Inspiral Carpets, Turin Brakes, The Zutons and Ashley Hamilton have all been confirmed to play V Festival in August.

Inspiral Carpets make a welcome return to the British music scene this summer. Fronted by Clint Boon, the organ-playing mad professor, the Inspirals were cornerstones of the Madchester scene in the eighties and nineties.

Their last album "Devil Hopping" was released in 1994 but now they return with new single "Come Back Tomorrow" and their first appearance at V.

Festival Director, Bob Angus said: "We are very happy to have the Inspiral Carpets playing V for us this year. They are a brilliant band, I am looking forward to seeing them play the main stage."

Turin Brakes created the absolutely classic album "The Optimist" in 2001. Described by Time Out as "a beautiful, red blooded, uplifting collection of songs", the album proclaimed Turin Brakes as one of the most genuine British acts around. Their new album "Ether Song" is being supported by a sell out tour and their third successive appearance at V.

The Zutons have been making a lot of noise recently, not least because they are the favourite band of fellow Liverpudlians The Coral, another V Festival player. Their new single "Creepin' An' A Crawlin" pre-empts a tour with The Thrills and Mull Historical Society, before playing V on the NME stage.

Ashley Hamilton's debut single "Wimmin" was co-written by Robbie Williams, and features the Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones. If you delve into debut album, "TRL", you get the feeling he has friends in high places. Tommy Lee features on drums, Mixmaster Mike gets on the decks, People magazine voted him as one of the 50 most beautiful people on the planet. His Dad is George Hamilton and his step dad is Rod Stewart.

Festival Director, Simon Moran added: "Tickets are selling so quickly now that we are advising that anyone wanting to come to V to get theirs as soon as possible. We can't guarantee that we'll be left with any tickets by the end of this month."

Published Tuesday April 15, 2003