IT’S almost time for the 2012 V Festival, the twin-site music extravaganza taking place across the county border in Essex at Hylands Park, near Chelmsford, and at Weston Park in Staffordshire this weekend.

Having started out as a Britpop indie fest in 1996 with Pulp and Paul Weller the first headliners, the Virgin Media backed event has broadened its palette somewhat over the years to take in the latest pop and grime acts.

But it’s two indie heavyweights topping the bill this year, with reformed baggy legends The Stone Roses headlining Saturday night at Hylands Park and The Killers returning to V for the first time since 2009 the following night.

The main arena will open at noon on Saturday and Sunday and the bands will finish at 11pm, with the headliners due on stage just after 9pm.

Both Hylands Park and Weston Park campsites open at noon tomorrow (Friday) and close on Monday at noon.

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, including The Killers, Tinie Tempah, Ed Sheeran and the legendary Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds.”

Organisers haven’t confirmed exact stages times for V 2012 yet, but the stage splits have been announced.

Ian Brown, who played a solo gig at the Forum in Hatfield in 2010, guitarist John Squire, Mani and Reni will be the main focus on Saturday night in Hylands Park, and Weston Park in Staffordshire the following day at the northern V leg.

Chief support for legendary Mancunian rockers The Stone Roses on the Virgin Media Stage will be ex-Oasis man Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.

Also high up on the main V stage on the Saturday will be chart-topping rapper/singer Example, who played a storming set at the Forum in Hatfield live on BBC Radio 1 last year, and Keane.

Others playing the Virgin Media arena are James Morrison, Emeli Sande, Rodrigo Y Gabriela and The Proclaimers.

If indie anthems Fools Gold, I Wanna Be Adored and I Am The Resurrection are not your bag, French dance guru David Guetta will headline the 4Music Stage after sets by St Albans indie-dance trio Friendly Fires and Ben Howard.

The 4Music line-up will also include Rizzle Kicks, Labrinth, Maverick Sabre, Reverend & The Makers, who supported Red Hot Chili Peppers at Knebworth in June, Inspiral Carpets and The Twang.

Dappy from N-Dubz has had to pull out of the festival, but indie favourites The Charlatans have been added to the line-up.

Ed Sheeran, who filmed the video for hit single Lego House with Harry Potter star Rupert Grint at the Forum in Hatfield, tops the V 2012 Arena Stage, with University of Hertfordshire favourite Professor Green and Gossip just below the ginger-haired troubadour on the poster.

Sub Focus, Newton Faulkner, The Ting Tings, Wretch 32, Childish Gambino, Jack Beats, Cover Drive and Angel will also play the stage.

Undercover by Virgin Media will feature Propagands DJs along with the likes of Delilah, Niki and The Dove, musical comedian Tim Minchin and Devlin.

The Glee Club Comedy Stage will be headlined by Doc Brown and Damien Clark, with Justin Moorhouse MC.

Sunday sees the Virgin Media Stage headlined by American rock band The Killers.

Expect Brandon Flowers and co to wow fans with hits such as Mr Brightside, Human, Somebody Told Me, All These Things That I’ve Done, Smile Like You Mean It, When You Were Young, new single Runaways and other tracks from forthcoming album Battle Born.

Supporting The Killers will be Snow Patrol, fresh from playing the Olympic Games opening ceremony concert at Hyde Park alongside Duran Duran, Paolo Nutini and Stereophonics.

Mixing it up a bit, Pass Out star Tinie Tempah, fresh from the Olympic Games closing ceremony, and The Voice’s Tom Jones are next down the bill.

The V main stage line-up on Sunday also includes Madness, another group who performed at the London 2012 Olympics closing ceremony, Olly Murs, The X Factor judge Tulisa and The Stranglers.

Returning Essex boy Olly Murs said: “Coming back to play at V Festival for a second year is fantastic!

“I’ve been going to the festival as a punter for years, so performing there is always going to be special – especially on that main stage.

“I’m bringing my full 10-piece band with me this year, it’s going to be immense. I can’t wait”

Over at the 4Music Stage, feisty US rapper Nicki Minaj headlines a bill also including LMFAO, Noah & The Whale, Frank Turner, The Enemy, Miles Kane, Shed Seven, The Feeling and Dodgy.

Dubstep/drum and bass duo Nero will get the Arena Stage bouncing on the Sunday night after sets from Happy Mondays, Pixie Lott and The Human League, who are due to play the University of Hertfordshire’s Forum later this year.

There’s also a live set from DJ Fresh, Rita Ora, Stooshe, Lawson and Beverley Knight, but Frank Ocean has pulled out of the festival, with Wiley replacing him.

Pink Floyd tribute Australian Pink Floyd are top of the Undercover by Virgin Media poster on the Sunday, ahead of up-and-coming Essex band The Milk, All The Young, Conor Maynard and Bo Bruce.

Sean Lock and Milton Jones are the big acts in the comedy tent.

Once the main arena is closed, V customers with camping tickets can remain in a section of the arena that stays open – The Village – throughout the night.

Films will be shown in The Arena Stage on Friday and Saturday.

Some food and drink stalls and fun fair rides will remain open.