The writers behind the vfestival.info website put together a wish-list of bands they'd most like to see at V2004...

REM - Despite their success, Michael Stipe and co have remained painfully modest and unaffected and continue to produce brilliant tunes with politically aware lyrics.

Morrissey - Legendary former front-man of The Smiths. Angst-ridden, witty, poetic words and maudlin tunes make Morrissey a pop figure whose originality is unmatched by any of his contemporaries.

New Order - Peter Hook's resonant bass lines and the vocal brilliance of Bernard Sumner have combined to produce great electronic hits like "Blue Monday", "True Faith" and "World In Motion."

The Manic Street Preachers - One of the UK's greatest ever bands with hits including "Design For Life", "Motorcycle Emptyness" "Everything Must Go" and "Australia". Need I say more?

The Coral - Young, up-and-coming indie band who sing simple but catchy tunes influenced by old sea shanties from their native Merseyside.

Kosheen - Know how to captivate an audience with their drum 'n bass up-tempo tracks.

Air- French retro/electronic/space-pop artists, heavily influenced by the late, great Serge Gainsbourg of "Je t'aime" fame. Two fantastic albums - "Moon Safari" and "Virgin Suicides."

By Roger Brown

Published Tuesday January 13, 2003