V Festival gets Virgin Media TiVo app for music minus the mud

Virgin Media is bringing the V Festival to your living room -- minus the mud and annoying teenagers -- with a new TiVo app.

Virgin Media TiVo is a rather clever set-top box that learns what telly programmes you like. It also offers apps, like the V Festival app stuffed with musical goodies from interviews with the turns to special backstage performances.

This year's V is headlined by Eminem, Rihanna, the Arctic Monkeys, Pendulum and Dizzee Rascal. 90s-based old lags Manic Street Preachers, Fun Lovin' Criminals and Ocean Colour Scene are also playing at the only festival at which The Saturdays share a stage with Big Audio Dynamite. Crave is particularly looking forward to seeing Squeeze, and that Jason Status fella.

If you have a Virgin Media TiVo box, you can find the festival goings-on in the Apps and Games section of your TiVo service.

If you don't have TiVo, you can watch the festival on Channel 4. For the full festival experience, rig your shower to lightly water your living room, pour beer in your shoes and have the tallest person you know stand directly in front of you at all times.

Apple's recent iTunes Festival also boasted its own app. It seems streaming the festivities to those who can't make it is the latest accessory for music festivals -- along with a neon mankini and a bacteriological infection.

V Festival annoys the neighbours on 20 August and 21 August at Hylands Park, Chelmsford, and Weston Park, Staffordshire. If you're going, apps for Android, Nokia and iPhone include maps, line-ups and a car finder.

In the meantime, you can get yourself in the festival mood by firing up the TiVo app for classic performances from past V Festivals with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Snow Patrol and The Proclaimers. Quite a contrast, we're sure you'll agree.

Have you done any festivals this summer, or do you prefer staying at home and soaking up the music without having to wrestle with a tent? Which festivals have had the best coverage? Sing us a song in the comments section below, or on our Facebook page.