August 16, 2008 22:10

V Festival: Verve defy cancellation rumours and rain

Band provide euphoric close to first night at Staffordshire site

Photo Gallery: The Verve

The Verve have closed the first night (August 16) of the 2088 V Festival, defying rumours they were on the verge of cancelling their appearance.

Taking to the V Stage at the Staffordshire leg of the event, the band braved torrential rain as they mixed crowd favourites with songs from new album 'Forth'.

Joined for most of the set by a violinist, the four-piece introduced new song 'Sit And Wonder' – which has featured in their set all summer – by referencing the atrocious conditions.

"Shake off the rain with me," frontman Richard Ashcroft commanded the crowd before the song, "shake off the pain with me."

Playing a series of songs from 1995 album 'A Northern Soul', including an epic version of 'Life's An Ocean', the band then enjoyed a series of loud sing-a-longs from the fans who stuck with them through the heavy rain.

'The Drugs Don't Work' and 'Lucky Man' were bellowed back, before the band reached their climax mixing 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' with recent top five comeback single 'Love Is Noise'.

"Thank you from the heart," freestyled Ashcroft as the songs merged, "it's always been the same."

The Verve played:

'This Is Music'
'Sonnet'
'Space And Time'
'Sit And Wonder'
'History'
'Life's An Ocean'
'Velvet Morning'
'The Rolling People'
'The Drugs Don't Work'
'Lucky Man'
'Bitter Sweet Symphony'
'Love Is Noise'

Keep checking NME.COM for the latest news, pictures, videos and blogs live from both V Festival Chelmsford and V Festival Staffordshire all weekend.