Camden Crawl 2006

The assault course: Camden Crawl is a 12-venue strong extravanganza of live music, with the longest stretch of the course approximately a mile long between Barfly in Chalk Farm Road and Purple Turtle on Crowndale Road. Best get those running shoes on, then.

The preparation: Wake up to find the day grey and drizzly but warm. As long as the rain holds off tonight conditions are perfectly acceptable for Camden's biggest live music night of the year. When heading for a night of such physically draining proportions, it's always good to  'Be Prepared'. VF essentials include: bottle of vodka, A-Z of London (in case of off-course drunken wanderings), digital camera, good running shoes, an umbrella and some Kendal Mint Cake. 

The contenders: With a list that boasts The Futureheads, Dirty Pretty Things, Supergrass, The Young Knives, Dogs, The Holloways, Louie, Larrikin Love, Rumble Strips, The Spinto Band, The Paddingtons and ¡Forward Russia! amongst others, this will have to be a night of cunning, intelligence and well-thought tactics. Never fear! Virtual Festivals is your guide for the night, bringing you all the reviews and backstage gossip you could wish for.

The event:

15:45 Stumble blinking into the daylight out of Camden Tube to find waif-like figures in skinny jeans already floating around. VF collects our passes and heads to Camden Tup to find out what the bands are up to. Upstairs, a couple of bands and TV crews sit quietly around. There is a buffet to one side. It's official; bands eat sausage rolls, chicken satay sticks, and ham sandwiches.

16:45 Larrikin Love arrive at the same time as ¡Forward Russia!, and both head straight for the buffet. It's an ugly fight for the biggest chicken drumstick, but the Larrikins win.

17:10 We head to the pool table as ¡Forward Russia!'s Katie is taking on their manager. "I'm really competitive," says Katie, as she whacks the white over the side of the table and promptly loses. Bands come and go, sitting on the leather sofas, eating food and catching up with each other. Four of The Spinto Band walk in, looking fairly overwhelmed and quiet.

18:00 VF decides it's time to head down to Koko to catch Dogs, who are opening the night, before we promptly run into Louie outside Natwest, chowing down on a KFC. No buffets for them, then. They're buzzing after playing a gig at the official pre-party and inform VF that after their slot in Underworld they're heading off to record an unofficial World Cup song with Graham Coxon and Sham 69 called 'Hurry Up England!'. Should be interesting. No time to chat boys, we've got a gig to catch! End up sprinting down the road to reach Koko one minute before Dogs are scheduled to walk onstage.