car park, so I find myself packing up my tent at nine o’clock in the morning. While Mr Bossons had a lovely warm sleep in his car, I found myself packing away my tent quite still asleep. Luckily it wasn’t raining. Yet. Saturday had brought about a long spell of rain followed by some beautiful weather to end the day. Sunday seemed to be starting much the same. Only today the rain was falling much heavier, with The Twang opening the day on the 4Media Stage with a hearty crowd getting drenched but still ecstatic. Deciding to change into more practical clothes than just the T-shirt I was wearing, the jumper and jacket seemed to bring the sun out in full force leaving me in a state of one extreme to the other. Down in the backstage area we had much work to be done, with Terry chatting to musical great such as The Proclaimers and a very sleepy but happy Reverend of Reverend and the Makers.

Whilst hanging around waiting for more lined up interviewees to have a spot of lunch before chatting to us, Terry makes a trip to the loo, where he bumps into Ed Sheeran. How the other half live. At the same time, I had sneaked myself down to the open bar, with famous artists having their hair cut styled in the two fancy little marquees either side of the bar tent. I return to the bench where we had been perched with two beers, a sight which much amused Terry, as he wasn’t drinking and clearly found the appearance of his partner in crime turning up with two beers free of charge rather hilarious and perhaps a little typical of the festival enthusiast. Almost the last artist to chat with 6 Towns Radio, Irish singer Maverick remarks upon being introduced to myself that he is sure he knows me, that I look really familiar. Usually I would be proud to admit to this, but my reaction to the famous Irishman being “Yeah you look pretty familiar, too”, I can’t help but feel very embarrassed at the situation.

With the ‘work’ done for the weekend, we were now free to enjoy the rest of the evening, and I did so in typical happy-go-lucky fashion, finding a five pound note on the floor as well as a beer token, which saw me now heading towards making a profit on the weekends adventure. A result which I am sure Mr Bossons will be bringing up for years to come. Being able to watch Noel Gallagher perform live for the first time in my life was a very fitting end to the amazing experience that is V 2012, an unforgettable event which will forever be close to my heart for many special, eye-opening reasons. 

Lee Barber.