Paul Barry reports from the V99 Festival, Weston Park, Staffordshire

DESPITE the presence of world class alternative acts, it seemed there was one festival performer everyone wanted to see - Spice Girl Mel C.

Could the self-styled Indie Spice succeed in carving out a niche as an alternative rock goddess? Of course not. She was embarrassingly poor.

There's no doubt that Mel C is a competent singer and dancer.

Jumping around like a demon, swearing and making rude gestures is all very well but if your songs stink, then it's all in vain.

The only result of this uninspired plod-rock will be to encourage teenage girls to cut off their hair and be rude to their mums.

The Happy Mondays performed better than at their Manchester comeback show, with mainman Shaun Ryder looking almost human and lively dancer Bez sporting a cowboy hat.

Former Stone Roses mainman Ian Brown drew a huge crowd into one of the side tents and stormed through single My Star.

But his star faded later in the performance as he rambled though a few lesser-known numbers.

Suede singer Brett Anderson was as powerfully effeminate as ever and his incredible stage presence shone through songs like Animal Nitrate and She's In Fashion. Paul Oakenfold finished off Saturday's proceedings in the dance tent using mighty tunes like CJ Bolland's The Prophet to inject venom into his stint.

The weird tribal dance sounds of the Afro-Celt Sound System were started Sunday's action, and were followed by a polished country-tinged rock set from Eagle-Eye Cherry. Reggae man Mishka showed the talent which got him signed to Creation Records. The Levellers looked like a band past their prime.

Faithless followed them with storming live dance tunes like God Is A DJ blasting out across the site.

Shed Seven demonstrated their awesome live power.

Welsh wizards Super Furry Animals took the audience on a wild trip through punk, funk, poetry and weird space sounds.

They even included a James Brown sample for the benefit of those waiting for the star act.

The audience clamouring for the Godfather Of Soul had their patience tested as a number of warm-up numbers by other performers preceded his entrance. Starting off with lesser-known tunes, he gradually worked up to the raw funk energy of Papa's Got A Brand New Bag, Sex Machine and I Feel Good.

The Manic Street Preachers were one of the draws of the day - or was it that their fans are more prone than most to wearing their colours on their sleeves?

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