DiS' man in the Midlands Dom Gourlay talks you through three festivals happening on his doorstep...

Having covered nearly all of the summer's best festivals from both home and abroad in this week's previews, it's been left to me to focus a little bit closer to home - literally - on three eye-catching events all taking place in the East Midlands later this year.

Lovvers by Toby Price

Spexfest

Sunday 17th May
The Bodega Social, Nottingham TICKETS

Line-up highlights: Telepathe, Times New Viking, Fan Death, Lovvers, The Shitty Limits, Blank Dogs

Rumours, hopes et cetera: With a line-up put together by Ricky Haley (Liars Club) and limited to just 170 tickets costing a mere £12 each, this one-day event promises to be one of the hottest for the early part of the summer, and in the words of Spexfest's curator, "Treat it like your last". Who are we to argue...?

What to expect: A lo-fi noise cum dancefest boasting an audacious, forward-thinking bill that no one in their right mind would want to miss.
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Little Boots by Gary Wolstenholme

Dot To Dot

Sunday 24th May (Saturday 23rd - various venues, Bristol)
Rock City/Stealth/Rescue Rooms/Bodega Social/Trent University, Nottingham TICKETS

Line-up highlights so far: Although there have been no OFFICIAL confirmations thus far, several rumours suggest...

Rumours, hopes et cetera:...White Lies, Jamie T, Little Boots, Crystal Stilts, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Florence & The Machine and Vivian Girls are among some of the names being touted to appear at this year's event. Watch this space...

What to expect:The East Midlands answer to the Camden Crawl, not forgetting its Bristol-based sister event of course. Now back to being a one-day event, Dot To Dot has firmly established itself on the UK festival circuit over the past three years, and this venue-hopping extravaganza makes the second Bank holiday weekend of May more than just an obligatory long weekend away from work.
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Indietracks

Friday 24th - Sunday 26th July
The Midland Railway Centre, Butterley, Derbyshire
TICKETS

Line-up highlights so far: Camera Obscura, The Frank & Walters, The School, BMX Bandits, Tender Trap, Mighty Mighty, The Smittens.

Rumours, hopes et cetera: From its inaugural one-day event two years ago to last summer's two dayer, 2009's Indietracks has grown a third day and with it you can expect to see some of the best indiepop artists both past and present that money can buy. Last year saw the likes of Los Campesinos! and The Wedding Present regale one and all with excitable sets, and already this year's line-up is taking shape, with 4AD newcomers Camera Obscura and C86 legends BMX Bandits among the earliest announcements. Organiser Stuart Mackay promises "many, many more acts to be announced" and if last year's scorchfest not to mention wide range of cheap ales was anything to go by, this year promises to be extra special.

What to expect: Possibly the friendliest atmosphere you're ever likely to experience at a UK festival and train rides galore if you're in the mood!
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