Is the bottom falling out of the festival market? We are told so, yet there are more of them springing up each year. And next to Glastonbury the Leeds Festival weekend towers head and shoulders over them all.
Now in it's 14th year in Leeds, the 2012 festival's line-up still manages to boast a healthy cross section of acts over an impressive seven stages, writes James Heward.
If you are still undecided, take a look at some of my recommendations, then book sharpish as it ain't staying available for long.
Firstly, let's take a look at the event's main headline acts. The Foo Fighters claim the opening night slot. Probably one of the world’s most successful rock acts in years, Dave Grohl and the boys are festival pros and are bound not to disappoint.
If like me you hail from earlier times, you maybe interested to hear that 80s goth merchants The Cure also top the bill. Promising a set list of hits from Boys Don't Cry to Lullaby, this band are a must see on the big stage.
Kasabian close proceedings on Sunday. Once a backstreet boozer act who have since taken on the arenas of the world with their larger-than-life stadium sound, Kasabian should pack enough of a punch to send everyone home happy.
Those of course are just the big hitters. There is so much more to get your teeth into and as always with Leeds, it's the smaller stages that offer some of the most exciting sounds.
Hotly tipped psychedelic krautrockers Toy are my weekend’s top recommendation. Fronted by the brother of Ex-Pipette Rose Dougall, Tom, toy offer a full shoegaze guitar onslaught across some sublime riffs and ultra cool vocals.
They are set to light up the Festival Republic stage along with S.C.U.M, recently signed Palma Violets and 2:54. Each of these owe much to the lynchpin of indie rock, The Horrors, who make a welcome return to The NME Stage.
Also appearing across the weekend are electro pioneers Justice, Grimes, Crystal Castles and Zulu Winter all of which take technology to new levels of sophistication.
Leeds wouldn't be Leeds without some hardcore rock. Enter Shikari, Social Distortion and Frank Carter's latest incarnation, Pure Love, are on course to provide that.
Festival regulars Joy Formidable, The Subways and Mystery Jets each make triumphant returns after proving they can work a crowd in previous years.
It's fantastic to see some cult favourites added too in the form of Albuquerque indie five-piece The Shins, as well as the Mark Lanaegan Band. There is also a much-anticipated debut appearance from London based lo-fi wordsmiths Veronica Falls.
Other highlights include Themepark, Bombay Bicycle Club, Friends, Sleigh Bells, Blood Red Shoes who make their main stage debut….. and as the adverts say....much much more. You never know, summer may have started by then!
* Leeds Festival, Bramham Park, August 24-26, details & bookings at leedsfestival.co.uk.
James Heward