Manchester takes over V Festival as Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds join the bill

[Browno01]

The heady days of "Madchester" are set to be revisited at this summer's V Festival with performances from The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays.

Ian Brown's seminal rock act - who fell apart in 1996 and announced their hotly anticipated reunion last October - will join US stars The Killers to headline the event, which runs across two days on two sites in Essex and Staffordshire.

Salford act Happy Mondays, fronted by Shaun Ryder, are also on the bill on August 18 and 19, along with Noel Gallagher - a fellow Mancunian who was inspired by the Roses - and his High Flying Birds.

Sir Tom Jones, Snow Patrol, and recent double Brit winner Ed Sheeran will perform, as will US singer Nicki Minaj and homegrown stars Tinie Tempah, Example and Olly Murs. Veteran acts The Human League, Madness, The Proclaimers and The Stranglers will also play the twin-site event.

The festival, now in its 17th year, is run across Hylands Park, Chelmsford, and Weston Park in Staffordshire.

Organisers said more acts will be announced across the four stages. Performers for the Glee Club comedy tent will also be revealed in the lead-up to the event.

And luxury camping facilities will see a return with yurts, teepees and pop-up hotel rooms.

Festival director Simon Moran said: "We're really delighted with the line-up this year. We have a great mix of artists topping a bill that will see the welcome return to live performance of Manchester's finest export, along with some of the biggest acts in the music industry today."

He added: "The mix of established and exciting breakthrough acts promises to give festival-goers a cracking weekend."

Tickets for the Virgin Media-sponsored event go on sale from Friday March 2 at 10am with fans advised to visit http://www.vfestival.com, where all official outlets are detailed.

Festival director Bob Angus said: "As in previous years, we want to again emphasise how important it is for fans to buy their tickets from official outlets listed on VFestival.com. This will ensure they don't miss out on what promises to be the hottest ticket this summer."

[brfcstar]

Good start for me I'd watch 10 of those acts and be very happy doing so

[mercury]

yeh more than happy with that.

[luckysalt]

No surprises there whatsoever. BUT the big thing is NO Florence, so I guess she's headlining Reading.

Looks like Snow Patrol are the other sub

But no 4 music headliners from what I can see unless Tinee is one.

[gazza_20]

No surprises there whatsoever. BUT the big thing is NO Florence, so I guess she's headlining Reading.

Looks like Snow Patrol are the other sub

But no 4 music headliners from what I can see unless Tinee is one.

[Wolf 359]

Now this is looking very promising, I just hope that there ain't too many 'clashes'. I wonder if all of the mancs will be on the same stage ?

[gazza_20]

It is a terrible announcement, really bad but expected. I would care for 2 and watch another 2 cause I was there, being The Roses and Tinie but got Heaton park tickets and seen Tinie 3 times now

[luckysalt]

I can't see how you can say its a terrible announcement? What were you expected of V? For V its a strong announcement, this is a different V these days to the one of days gone by, It has a lot of big acts right there.

I expect David Guetta to be announced at 9pm too as 4 music headliner.

I think the majority of V goers from last year will be very happy with this.

[shoptildrop]

it's looking true as me and a friend posted it on FB V Fest page and all of our posts got remove and my friend got blocked lol

[luckysalt]

They've been deleted the posts on there for days Laura, since it leaked. Dunno why they put back the announcement from mid week, they wouldn't have had this problem then

[gazza_20]

I can't see how you can say its a terrible announcement? What were you expected of V? For V its a strong announcement, this is a different V these days to the one of days gone by, It has a lot of big acts right there.

I expect David Guetta to be announced at 9pm too as 4 music headliner.

I think the majority of V goers from last year will be very happy with this.

[luckysalt]

Fair enough Gaz, didn't understand. Yeah it doesn't excite me whatsoever, but I can see its a solid announcement for the people who go.

[gazza_20]

Fair enough Gaz, didn't understand. Yeah it doesn't excite me whatsoever, but I can see its a solid announcement for the people who go.

[lendan]

I can't see how you can say its a terrible announcement? What were you expected of V? For V its a strong announcement, this is a different V these days to the one of days gone by, It has a lot of big acts right there.

I expect David Guetta to be announced at 9pm too as 4 music headliner.

I think the majority of V goers from last year will be very happy with this.