Express & Star

V Festival 2017: Revellers rock the weekend away in style - with pictures

Thousands of revellers gathered for the biggest summer festival in the West Midlands.

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Dizzee Rascal

The colourful storm that was V Festival kick-started a weekend of music and mayhem as major acts took to the stage at Staffordshire's Weston Park.

On Saturday spells of rain didn't deter as they enjoyed the likes of The Wailers, Clean Bandit, Jason Derulo, Emelie Sande, Stormzy, Ellie Goulding and more.

Police were keen to advise visitors to stick to music and not drugs and issued alerts after seizing a 'dangerous' batch.

There was congestion throughout the morning on routes surrounding the festival site - which opened to crowds on Friday, with many arriving on Saturday morning.

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But crowds got into full swing when Hip Hop crossover artist Stormzy took to the main stage on Saturday.

He had tweeted his excitement over his upcoming set at the festival saying he had 'been waiting for this one'.

He asked the audience who were Grime fans and, when a third put their hands up, he asked them to help him convert the rest.

The headline act for Saturday night was rapper Jay Z.

He provided festival goers with one of the most moving moments of the weekend as he ended his set with a tribute to Chester Bennington.

The rapper and late Linkin Park frontman, teamed up for album Collision Course with its most famous single Numb/Encore back in 2004.

He went on to end his set with Encore in remembrance of Chester.

Ellie Goulding sparkled as she arrived on stage dressed entirely in black with a skirt split to the waist and patent boots.

She asked the crowd "are you feeling sexy" before launching into one of her sexy numbers.

The second day was in full swing too, as P!nk, Craig David, Madness and Rudimental all performed.

Ever the professionals, Madness even made reference to the late Sir Bruce Forsyth, with frontman Suggs shouting to crowds; "Nice to see you, to see you nice!"

Songs by the ska idols included House of Fun, Baggy Trousers and favourite Our House.

Suggs looked the part, dressed in all-black, as he sang before thousands of fans on the main stage as the sun shined over festival he declared 'it never rains for Madness, the sun shines on the righteous'.

Performing before a black set drop with Madness spelled out in sparkling writing, the band kicked off their mid-afternoon set with 1980 hit Embarrassment.

Fans of all ages cheered on the band, singing and dancing along and every opportunity throughout the set.

Madness also treated fans to an upbeat, brass-filled rendition of reggae legend Lee Scratch Perry's Chase The Devil.

X Factor winner James Arthur also impressed, with some of his old songs and recent hits.

And, as cheers echoed across the arena, James dedicated Sober to the 'ladies' in the crowd - before giving a passionate performance of the slow-paced, popular hit.

The 29-year-old then treated the audience to an awesome rendition of Sisqo's Thong Song, provoking both laughter and eager dance moves from fans.

Other artists appearing across the weekend included Steve Aoki, Sean Paul, Dizzee Rascal, Sigma, Craig David and Gorgon City.