RockNess
| RockNess | |
|---|---|
| Logo for RockNess | |
| Genre | Alternative rock, Indie rock, Dance, Electronic music, Hip hop. |
| Dates | June |
| Location(s) | Clunes Farm, Dores, Scotland, United Kingdom  |
| Years active | 2006-Present |
| Founders | Unknown |
| Website | [1] |
"RockNess" is an annual dance festival which takes place in Scotland at Clune Farm, Dores, on the banks of Loch Ness. The first RockNess festival took place on 24 June 2006 and has grown in size every year since. In June 2008 AEG took over as the main promoter of the festival.[1]
2006
The first festival was held on Saturday 24 June 2006. The festival had two stages, a main stage and big top, which were active throughout the day. It started at midday and both stages hosted different dance acts every hour and a half, until 21:00 when DJ Fatboy Slim played a final 2 hour set. Other acts at the 2006 event include X-Press 2 ,Carl Cox, Mylo , Scratch Perverts, Stanton Warriors and Linus Loves.[2]
2007
In 2007 the festival was increased to two days and had additional stages. Headlining on Saturday were the Chemical Brothers, while Sunday was headlined by Manic Street Preachers on the main stage and Daft Punk in the Clash Arena. Other notable acts included The Charlatans, Groove Armada, The Bees, The Feeling, and Nite Versions.[3]
Daft Punk were much more popular than expected and the 10,000 person Clash tent was soon filled, the sides were removed by organisers to allow a reported 30,000 people to see the set. In addition the Daft Punk set was initially held up by nearly an hour due to lighting problems. Daft Punk responded to this by playing an uncharacteristic 10 minute encore, as found on the Alive 2007 album.[4]
The two main areas of music lined up as follows.
| Clash Areana | |
| Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|
|
Groove Armada
|
Daft Punk
|
2008
The 2008 festival took place on June 7 and June 8 Fatboy Slim was the headline act on the Saturday, with indie rock group Razorlight the headline act closing the festival on the Sunday. Other notable acts included The View, Underworld, Calvin Harris, The Cribs, Editors, and Soulwax. Pendulum were also expected to play at the festival but pulled out at short notice.
A couple were married at the 2008 event after becoming engaged at the festival the previous year. The event took place at the inflatable church on the Saturday afternoon.[5]
2009
Rockness 2009 will take place on the 12th, 13th and 14th of June 2009 a half day of acts on friday night for friday ticket holders only will be on the 12th. Acts annonced are The Flaming Lips, The Prodigy, Biffy Clyro, Bassment Jaxx, Dizzee Rascal, Orbital, Placebo, Erol Alkan, Super Furry Animals Zane Lowe, Crookers, The Wombats, Rob Da Bank and David Guetta.[6].
Media Sponsors
UK new music station, XFM has been the official radio broadcast partner for the festival coverage.[7]
Channel 4 broadcast highlights of the 2008 festival weekend on national television, bringing highlights of each bands set live.[8]
Controversy
2007
The festival management were criticised for their decision to place Daft Punk in the 10,000 capacity Clash Arena instead of the main stage. The festival was Daft Punks first Scottish show in over 10 years which made the set a "must see" for many of the 35,000 festival goers.[4]
There was some controversy at Rock Ness 2007 with the death of one festival goer from taking an overdose of heroin in the car park outside the main arena and camp site.[9]
Professional footballer Richie Hart who plays for Inverness Caledonian Thistle was detained in connection with possession of cocaine on the banks of Loch Ness at the 2007 festival. He admitted to the charge of possessing cocaine and was fined £300.[10]
2008
Due to the death the previous year, tighter restrictions were put in place for car park access at the 2008 event. Festival goers were told that they would not be permitted to return to their cars during the weekend. Due to public pressure this was later relaxed to permit multiple trips for unloading camping equipment, but alcohol would only be permitted on the first entry. This amendment was not well published however leading to much confusion over the position on returning to cars. In addition the VIP car park was not well signposted leading many VIP ticket holders to park in the main car park.
In the 2008 festival a teenager was found unconscious in front of the main stage. He was taken to hospital by air ambulance but later died. [11]
References
- ^ http://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/080613a.shtml Promoter AEG takes over Rock Ness, eFestivals, 13th June 2008
- ^ http://www.rockness.co.uk/2006/news-g.asp Rockness 2006 news archive
- ^ http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/rockness/2007/ eFestivals Rockness 2007 page
- ^ a b http://www.clashmusic.com/live-review/rockness-2007 Daft Punk rock the Clash Arena at Rockness 2007, Brian Murnin, 12 June 2007
- ^ http://video.stv.tv/bc/entertainment-fivethirty-20080606-rockness-wedding/ Couple from Paisley get married at Rockness, STV, 06 June 2008
- ^ http://www.culturedeluxe.com/news_item.asp?id=5455
- ^ http://www.xfm.co.uk/article.asp?id=557826 X-clusive: RockNess 2008 line-up and tickets, XFM, 24 January 2008
- ^ http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment-news/2008/03/14/rock-ness-lands-channel-4-tv-deal-86908-20350262/ Rock Ness Lands Channel 4 TV Deal, 14 March 2008
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6738253.stm Festival car death man identified, BBC, 11 June 2007
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7037163.stm Footballer admits cocaine charge, BBC News, 10 October 2007
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7442408.stm Youth dies at Rock Ness festival, BBC, 8 June 2008
External links
Major music events and festivals of Scotland | ||
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| Benefit concerts |
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| Dance/Electronic | ||
| Folk/Traditional | ||
| Indie | ||
| Jazz | ||
| Rock/Alternative rock | ||
| Others | ||
