The Slam Dunk Festival 2012 line-up for the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield

THE Slam Dunk Festival, which takes place in Hatfield next month, has beaten Reading and Leeds in a national music magazine’s poll asking for this summer’s most eagerly-awaited rock events.

Rock Sound magazine published in its latest edition the results of a Facebook poll it ran last month asking which of this summer’s big UK rock festivals readers “were most looking forward to”.

Download at Donington Park, which will be headlined by Metallica, The Prodigy and Black Sabbath, topped the results with 34 per cent of the votes.

The twin-sited Slam Dunk event, which takes place next month in Leeds on Saturday, May 26 and at the Forum Hertfordshire in Hatfield the following day, came second.

It claimed a 22 per cent share of the votes – one per cent more than the Reading and Leeds Festival, which is being headlined by Foo Fighters, The Cure and Kasabian this year.

Taking Back Sunday, Architects and Welsh bands The Blackout and Funeral For A Friend are due to play Slam Dunk 2012.

Tickets for the all-dayer at the University of Hertfordshire’s College Lane campus cost £32.50.