The Frostbite Music Festival has announced its lineup for 2012, with five major acts coming to town to headline the annual event.

The 34th Frostbite festival will be held Feb. 17-19 at the Yukon Arts Centre.

This year's lineup will feature performances by Ferron, the Handsome Furs, Little Hawk, H'Sao and Whitehorse.

"All five of the headliners are notable for their own reasons,” said Andrea Burgoyne, the festival's producer.

"It's a good mix.”

Beyond their appropriate title, the newly formed group Whitehorse is set to be a key act at this year's Frostbite.

Whitehorse is the collaborative effort of husband and wife roots music duo of Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland.

Both have received national acclaim as members of Sarah McLachlan's band and as independent artists — Doucet, with Vancouver alt-country group, Veal, and McClelland for her solo work.

H'Sao will be a unique addition to this year's lineup as well.

Members of the Montreal-based afro-pop group, originally from Chad, play a soul and R&B influenced style, combining African rhythms with acapella vocal work.

The band released its first album in 2003 and was honoured with the Radio-Canada Étoiles Galaxie (Rising Stars) prize in 2004.

The Handsome Furs are likely to be a major draw as well.

"My dream was to get the Handsome Furs,” said Burgoyne. "It was really a coup for me to get them this year.”

The Montreal-based indie rock duo is made up of Dan Boeckner, formerly of Wolf Parade and his wife, Alexie Perry.

The Handsome Furs received some critical success with their 2009 album Face Control, which saw them long-listed for the 2009 Polarus music prize both a Juno Award nomination in 2010.

Other acts have yet to be announced.

"We are just figuring it out right now,” said Burgoyne. "We have one more band that has to confirm, and we are still booking some local acts as well. Last year, we had about 23 bands.”

But, she added, "It could be a little smaller this year.”

Once again, the coming festival will feature a kids' component with children's music and dance groups as well as crafts and group activities.

Organizers say this year's lineup is a reflection of the festival's growing popularity and the community's expanding reputation as a regional centre for live music.

"Whitehorse is changing culturally; the community is growing,” said Burgoyne.

"We're been challenged to stay unique, now that there are so many other organizations and community groups who are participating in the cultural life of the community.

"But we are still totally focused on the music and the community and trying to emulate the summer music festival model of offering great shows, day and night, and we'll continue to do that this year.”