The UK festival scene may be missing two big names this year (Glastonbury and The Big Chill are both taking well deserved breaks) but the landscape is still packed with other big-name events.The Latitude Festival sees the return of Bon Iver to the UK, following the success of his second self-titled album of last year. Perennial festival favourites Elbow also bring their goodwill-infused bonhomie to Suffolk, while the third headliner is Paul Weller, who has impressed many already this year with his bold new album Sonik Kicks. White Lies play the monochrome guitar-centric sounds that they showcased so well on 2011s Rituals and the presence of The Horrors, Wild Beasts and Metronomy complete a strong top end of the line-up.Latitude have also pulled off something of a coup in securing performances by an array of some of the most headline-generating female acts of recent years. Janelle Monae brings her energetic soul-pop to Latitude for a UK festival exclusive, while it also sees the return of Bat For Lashes to the festival circuit. Throw in appearances by tUnE-yArDs, Sharon Van Etten, St Vincent, Zola Jesus and Lianne La Havas and you have an impressively wide-ranging snapshot of contemporary female musical talent. If you prefer your music to be more masculine and guitar-focused youll also find plenty to enjoy at Latitude as they have the likes of Low,Josh T. Pearson, Kurt Vile and The War On Drugs on the bill alongside Explosions In The Sky and The Antlers, who also bring their respective brands of powerfully emotive guitar music to Suffolk. Battles play the tightly structured, interlocking rock from last years Gloss Drop while newer bands to have impressed with debut albums recently also feature prominently Django Django, Francois & The Atlas Mountains, Howler, Kindness and many others.Latitude takes place from 12-15 July in Henham Park, Suffolk. Tickets and further information are available from Latitude.The Green Man Festival is celebrating a birthday this year 2012 will be the tenth occasion that bands have headed to Glanusk Park in Wales Brecon Beacons. They may have only announced two of their headliners so far Feist and Van Morrison but the line up already includes several big names from the world of alternative guitar music. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks will make their only UK festival appearance at Green Man while King Creosote & Jon Hopkins will treat festival-goers once again to the undimmed beauty of last years Diamond Mine album. Merrill Garbus (aka tUnE-yArDs) will bring her thrilling live show to the festival, as will Of Montreal. Other notable inclusions are Damien Jurado, who appears hot off the release of stand-out current album Maraqopa, the left-leaning and refreshingly inventive Field Music, hook-laden, zesty Brooklyn-ites Friends and frosty alt.folk purveyors Trembling Bells.Expect an announcement imminently regarding the final outstanding headliner. We could speculate wildly on names but well leave you to make your own guesses. Green Man takes place from 17-19 August in Glanusk Park, Wales. Tickets and further information are available from Green Man.The End Of The Road festival has a thoughtfully programmed line up that is dominated by Bella Unions 15th birthday celebrations. Highlights include the only UK 2012 date by Grizzly Bear, who co-headline one night alongside Tindersticks, who have just released arguably their finest album for many years in The Something Rain. Another coup for the festival saw them secure the unexpected return of the much-loved Grandaddy to headline the final night. Expect songs from classic albums such as Under The Western Freeway and The Sophtware Slump to round off a special weekend.The programme for Friday will feature a collection of Bella Union signed bands. Beach House will be playing fresh off the back of releasing fourth album Bloom whilst Midlake also return to the festival after their successful visit last year. One of the most exhilarating live bands of recent times, Dirty Three, also make a special appearance playing tracks from latest album Towards The Low Sun. Rhode Island trio The Low Anthem also return to the festival whilst the likes of Scandinavian nu-shoegaze types I Break Horses and ex-Czars singer John Grant further expand the Bella Union representation. Its not all Bella Union signed acts however the line up also includes the likes of Perfume Genius, Anna Calvi, Willis Earl Beal and First Aid Kit. End Of The Road takes place from 31st August – 2nd September in Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset. Tickets and further information are available from End Of The Road.The Reading/Leeds festival boasts the only UK shows this year by veteran miserablists The Cure. In many ways its a bold booking, being atypical of what you would traditionally come to associate with the festival. In another inspired move they have managed to secure the return of At The Drive-In to UK soil. It will be one of the most keenly-anticipated returns of 2012 and the opportunity to hear Cedric Bixler-Zavala and co play their visceral, dynamically-charged rock once again will be irresistible to many. They will headline the NME stage. Elsewhere its a case of what Reading does best a slew of big names from alternative rock. The Foo Fighters and Kasabian headline the main stage with supporting appearances from the likes of The Black Keys, The Vaccines and Florence & The Machine. The Cribs, The Shins and Miike Snow will also be there.The Reading/Leeds festival takes place from 24th-26th August. Tickets and further information are available from here.The Download Festival manages to crams as many top rock/metal/hardcore acts as possible into their 3 day line up. The Prodigy, Metallica (playing The Black Album in full) and Black Sabbath all headline, with the likes of Slash, Soundgarden, Megadeth and Europe (!) all featuring lower down the bill.Download takes place from 8th -10th June at Donnington Park, Leicestershire. Tickets and further information are available from Download.Meanwhile, the Isle Of Wight festival features performances from some more heavyweights of rock Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam each headlining a day. Elbow and Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds also appear over the weekend of 21st-24th June. Read more here.The V festival has managed to secure the headline performances of The Killers and The Stone Roses, whilst the inclusion of Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds, The Happy Mondays and Inspiral Carpets lend the festival a mild Manchester feel. Elsewhere the bill takes on much more of a pop flavour. It takes place over 18th-19th August at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and Weston Park in Birmingham. Visit the V website for more information.Finally, up in Scotland T in the Park also has The Stone Roses alongside New Order, Simple Minds, Elbow and Snow Patrol. It takes place at Balado, Scotland over 6th-8th July. Read more here.
