By Debbie Cuthbertson BBC News Online at Hylands Park, Chelmsford

Elvis Costello could only muster a disappointing performance for fans at Chelmsford's V2002.

But Saturday's bill picked up with a brilliant set from Supergrass.

A hefty performance included plenty of old favourites from the first album, plus the likes of Pumping On Your Stereo and Moving.

The Beta Band were also on top form on the NME Stage.

Their early evening set began in mellow mood before turning very funky mid-set - a cue for everyone to start dancing around.

Counting Crows' new material was weak

Alanis Morrisette seemed to be going through the motions on the main stage.

Her set focused on earlier material from Jagged Little Pill rather than her interesting new album - which felt like a lost opportunity.

And why does she still insist on performing Ironic after all the jokes about it?

The only ironic thing about it is that she doesn't know what irony is.

The Chemical Brothers gave us a set of two halves - the first packed with excitement, the second a letdown.

Backed by some amazing projections, they ran through the likes of Hey Boy, Hey Girl, Block Rockin' Beats and Setting Sun.

Something missing

But having got the huge crowd moving, they failed to pick up the pace towards the end of the set.

It left the impression that something was missing.

On Sunday, the drops of rain splashing on our tent and sounds of thunder rumbling in the distance seemed ominous.

But the rain held off, making for another brilliant sunny backdrop to the festival.

Morrisette is still unaware of the meaning of irony

Our first cab off the rank on Sunday was impressive dance/funk outfit Weekend Players, who have been travelling the festival circuit all summer.

Next up was Bristol's Kosheen, whose tunes - including Catch, Hide U and Harder - sound even better in the flesh than on their smashing debut LP Resist, and blasted off the cobwebs from those still feeling the ill-effects of the previous night.

Following on the main stage was the long-awaited return of Counting Crows - suffice to say, it wasn't worth holding your breath for.

Sure, there were the crowd-pleasing songs everybody knows - I Belong, Around Here and Mr Jones - but their new material attracted little interest.

Then over to the NME stage, where The Coral performed valiantly after a false start - and minus their drummer, who pulled a sickie - sounding like the cheesy soundtrack to a spaghetti western.

Over to the JJB tent for one of the highlights of the weekend, the mesmerising Lamb.

Over-excited punters helped make it feel more like a boiler room.

Louise Rhodes' soaring vocals were ably backed up by her manically energetic band, who were beating the anti-poverty, anti-pollution drum.

Nonchalant Gillespie

Gabriel and Gorecki were the stand-out tracks.

From there it was a quick sprint back to the main stage for Primal Scream, where too-cool-for-school frontman Bobby Gillespie was his usual nonchalant rock god self, mumbling expletives at the crowd in between songs.

They kept the crowd waiting for the likes of Rocks and Swastika Eyes, but fans were mighty appreciative when they delivered the goods.

Faced with the agonising choice of who to watch for the finale, Groove Armada or Basement Jaxx - Stereophonics don't even get a look-in with competition like that - the latter won the toss.

And Basement Jaxx proved to be the stand-out act of the festival, head and shoulders above the Chemical Brothers' Saturday night set.

Preceded by some eye-catching Carnival dancers, they burst out of the blocks with Romeo.

Get Me On follows it up - accompanied by flashes of hilariously pornographic cartoons - and Where's Your Head At provides a roaring swansong to a brilliant weekend.