Not only is the mainstream scene in its rudest health in years, it's also more diverse than ever and guitar-fans are spoilt for choice. We felt it was important to stick our oar in and highlight our top five picks for the 2010 festival season.

Download

11-13 June - full line up - tickets

For guitarists, it doesn't get much better than Download's 2010 line up. When we heard the organisers were celebrating 30 years of rock at Donnington, we knew they were going to pull something special out of the bag.

A heavenly head-lining trio of AC/DC, Rage Against The Machine and Aerosmith is more than we expected and consequently has most of TG's staffers foaming at the mouth.

However, if none of the above float your hard-rock boat (what's wrong with you!?), the festival has confirmed appearances from Megadeth, Slash, Bullet For My Valentine and Lamb Of God. Not to mention new hopes Cancer Bats, Young Guns and Taking Dawn.