from 2–4 June. The 2012 line-up was headlined by The Drums, previous recipients of NME's Philip Hall Radar Award, and Pulled Apart By Horses, the Leeds post-hardcore four-piece described by The Observer as "the best live band in Britain." Also on the bill were Willy Mason, Nottingham art-pop quintet Dog Is Dead, Summer Camp, Lucy Rose, Kyla La Grange, Deaf Club, Clock Opera, Thepetebox, Ryan Keen, Broken Hands, Dirty Goods, Pearl & The Beard, Vadoinmessico and Wonder Villains. Venues: Manchester, 2 June: HMV Ritz, Deaf Institute, Sound Control, Joshua Brooks, Zoo Bristol, 3 June: O2 Academy, Thekla, Louisiana, Trinity, Fleece, Start The Bus, The Cooler, Stag & Hounds Nottingham, 4 June: Rock City, Rock City Basement, Rescue Rooms, Stealth, Bodega, Jongleurs 2011 Event The 2011 festival was a continuation of the three city/three-day routine from 2010. Tickets ranged from £20 – £25 depending on location. Acts announced to play the festival were: Hurts, Darwin Deez (Manchester Exclusive), Ed Sheeran, We Are Scientists, Guillemots, The Naked and Famous, The Joy Formidable, SBTRKT, Dananananaykroyd, Wolf Gang, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Braids, Cults, Hyetal and many more. 2010 Event Less than a week after the 2009 event, Dot to Dot's return in 2010 was confirmed with a limited release of early bird tickets on sale 29 May 2009. 2010 saw the first year in which the festival was held in Manchester as well as Bristol and Nottingham. Artists who played included: Mystery Jets, Los Campesinos!, Ellie Goulding, Beach House, Zane Lowe, Liars, Blood Red Shoes, Washed Out, Jakwob and Wild Beasts amongst others. 2009 Event The annual event showcased up and coming bands and DJs from the UK and international scenes offering two days of indie, rock, dance and pop music. As with previous years the festival concentrated on the musical epicentres of each city across a number of venues of differing sizes. Tickets for the 2009 event – which took place on 23 and 24 May 2009 – were released on 23 January 2009. Artists scheduled to perform include Annie Mac, Friendly Fires, Ladyhawke, Cage the Elephant, Little Boots, Brodinski, 65 Days of Static, The Big Pink, Marina and the Diamonds and Patrick Wolf, The 2009 festival did not operate in London, but continued with the same venues in Nottingham and Bristol. 2008 Event In 2008, the festival operated a third location in Shoreditch, London, known as Hox to