Now heading into its third year Stockton Calling, the all-day music festival that quite literally rocks Stockton Town Centre, returns on Saturday 7 April with an almighty line up and an additional stage.

Headliners for this year are indie rock behemoths The Pigeon Detectives, exciting new talent King Charles, Bluetones front man Mark Morriss, Teesside troubadours Young Rebel Set and American multi-instrumentalist Laura Gibson.

After a sell out success in 2011, featuring acts such as The View, Frankie & The Hearstrings, and Little Comets, ARC, The Georgian Theatre, KU Bar, The Sun Inn (programmed by The Kids are Solid Gold) will welcome The Vault to the line up. The venue will host a throng of local and national acoustic talent, taking advantage of the venues intimate and relaxed atmosphere.

Joining platinum selling anthem masters The Pigeon Detectives at ARC is Manchester 6-piece Folks, Arctic Monkeys choice support act Dead Sons, rising talents Randy and The Handstand Band, mind blowing-ly catchy The Smokin’ Barrels, post-punk trio Young Hegelians, Editors-esque The Castells and people’s choice The Panoramic.

The Georgian Theatre is mixing it up with an eclectic mix of acts to entertain the crowds including the unmissable prog/pop sounds of Weird Shapes, ‘The Must See Band of Summer 2012’ (BBC6 Music) Hey Sholay, dreamy surf-rockers Bird Island, brass-tinged electro instrumental group B>E>A>K, indie grunge act Temujin, Northumberland’s answer to Everything Everything Vinyl Jacket, Teesside’s answer to Fleet Foxes The Bluebuds and young blues trio Huntsville.

The Guardian described King Charles as “Gloriously psychedelic and exploding with vibrant sounds.” making him a perfect headline act for the diverse nature of The Georgian’s stage.

Playing alongside Young Rebel Set on KU’s stage will be the infectious Dexters, the Smiths-esque Collectors Club, the ear-splitting Wet Nuns, indie rockers The Purnells, Darlington blues band Goy Boy McIlroy, the mesmerising Eeves, old school indie maestros The Unsung Heroes and, opening the stage, young guns The Rise.

The Sun Inn stage, programmed by Middlesbrough promoters The Kids Are Solid Gold, welcomes the ”life-affirming” (Mojo) singer, and headliner, Laura Gibson from U.S.A alongside Red Light Company side project Anothers Blood, Scottish virtuosos The Imagineers, indie folk troupe Chasing Owls.

The acoustic solo acts are out in force on the stage with Sam Airey, Lake Poets, Joe Hammill and Rachel Sermanni all set to captivate the crowds. Teesside’s only representative on the stage is The Woven Project, whose experimental folk are a welcome addition to the line up.

The newly added acoustic stage at The Vault will see it’s first year packed to the brim with stripped-back sets, Bluetones legend Mark Morriss headlines the stage with what will be an unforgettable set.

Nine Black Alps singer Sam Forrest, lo-fi trio The Broken Broadcast, Birmingham’s The British IBM, folk rock luminary Phil Saunders, Noah & The Whale label mate Thomas J Speight, popsters Andy Jones & The Norton Rockets, solo acts David McCaffrey, Paul Williams, Phil Holliday and Sarah Proctor and dynamic duo The Club of Rome will all make appearances on the intimate stage.

Tickets are already flying out as crowds are coming to learn, an eclectic mix of artists, both known and up-and-coming, can be expected from Teesside’s fastest growing and highly anticipated music experience.

Tickets are priced £12 in advance and £15 on the day.

Doors for all 5 venues open at 1.30pm on Saturday 7th April. Entry age is 14 +.

Full list of acts and times:

Stockton Calling 2012

ARC

10pm – The Pigeon Detectives

Platinum selling indie rock saviors who provided countless anthems that defined the Noughties, including Take Her Back, I Found Out, I’m Not Sorry and This Is An Emergency. These lads regularly sell out gigs across the globe so we’ll only say this once; DON’T MISS OUT!

8.40pm – Folks

With fans as high profile as Noel Gallagher and Miles Kane it’s pretty evident that this 6-piece Manchester band is destined for big things.

7.45pm – Dead Sons

Sheffield knows how to make an indie rock band, and here’s more proof. Built from the ashes of Milburn, they supported Arctic Monkeys at Don Valley Bowl last June and the music industry has been getting in a flap about them ever since.

