Kate Rusby and Richard Thompson to headline 2012 Shrewsbury Folk Festival

Two of the biggest names in roots music will top the bill at the 2012 Shrewsbury Folk Festival.

Richard Thompson and Kate Rusby will be the headline acts and tickets went on sale today for the event Organisers are predicting a huge demand for early bird bookings following this year's record early sell-out in May – three months before the event.

Festival favourites Show of Hands, whose lead singer Steve Knightley was made a co-patron of the event in 2011, will return with a special concert.

Irish superband Dervish will also be performing as will Vin Garbutt, Jon Boden and the Remnant Kings, Fay Hield, Lau, Jackie Oates, Jim Moray and Karine Polwart.

Anxo Lorenzo, a Spanish musician who plays the Galician Bagpipes, will lead the foreign army of artists heading to Shrewsbury for the festival at the County Showground from August 24 to 27, 2012.

Others include the American Sweetback Sisters, back by popular demand after becoming one of the must see acts at Shrewsbury in 2011, Vishten from Canada, Baskery, a Swedish blues/southern rock band, and Canadian duo Madison Violet.

Another top headline act – whose identity will be revealed early next year – will finish off the Monday afternoon main stage concert.

Alan Surtees, festival director, said: "This is going to be an amazing four days of music."