JAKE Bugg and First Aid Kit are to headline the main stage at this year’s Larmer Tree Festival.

The festival, which returns after a year-long break, takes place from July 19-22.

Festival founder James Shepard said: “We are thrilled to announce the first acts to be joining us for Larmer Tree Festival 2018. With plenty more names still to be announced, this is just the start of a fantastic journey towards our much-anticipated return in July.”

The festival takes place within the Victorian Pleasure Gardens on Cranborne Chase, an area of outstanding natural beauty on the Dorset and Wiltshire border.

Jake Bugg, who has supported the Rolling Stones and Stone Roses, is known for hits such as Lightning Bolt and Slumville Sunrise.

Also taking to the main stage is Swedish sister act First Aid Kit, fresh from the recent release of their critically-acclaimed album Ruins.

Other acts feature in the festival line-up include Susanne Sundfør, Nadine Shah, Elephant Sessions, Chris Wood, Naaz, Seamus Fogarty and Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker, with more to be announced.

Six out of the ten acts announced are either women or bands fronted by women, which festival organisers say marks a welcome turnaround to the normally male-dominated festival line-ups, especially in the centenary celebration of suffrage.

In recognition of 100 years of suffrage, Saturday’s main stage at Larmer Tree will be fronted by women in music.

The festival says it is striving for equality in its programming and across the event.

And for the first time there will also be the new addition of the Larmer Spa, giving festival-goers the chance to pamper while they party.

Kernow Springs will be bringing their wild spa on site, where festival-goers will be able to indulge in hot tubs, a sauna yurt, and a Bedouin chill-out lounge complete with huge bean bags, rugs and throws, alongside therapists and holistic workshops.

The festival’s creative director Sarah Dennehy said: “It’s an honour to be involved with this longstanding, independent, super cool little festival.

“And we’re stoked to announce our first wave of acts; but there’s much more to be announced over the coming months, with one or two surprises.”

Tickets are on sale and available at larmertreefestival.co.uk