6.45pm - Randy and the Handstand Band

With out a doubt one of Teesside’s most popular bands around at the moment. They’ve got a knack for anthemic foot-stompers and a name so funky you can dance to it.

5.45pm – The Smokin’ Barrels

This Northumberland 3-piece thrash out a wall of noise, which is both incomprehensibly catchy and mind blowing. 2011 saw them play Great Escape Festival, The Wireless Festival and support the likes of Beady Eye and Kasabian.

4.45pm - Young Hegelians

If you like your post-punk music a little off kilter al la Talking Heads and Gang of Four then this trio will certainly float your boat.

3.45pm - The Castells

Editors/The National-esque foursome The Castells are on to something special, so much so Radio 1 is predicting big things for them, oo-er.

2.45pm – The Panoramic

After receiving 500 votes in our online competition, Stockton four-piece The Panoramic are worthy winners for this coveted opening slot. Impressive indie tunes if ever we’ve heard them.

KU

10.30pm – Young Rebel Set

Teesside’s very own mysterious troubadours make their debut appearance at Stockton Calling, and where better to preach their full-blooded tales of tough love and hard luck than their spiritual home of KU?

9.15pm – Dexters

These East Londoner’s know how to knock out an infectious tune and sound as if The Clash, The Jam and The La’s merged together to form an almighty anthem generating tyrant.

8.15pm – Collectors Club

If for some strange reason Vampire Weekend and The Smiths had a love child, and gave birth to it in Middlesbrough, then it would without a doubt make music that sounds a whole lot like this.

7.15pm – Wet Nuns

According to NME this West Yorkshire two-piece are the new Arctic Monkeys; we’re not sure ourselves but what we do know is their ear splitting blend of rock, blues and punk is not to be missed live.

6.15pm – The Purnells

This Stockton troupe create a sound so full of chunky rifts and pounding drumbeats you’ll be drooling at the mouth.

5.15pm – Goy Boy McIlroy

As dark and brooding as the blues come, this Darlington foursome really knows how to wallow in misery and self pity; good news is they sound mighty good whilst doing it.

4.15pm – Eeves

In their own words Indie rock / post-punk threesome Eeves play sonically powerful live sets sparked with tension and urgency. Needless to say they’ll draw you in and have you hooked with their mesmerising beats.

3.15pm – The Unsung Heroes

Described as ‘The Jam with Sid Vicious on bass and Jonny Marr on Guitar’, that’s not a bad combination if you ask us – just see for yourself!

2.15pm – The Rise

Redcar’s very own answer to the Arctic Monkeys. These young lads have all the hallmarks of the next big thing just waiting to be discovered.

The Georgian Theatre

10.45pm – King Charles

You may recognise this dapper chappie from one of many ‘One’s to watch in 2012’ lists, or you may have heard he toured America with Mumford & Sons, or even that he was unanimously voted winner of International Songwriting Competition 2010 by the likes of Tom Waits and Kings Of Leon. If not once you’ve heard his intensely catchy indie pop tunes you’ll at least know what all the fuss is about.

9.30pm – Weird Shapes

Weird Shapes’ intricately crafted prog/pop-dreamscapes is a different beast live, bringing a raw power into the mix that is both haunting and riveting. Complete with live visuals, they are an unmissable experience.

8.30pm – Hey Sholay

DrownedInSound rate this Yorkshire 5-piece as the only new band to care about in 2012, and although they’ve only released 3 tracks so far we love the pounding drums, stuttering guitars and soaring vocals combo.

7.30pm – Bird Island

Laid back, dreamy surf-rock from these new (ish) kids on the block, coming off a little like Interpol filtered through a valium laced ear trumpet.

6.30pm – B>E>A>K

An experimental side project featuring members of Field Music, Razmatazz Lorry Excitement and Maximo Park to name just a few. Warm brass stabs and offbeat guitar melodies make for a unique charm.

5.30pm – Temujin

One part Indie, one part grunge makes for a glorious whole of rich, energetic anthems influenced by such varied acts as The Stranglers, Foo Fighters, Blur and The White Stripes.

temujin.tk/

4.30pm – Vinyl Jacket

These Northumberland natives have a sound that sits somewhere between The Futureheads and Everything Everything, and they count Huw Stephens and Lauren Laverne amongst their fans – get them!

