IT'S time to drag out that well-worn canvas again as this weekend's V2003 festival comes to Weston Park in Staffordshire.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Coldplay are the main attractions headlining the main stages in Staffs and at Hylands Park, Chelmsford.

Californian funk rockers the Chilis grace the main stage on Saturday to get the festival faithful in the party mood.

Now in their third decade, Anthony Kiedis and friends just don't know when to stop. And why should they? The release of their most recent LP - By The Way - proves they are getting better and better.

Coldplay won accolades for their headline slot at Glastonbury last year and have cemented the phenomenal success of debut LP, Parachutes, by following up with the Mercury Prize nominee, A Rush Of Blood To The Head.

Other notable acts are the Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, David Gray, Ash, The Coral, Morcheeba, Inspiral Carpets, Feeder, Turin Brakes, Super Furry Animals, Lemon Jelly, Kelly Osbourne and Moloko.

All tickets for this year's event, at both sites, are sold out. Festival organisers are appealing to fans without tickets not to travel. Luke Traynor