For some, nothing quite says summer like hordes of sweat-stained rock ‘n’ roll fans jammed up against one another in head-banging euphoria while listening to their heroes on stage blast music into the vast open air. If you count yourself among that group, then surely you already know that Edgefest is back on Saturday, returning to Downsview Park for the fourth time.

Since its inception, the longest-running rock show in Canadian history has featured 300 bands, 500,000 attendees and has served as a launching pad for many bands over the years, most notably 3 Doors Down, Our Lady Peace, The Watchmen, Tokyo Police Club and The All-American Rejects.

The 2012 edition sees the return of some previous festival faves, such as Canadian rockers Billy Talent and The Sheepdogs.

For Billy Talent, Edgefest has helped cement a career in which the punk rock quartet has gone from being an unproven, little-known fest entry in 2001 to serving as the headline act six appearances later.

The Sheepdogs, meanwhile, will follow up a 2011 Edgefest set that saw them bring the house down and continue their own upward career arc.

Perhaps the most anticipated performance at this year’s festival will be the debut of Young the Giant. The California-based fivesome already has two chart-topping singles (“My Body” and “Cough Syrup”) and has broken into the mainstream, as evidenced by performances at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards and on Jimmy Kimmel Live, as well as having music featured on the hit show Glee.

Other performers on the festival’s main stage include Silversun Pickups, Death From Above 1979, The Dirty Heads, U.S.S. and The Pack A.D.

Edgefest, Downsview Park, July 14.