3.30pm – The Bluebuds

The former duo are now joined by a full band, adding a bit of groove and shake to their ‘organic’ bluesy floor-filling melodies. Quality.

2.30pm – Huntsville

A blues-rock trio from Middlesbrough? Oh go on then. These fine young things will have you switching from jaunty toe tapping to all out head thrashing in a single drumbeat.

The Sun Inn

10pm – Laura Gibson

Direct from the U. S. A, multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Laura Gibson brings her masterful live performance to Stockton for a rare UK date. Comparisons to Alela Diane, Laura Veirs and Sea of Bees give a good indication of what to expect from this talented troubadour.

"Both quietly devastating and life-affirming" Mojo

9pm – Anothers Blood

Red Light Company side project Anothers Blood sound like Vangelis dropped in on Brian Wilson to make some Megasynth pop anthems.

8pm – The Imagineers

“Catchy melodies, tight rhythms, and harmonies with a distinctive west of Scotland twang” (The Evening Times) - Couldn’t put it better ourselves!

7pm – Chasing Owls

“World Class indie folk…” So says Radio 1, and who are we to argue? Perfect for anyone with a taste for both the Olde and the Nu when it comes to folk.

6pm – Sam Airey

A little bit Bon Iver, a little bit Ben Francis Leftwich – but nowhere near as lazy as those comparisons. Lovely, meditative, ambient-acoustic goodness.

5pm – Lake Poets

Gentle guitar and delicate vocals make for an irresistible and intensely moving experience. Like Willy Mason but at the other end of the vocal scale.

4pm – Joe Hammill

Local lad whose lyrical genius is making waves in the music industry, not to mention his soulful vocals and deft finger-picking.  Performing a mixture

3pm – Rachel Sermanni

Scottish folk fairy Rachel Sermanni brings her haunting vocals and Celtic touch to some expert acoustic balladry a la Elliot Smith; a little treasure.

2pm – The Woven Project

This brilliant collective of musicians kick off the Sun Inn stage with their usual diverse array of experimental folk.

The Vault

11pm - Mark Morriss

The former Bluetones lead singer is somewhat of a Brit pop institution, producing anthems such as Slight Return, Marblehead Johnson and Cut Some Rug. This incredibly intimate performance will undoubtedly be stuff of legend – get down early!

9.40pm - Sam Forrest

Nine Black Alps singer creates a semi-acoustic, part-psychedelic bundle of rustic pop joy. Not to be missed!

8.50pm – The Broken Broadcast

A special outing as a trio from this melodic lo-fi folk outfit. Usually boasting a 6-piece line up, expect a super stripped back experience.

7.50pm – The British IBM

Cambridge 3-piece with plenty of ramshackle charm and boyish enthusiasm.

7pm – Phil Saunders

Folk rock at it’s best; Phil has shared stages with such luminaries as Frank Turner, Luke Leighfield, Jose Vanders and many more.

6.10pm – Thomas J Speight

Label mate to Noah & The Whale and Johnny Flynn, Thomas J Speight is one to watch according to famous fans such as Ryan Adams and Sir Paul McCartney, and who are we to disagree?

5.20pm – Andy Jones and the Norton Rockets

A rare stripped back set from Teesside’s power pop three piece.

4.30pm – David McCaffrey

York based singer songwriter who sights his influences as John Martyn, Bob Dylan and Ryan Adams. Having recently worked with Mumford & Sons and Benjamin Francis Leftwich’s producer, we predict big things.

3.40pm –Paul Williams

Remember Teesside heavyweights Citizens of Cuba? Well then you’ll surely remember their marvelous front man? Paul recently supported Ocean Colour Scene (acoustic), further cementing his notoriety as one hell of a tunesmith.

2.50pm – Phil Holliday

Drawing influences from 50`s rock and roll and the 60`s rhythm n blues movement, Phil James Holliday brings uncomplicated foot tapping acoustic tales of drunken nights and lost love.

2.00pm – Club of Rome

An acoustic duo that uses delay coated electric guitar with ringing acoustic chords and blues style foot stomping to tell tales of dark and weary places.

1.10pm – Sarah Proctor

Whom better to be our first ever Stockton Calling performer at The Vault than this lovely singer songwriter? Lush vocals and delicate guitar work is order of the day.