Nestled along the shores of the picturesque Loch Ness, the usually tranquil Scottish village of Dores will be play host to one of the biggest gatherings of the Highland summer next weekend as RockNess 2012 takes over Clune Farm. Entering its seventh year, the festival is expected to draw crowds of more than 30,000 to the northern hills for three days of music, comedy & culture. Following previous years’ triumphs, organisers have booked some of the biggest UK and international names to build upon the successes of the past six years while continuing to deliver an eclectic mix of sounds for their growing audience.
Photograph by Mylou Oord.
The party gets going on Friday night with performances from indie rockers Mystery Jets, genre-bending Brooklyn rapper Theophilus London and Glaswegian producer Hudson Mohawke.
Up-and-coming French electropop savant Madeon and UK producer Jacques Lu Cont (aka Simon Green) will treat the crowd to their delectable sounds on Saturday. Deadmau5 brings his mousey mosaic of techno and house rhythms from the Great White North to the Highlands for a set on the main stage on Saturday night, while co-headliners Justice will show off the Parisian approach to dance music at the Goldenvoice Arena.
Sunday’s festivities feature sets from glitter fiend Orlando Higginbottom (better known as Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs) and electropop wizards Metronomy on the Goldenvoice Arena stage, while Glaswegian trio Errors will showcase their latest record Have Some Faith in Magic with a hotly tipped performance at the Clash Arena. NYC disco veterans CHIC bring their unique fusion of disco and R&B to the main stage on Sunday, where the legendary guitar skills of Nile Rodgers will undoubtedly be on full display.
Music isn’t all that will be showcased at RockNess this year, with the festival boasting a strengthened comedy line-up that ranges from the dry Scottish banter of comics like Daniel Sloss and Des Clarke to the musical humor of Tim Minchin. Expect to see Loch Ness overrun by an army of monsters and aliens for fancy dress Saturday, while street dance illusionist Magical Bones will breathe some b-boy spirit into the festival throughout the weekend.
RockNess takes place at Clune Farm in Dores in the Scottish Highlands from 8-10 June, more information here.
By Matthew McAndrew.
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