It's all getting V exciting now

The countdown has begun for Shropshire's biggest music festival – with just four weeks to go until V Festival begins.

This year's event will feature headliners Kings of Leon and Beyonce, who will play Weston Park on August 17 and 18.

They will be joined by The Script, Jessie J, Beady Eye, Stereophonics, Emile Sande, Calvin Harris, Rita Ora and Basement Jaxx, among others.

New acts have been added to the bill, providing entertainment for fans of all genres.

V spokeswoman Emma Elwood said: "V Festival 2013 has announced a host of amazing new acts who are set to join the weekend line-up.

"Former Swedish House Mafia star Steve Angello is confirmed to headline the Arena stage while The Saturdays, Katy B, Mark Owen, Lissie, Conor Maynard, The Pigeon Detectives, Jaguar Skills, McFly, Everything Everything, 5ive, The Eels, The Heavy, Netsky Live!, The Original Rudeboys, Nina Nesbitt and K-Koke have also been confirmed to play across the weekend.

"V Festival has also announced The Futures stage, headlined by Jamie Cullum and Benjamin Leftwich Francis."

The Futures stage will showcase the very best of upcoming talent alongside a special performance by Cullum.

Others acts confirmed to play across the weekend include Benjamin Leftwich Francis, the singer/songwriter from York who released his critically acclaimed debut album in 2011 and is currently working on the follow-up.

There will al so be a set from Monsta, who has been likened to Flux Pavilion, Moby and U.N.K.L.E.

Other highlights will include James Skelly & The Intenders, the band formed by former Coral frontman Skelly. Skelly has recently finished writing with Paul Weller and is set to promote his debut album Love Undercover.

There will also be a set from Lewis Watson, Oxford's 20-something singer/songwriter who will be bringing his guitar folk-rock to the venue after successful topping the iTunes singer/songwriter chart with his EP It's Got Four Sad Songs On It BTW.

The bill will also feature Misha B, whose debut album is out this month; Hoffmaestro, the Swedish electronic act; Sam Smith, the British singer/songwriter recently featured on Naughty Boy's massive UK number one single La, La, La. Elwood added: "V prides itself on the quality of artists that perform each year, aside from headliners Beyonce and Kings of Leon, other incredible acts already on the line-up include Stereophonics, The Script, Emeli Sande, Calvin Harris, Beady Eye, Jessie J, Two Door Cinema Club, The Vaccines, Basement Jaxx, Olly Murs, Paloma Faith, Jesse Ware, James, Rita Ora, The Courteeners, FUN, Labrinth, Ellie Goulding, Rudimental, James Arthur, Little Mix and Laura Mvula."

V Festival is now in its 18th year and is renowned for bringing together the very best in popular music for one epic summer weekend.

"It is now established as the biggest festival in the UK with more than 170,000 fans attending across the two sites, with half at Weston Park and the other half at Hylands Park, in Chelmsford.

Elwood said: "V Festival is one of the hottest dates on the UK cultural calendar. From the moment the gates open each area of the festival comes alive and a truly remarkable weekend of music and enjoyment ensues."