NEWS updated 14/08/01 21:32:18

Leftfield & a whole lot more!

Whilst everyone has been speculating as to who will fill the vacant JJB Arena headlining slot at V2000, organisers have been busy talking to the cream of the music world to deliver the band that everyone wanted to see at V.  So who is it?  "Is it….. erm…..er, COME ON GIVE US A CLUE!"  Oh alright then Lionel, it's the mighty mighty dance legends (drum roll please)… ….Leftfield. 
That’s right, the band that brought us the now legendary debut album Leftism in 1995, and more recently the long awaited follow-up, Rhythm and Stealth, will be bringing their live show to Weston Park, Staffordshire, on Saturday 19th August, and Hylands Park, Chelmsford on Sunday 20th August. 
With a sound that twists and turns from the frenetic through to mellow, with deep dark house vibes and subtle undertones, it's difficult to categorise the duo's sound, suffice to say that Leftfield are one of the most highly rated dance acts of the moment.  Top selling singles including Open Up, Original, Song For Life and Dusted, have seen the two-piece contain their credibility, whilst achieving huge commercial appeal.
The dance line-up is growing increasingly exciting at V, with Leftfield joining the likes of Underworld, Death In Vegas, Groove Armada, Moloko, Bentley Rhythm Ace, Moby and Sasha to create the ultimate party for even the biggest (party) animals out there  ……surely you don't want to miss out! 
Yet more coups for V…..
Top underground garage type, MJ Cole has also been added to the bill, alongside some other impressive names;  The young Brummie R&B sensation Jamelia, whose 'Money' stormed the charts in February;  Those long-lasting legends of funk & soul, Brand New Heavies;  Oasis faves Bootleg Beatles;  the poptastic Hepburn;  Our politically stanced euro cousins, Les Negresses Vertes;  and brand new Irish sensation, Dara.

Rigging at V?

Bruce Grobbelar and Hansie Cronjie in alleged match-fixing scandals; Mike Atherton tampering with his (cricket) balls;  Political leader Bill Clinton and shamed government minister Jeffrey Archer in lying-under-oath probes; and Ben Johnson in stimulant-guzzling fury.  Cheating, deception, fraud….whatever you want to call it, the question still remains.  Are V the champions of good music, or are they rigging the hailed and respected institution that is The National Top 40?  Shock! Horror!!  We hear you cry!?  Well, consider the evidence……………

Ever since we brought the news to you that V headliners Travis were about to knock Oasis off the top spot, V's artists have been storming the charts.  This week V have grabbed the top three places in the album chart, AND bagged a top 5 spot in the singles chart!!  Moby tops the chart with 'Play', Paul Weller has headed straight to 2 with his new 'Heliocentric' offering, whilst Moloko bolster the V onslaught up at 3 with 'Things To Make Them Do'……………
………..and Travis are STILL hanging in there at number 9, with 'The Man Who' (released nearly a year ago!!).  Macy Gray has also been an ever present with 'On How Life Is' still standing at a highly impressive 11. In the singles chart, Bloodhound Gang are even getting in on the act, monkeying around at number 5 with 'The Bad Touch', just weeks after Richard Ashcroft stormed in with his 'Song For The Lovers'!!  ALL of these acts had previously been announced in the line-up for V2000 in Weston Park Staffordshire, and Hylands Park, Chelmsford on the weekend of  19th & 20th August! 

This release dated 10th April 2000

  Intents Dance Music @ V!

Dance aficionados all over the UK have been grinning like Cheshire cats today, buoyed by the news that the dance line up at V2000 is falling nicely into place.  Promoters have already announced the massive Underworld, Groove Armada and Moby in the JJB Arena, but add to that the following names in the Wella Shockwaves Club Tent, presented by Golden……………..

Seb Fontaine o Sasha o Hybrid o Guy Ornadel o Pete Bromley Sander Kleinenberg o Lee Burridge o Craig Richards

The best live dance acts in the arena and the best DJ's in the club tent.  Impressive eh?  The perma grinning dance junkies out there are certainly luvved up by this news, but those of you who may be less informed about the dance scene should view the following……………

Ž When you’re resident at Cream you know you’ve made to the top of the DJ Premier League.  Seb Fontaine is one of those lucky few. Plays funky house.
Ž The past year has seen new kid on the block Guy Ornadel regularly grace the decks of Sundissential, Gatecrasher & Cream.  Watch out for his residency at Cream in Ibiza this summer. Ž Pete Bromley has been a Golden fave for years.  One time partner of Kelvin Andrews, his party time track selections send dancefloors wild.
Ž Sasha has done everything that a DJ/producer could ever do.  Arguably the most influential DJ of the last decade, he has held residencies at Renaissance, Shelly's and currently New York’s Twilo.
Ž Hybrid, three Welsh breakbeat wizards crossing the boundaries of breaks and trance.  Their live show is awesome, even having Julie Cruise of Twin Peaks fame guesting on one of their tracks last year
Ž Sander Kleinenberg is a new name in trance, but already massive along with the likes of Sasha, Digweed, Seaman et. al.
Ž Lee Burridge and Craig Richards are, alongside Sasha, the Tyrant Soundsystem.  Currently monthly residents at London’s Fabric and Nottingham’s Bomb.

