The Stone Roses sending V Festival back to its roots?

Courtesy of jeroen020, The Stone Roses album cover

The Madchester rockers are set to show the teens of the 21^st century what they've been missing out on. Ready to headline next years festival, The Stone Roses will prove that the essence of rock is still evident at the part Staffordshire-based event. Perhaps the Jarvis Cocker inspired festival has found its old sound again?

Ian Brown, John Squire, Gary “Mani” Mounfield and Alan “Reni” Wren announced their reunion last month, following 15 years apart. They will begin their world tour in home town Manchester in June. Although official dates for their tour are yet to be confirmed, they are due to play other summer festivals T in the Park, Benicassim and Fuji Rock.

The 1989 album, The Stone Roses, revolutionised its generation and is highly regarded as one of the greatest British albums of all time. However, times really have changed since the 'Waterfall' performers were hitting their peak.

The festival began in 1996 when Pulp front man; Jarvis Cocker, announced he wanted to play two outdoor venues in two days; one in each the north and the south. The idea was pursued and soon included more acts on the bill, and the option of camping.

Courtesy of NRK P3, lead singer of Pulp, Jarvis Cocker

The first year of the festival showcased the likes of Pulp, Paul Weller and The Charlatans. This year's acts included headliner Eminem and other urban artists Rihanna, Dizzee Rascal and N-Dubz. The difference between a generation?

The Virgin sponsored festival has been widely known as a strong commercial platform for music in recent years and has cemented its place in history with notable performances from various acts such as Scissor Sisters, The Prodigy and Oasis.

The thought of an artist like Eminem headlining, what used to be a predominantly rock festival, would still be unthinkable to many rockers. Is it right to abandon your roots and side with the commercially popular for such a prestigious event?

Local Stoke-on-Trent music venue, The Sugarmill, once a stage to superstars Coldplay, Muse and Snow Patrol, is home to the growing Indie rock scene. Dan Nixon, 29, Promotions Manager at The Sugarmill, sheds some light on the announcement: “I don't think V Festival is trying to make a point by choosing The Stone Roses.

“I think they are the biggest act to have reformed in the last 10 years and it's a promoter's job to get the best possible act appropriate for their venue. If it was an R&B act or something more commercial I think it would have been the same.”

Frequent V Festival goer, Abigail Jones, enjoys the range of acts available: “I think that it's good that the festival is changing to adapt to the changing music culture. It's always good to experiment and I think that nowadays they've got the balance of musical genres just right.”

Amit Chadda, Subject Leader for Music and Media at De Stafford School and former Staffordshire resident, has accepted the festival's vibe: “I have always felt that V Festival has been marketed as a fairly commercial, 'safe', family festival - showcasing a range of acts spanning a wide range of genre/style...not to say that V is any less 'real', 'cool' or Rock 'n' Roll than Reading or Glastonbury.”

Courtesy of waldopepper, one of the UK's top music festivals

Many fans would think The Stone Roses would be better suited to Reading & Leeds, or even Glastonbury when it's back in 2013 after its year's break. Perhaps the promoter's choice will be extremely significant in V proving its worth amongst all popular music genres.

Glastonbury Festival organiser, Michael Eavis, caused an uproar in 2008 when Jay-Z was booked to headline the Somerset gig. The US rapper proved all his critics wrong when he performed an outstanding set, opening with a mock cover of Oasis' 'Wonderwall' to global appreciation. He opened the door for a range of festivals to suggest there are no boundaries to who can perform.

With no mainstream festivals competing around the West Midlands county, Staffordshire has benefited greatly since its first involvement with V in 1999.

Dan recognises the local advantages of the event: “It has contributed to the attraction of Staffordshire as it's great to have such a well respected festival in the local area.”

Abigail also sees the positives in the location: “As the smaller venue of the V festival, it is going to be more difficult to attract festival goers to the Staffordshire site rather than the Chelmsford site, however, with not a lot of other festivals on the same scale as V nearby, I think the event really speaks for itself.”

Courtesy of Chris Boland, Ian Brown

Amit remembers his 2002 visit to V Festival: “When I went to V I saw some incredible performances from - who I consider to be - some of the best/biggest bands and musicians that occupy the space of our crazy music industry.

“I didn't see any skinny jeaned, sweep overed, hipster loving bands that all sound the same...just 'real' music in a friendly festival environment. I saw Alanis Morissette, Gomez, Athlete, Badly Drawn Boy, The Chemical Brothers, Elvis Costello, Sigur Ros, Turin Brakes, Damien Rice, Manic Street Preachers...bloody amazing, huh?”

The 'Fools Gold' stars are expected to bag around £1million for the gig so why wouldn't they take the opportunity? It doesn't really seem to matter for them how they re-enter the world stage, because, as we all know, it will be out of this world regardless.

Staffordshire's greatest music festival will play host to one of the most influential alternative rock bands ever to have graced the earth. Whether headlining alongside Kanye West or Kasabian, how could anyone miss the biggest reunion of the millennium? Sorry Steps...

For tickets and information on V Festival 2012 visit the official website.

Written: 28/11/11