Which stage is which?

[Bobinup]

Just wondered if anyone could clarify which stage is which, who is the sort of acts which play on which, and which sort of crowd can usually dominate the audiences at any stage.

For example, the only previous 'festival' I've been to was Radio 1's One Big Weekend in Birmingham, which very clearly had a main stage for popular acts and a second stage for less well-known acts. Are the V stages that defined? Or do you tend to get a bit of everything everywhere. (Although obviously the Main Stage gets the biggest of the names).

thanks

[Rose-Colored Boy]

I've not been to V myself, but by the looks of things 'The Arena' is in a tent, so that'll be the more intimate stage, and the main stage as you said gets the most mainstream big acts, and the 4Music stage seems to get smaller mainstream acts (but is outdoors). No idea about the undercover stage. The comedy tent being called a tent suggests it's a tent, but I know nothing else because nobody ever talks about that one sorry.

[daniel.k]

I think Undercover stage is more unknown acts, or lesser known acts just coming through. Last Year Gabrielle Aplin and Conor Maynard were on the Undercover stage and they have made it with a few chart songs this year

[Pothuthic]

It can be a bit of a mixed bag.

Main Stage will have quite big names on after the first two (they will be more alternative, last year they were Stranglers, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Tulisa and The Proclaimers) this year you will find Beyonce, Scipt and Jessie J there most likely

4Music can be a bit of a lucky dip, mix of pop and Indie, mostly the latter, last year it was headlined by David Guetta and LMFAO (After Nicki dropped out last minute) but people like Friendly Fires, Ben Howard, Reverand And The Makers and Miles Kane performed there during the day. This year it seems Beady Eye, Vaccines, Two Door will perform in here I think.

Arena is slightly smaller acts and again a bit of a lucky dip but edging more towards pop, last year Ed Sheeran and Nero headlined this stage, earlier in the day there were Stooshe, Rita Ora, Lawson, Beverley Knight, DJ Fresh etc with a few gems like Happy Mondays, Gossip etc added in randomly, Basement Jaxx seem the only people guarenteed to perform here tbh, most of the late announcements will be in here.

Undercover is for the less known acts, you'll always find hidden gems in there, I'm not so much of an Indie fan, but I managed to see 3 in there, last year people like The Milk, Australian Pink Floyd, Bo Bruce, Tim Minchin etc performed here, we won't know anyone performing here until the week before most likely

[Pothuthic]

Oh and with Comedy stage you will again find a few gems in there, last year they had Sean Lock, Milton Jones and Gary Delaney in there

[Bobinup]

Tulisa on the main stage?! Good god who booked that

[Bobinup]

I've seen Milton Jones before, he's great I think.

is the comedy tent seated?

[Pothuthic]

I've seen Milton Jones before, he's great I think.

is the comedy tent seated?

[Bobinup]

It's not that I particularly mind standing, I just can't work out how I'd feel doing so whilst watching a comedian! It's fairly unconventional..

It has a limited capacity then? What is it? (Roughly) I've heard the stories about the rush to Lady Gaga in a tent (was that the arena?)

[Pothuthic]

It's not that I particularly mind standing, I just can't work out how I'd feel doing so whilst watching a comedian! It's fairly unconventional..

It has a limited capacity then? What is it? (Roughly) I've heard the stories about the rush to Lady Gaga in a tent (was that the arena?)

[daniel.k]

I'd stand to see a comedian if I had to but its not preferable. Undercover sounds real small but I guess it won't be too bad :-D do they close off the tents once so many people are in or is it a free for all?

What's the capacity for the site all day? Around 70,000 or more? Different sites say different things I think

[daniel.k]

Sorry double post. Bad signal on my phone

Edited May 10, 2013 by daniel.k

[daniel.k]

What was the capacity of the Guinness tent when it was around?

Edited May 10, 2013 by daniel.k

[brfcstar]

What was the capacity of the Guinness tent when it was around?

[daniel.k]

Ahh right. Why did it go? Did no one want to do that sort of tent anymore?

[tom taylor]

Just out of interest, have you been to V Festival before Daniel.K?

[daniel.k]

Nope never :-P never been to any festival apart from a one night thing at my home town a few times. I'm only going this year because my gf and her friend didn't want to go on their own. Originally I was saving the money for uni

[Bunny]

Also worth noting, the second stage at Hylands Park is far better than the Main Stage.

It is set at the foot of a hill, so it's great views all the way and helps acoustically as well.

It used to be the Main Stage until V decided that they could use a different area simply to fit more people in front of it - but I've always found that you need to be fairly close to the new Main Stage or the atmosphere is completely lost.

[daniel.k]

Ahh right, I heard it was pretty flat everywhere on both sites. A lot of peoples opinions I have read say Weston is a better site for nearly everything; atmosphere, music, not being around chavs

[Bunny]

It's in Essex, Chavs are simply part of the landscape - never affected my enjoyment of the weekend.

[daniel.k]

Do you go to Hylands then. Going again this year?

[Bunny]

Yes - bit of a ritual now for me and my mates. Been going since '98 and only missed 3 during that time.

15 years on from my first V and it's now an annual escape from my kids for a weekend!

[daniel.k]

Ahh very nice then

How do you think this years line up compares to older ones

[Bunny]

Personally - I don't mind it at all. There are plenty already that I'm looking forward to: Vaccines, OCS, Courteeners, Rudimental, Calvin Harris, Beady Eye - plus I usually like to give the undercover stage a good look over the weekend.

The Main Stage has changed completely - used to camp at the Main Stage 10 years ago (when the likes of Foo Fighters and Coldplay played side by side) but just not a lot there that interests me any more.

But I'm not bitter about it! It's just simply evolution of pop music - give it another 5 years and it will probably go full circle again.

[daniel.k]

I don't know where I'll be camping I know we are in the red park but I don't know what that will be close to. Coldplay are good but I never really got into Foo's maybe to heavy for my taste. I'd love to see coldplay and Muse but I don't know if they would be doing fest's next year, especially coldplay. I could see muse being snapped up by reading and Leeds though :-/

As much as music is evolving I think dance music is hear to stay for a while, I can't see how a guitar band will beat it really unless you could count daft punk playing guitars :-P