Away from the dance tent, guitar fans will not be left disappointed by the news that yet more names have been added to the bill………..

Paul Weller's fave retro guitar gods Toploader; Jo Whiley's faves, and the band who famously signed their record deal on Trafalgar Square, Coldplay; The Webb Brothers who ply their quirky retro cool (sons of the legendary jazz songwriter, Jimmy Webb);  poptastic Saint Etienne, fronted by the photogenic Sarah Cracknell;  Radio faves and Us rock inspired Brits, Dum Dum's; Top Swede sensation whose'Glorious' debut single hit the Top 10 in January, Andreas Johnson;  Not to mention the lo-fi guitar poetry of London's Hefner;  the phenomenal 'Beck meets 80's rock with synthesisers', cool of Belgium's Soulwax and finally, tipped by Prodigy, the cinematic dance rock sounds of Manchild.

release dated 4th April 2000
 
  Groove with Vnderworld!

It will take Darren Emmerson half an hour to travel from his home to the V site at Chelmsford. It will take you exactly 30 seconds to become seduced by the living legends of dance that are...... Underworld.
Self described as Second Toughest In The Infants, the JJB Arena will be quaking in its collective boots with anticipation, following the confirmation that Underworld will be playing at V2000 on the weekend of 19 & 20 August at Weston Park, Staffordshire and Hylands Park, Chelmsford.  If that doesn't get your juices flowing, then be amazed by more new V dance names……Beth Orton and the mighty Groove Armada.  I see you baby, shaking that ass down to the local ticket emporium!

Ever since Underworld's "lager lager lager' shouting anthem 'Born Slippy' shaped a generation, their Jumbo live performance has been storming major venues and festivals and shaken away any preconceived ideas that dance music should be exclusive to the club scene.  If DJ's have become the new rock stars, then Underworld have taken it a step further by mixing the essence of a rock show with the sound of a DJ, on a live stage.  Their live album may be due this year, but at V you'll experience the real thing.

Groove Armada hit the public eye with their 'Vertigo' album, which stormed the charts, clubs, airwaves & our communal consciousness last year, spawning hits 'At The River' & 'I See You Baby'. 
Yet another Brit winner, Beth Orton joins fellow victors, Travis, and Macy Gray on the bill showcasing her song-based acoustic folk leanings, as heard on her 'Central Reservation' opus.
These are significant (beau)coups and follow the signing of All Saints for V2000, who appeared alongside the Underworld boys at the legendary V'98 festival.  With fellow V star Moby standing at number 2 in the album charts, V's dance output is looking increasingly exciting…………………

If that's not your bag, then US rockers Semisonic have also been added to the bill for some good ‘ol American pop.  The Minneapolis trio have just released ‘Singing In My Sleep’ the third single from their hugely successful second album "FEELING STRANGELY FINE" which sold nearly 300,000 copies in the UK alone.  The grammy nominated band first entered the charts in July last year with the Top 10 hit "Secret Smile" which was followed with "Closing Time" in October when the band arrived in the UK to play a sell-out tour.        

Release dated 30th March 2000
Beach babes go to V!

Brit babes All Saints have been added to the line-up for V2000.  The girls will join headliners Travis and Richard Ashcroft this summer, at Weston Park, Staffordshire, and Hylands Park, Chelmsford, on the weekend of 19th & 20th August. 
The four-piece who recently scored a number one hit with their single 'Pure Shores', are more than sure that V is the place to be having headlined the dance tent at V'98.  Proof indeed that the girls Know Where It's At.

If these babes weren't enough, then check out Sonny Ashcroft (Richard Jnr, named after the weather at V!), Travis drummer Neil's imminent child, the newborn Weller dependent… They'll all V with child!  And if the other celeb's that always head to V come down (last year saw Noel Gallagher) the organisers could soon be staging a mini V with all the kids!
Organisers were today racing down to Mothercare as news broke that they will be left holding the babies, while their Mum's & Dad's take to the stage.  But seriously now, V's promoters have considered setting up crčche facilities to cater for the onslaught of kids that will be causing havoc in the backstage area.
If that wasn't enough news for you newshounds out there, word has just filtered through that V2000 starlet Moby is heading to the top of the album charts this Sunday with his highly acclaimed 'Play' album.  It looks like the Brit nominee will be accompanied in the top five by Travis and Macy Gray
……….. and we've got them all at V. 
EVEN MORE ADDITIONS!!!!!!!!!!!  Just as you thought this release couldn't get any better, we are pleased to announce that Kelis (pronounced Ka-leese!), Feeder, David Gray, Bloodhound Gang and Moloko have ALL just been confirmed for V.

Add these names to the previously announced line up of……. Travis, Richard Ashcroft, Macy Gray, Paul Weller, Ocean Colour Scene, Supergrass, Moby, Mansun, Morcheeba, Barenaked Ladies, Flaming Lips, Death In Vegas, James and Joe Strummer 
……. and we're heading for the best V yet!