2011 was a low-key year for the Sonic Circuits Festival. It didn’t offer the blockbuster headliners like years past. At the time, organizer Jeff Surak said it was a necessary lull. “Need a little smaller scale madness this year to recover after last year’s insanity,” he said in an email. “Huge headliners to return next year.”

Well no kiddin’. For the 2012 fest, Surak has lassoed some performers that are sure to rattle the kneecaps of local experimental-music geeks. Among them: the Glenn Branca Ensemble, Lydia Lunch, David Thomas (from Rocket From the Tombs and Pere Ubu), Chris Cutler (from Henry Cow), and composer David Behrman.

Another big change: While 2011’s fest was almost entirely suburban, this year’s Sonic Circuits will take place Sept. 28-30 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street NE.

The complete schedule will be posted soon on the festival’s homepage, and tickets will go on sale this summer. They can be purchased via the Atlas website.