The Verve close V festival

The Verve defied rumours of another split to headline the Virgin Mobile V festival this weekend.

The reformed rockers played triumphant greatest hits set to close the two-day event at Chelmsford last night (17.08.08). They also played to rain-soaked revellers in Staffordshire on Saturday evening (17.08.08).

During their set, the band combined new material from their forthcoming album 'Forth' with a host of fan favourites including 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' and 'The Drugs Don't Work'. Frontman Richard Ashcroft said very little, but paid tribute to Isaac Hayes who died last week of a stroke, dedicating 'The Rolling People' to the late soul singer.

The Verve played:

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

The festival's other main stage headliners, Muse, hinted they were playing their last shows for a while. Toward the end of their set - which was filled with dazzling special effects including flame throwers, giant satellites and lasers - last night
(17.08.08) in Staffordshire, drummer Dominic Howard said: "See you again next year. We'll have some new music."

Other artists performing at this year's two-day event included Amy Winehouse, Stereophonics, Duffy, The Prodigy - who were watched by Oasis singer Liam Gallagher - Kings of Leon, Calvin Harris and the Sugababes.