While it's UK analog drew up to 135,000 revelers despite torrential downpours, the debut US Virgin Festival at Pimlico Raceway attracted just 40,000 people this past weekend. With a lineup featuring perennial draws like The Who and Red Hot Chili Peppers alongside The Killers, The Raconteurs, Wolfmother, Thievery Corporation, and Gnarles Barkley as well as big name DJs including 2manydjs, John Digweed and Carl Cox, there was plenty to enjoy, but somehow the festival magic just wasn't there.

EMERGE headed down to Baltimore from HQ in NYC with several pals and big plans to rock a DJ set at V Fest. Alas, the DJ set wasn't in the Dark Horse Dance Tent, but in the Virgin Mobile Freak Lounge a terribly mediocre space featuring a lineup of Baltimore based burlesque dancers, sword swallowers, contortionists and several DJs including the guys from Louisville, Kentucky dance rock band VHS or Beta. The two main stages were a lengthy walk away, and required traversing the concessions areas which were clogged with punters drinking and eating and milling around in a rock-induced daze.

Overall, people seemed glad to be there and there was none of the violence that has marred previous big festivals. However, there was none of the trancendant energy and excitement that typifies Coachella and the lineups while exhilarating were far from envelope-pushing. In fact, festival organizers IMG pulled the entire lineup from the roster of William Morris Agency rather than piecing it together from a more concerted, multi-partner approach.

All in all, the V Fest was a good time that could have been a great time. As the write up in the Washington Post (free registration required) indicates, the festival was a promising if slightly unfulfilling first foray into European-style Summer festivals here in the US. Hopefull V Fest will learn from their debut and come back bigger, badder and more vital next time around. And please don't stick EMERGE in the Freak Lounge again. We are very sensitive...

Thanks to a mellow camera policy, there are thousands of pics from the festival. Take a look here

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