Very few festivals offer such a diverse selection of bands in a setting as breath taking as RockNess. Now in its seventh year the festival returns the weekend after jubilee bank holiday weekend in the stunning surroundings of Clune Farm on the banks of Loch Ness.
With a little over three weeks to go and the e-mail confirming my attendance fresh in my inbox it’s certainly something to get excited about and to kick start the UK festival season.
Rockness will be the first big festival I’ll be photographing and reporting on, several artists within the massive line-up have already caught my eye and will be a definite must to photograph over the weekend.
I will have the opportunity to experience new artists and bands alongside those already seen, on top of interacting with the crowd on a whole new level; Working a festival with this different perspective & atmosphere will make it one to remember.
RockNess 2012 promises to be a success once again after winning the NME Awards Best Small Festival for the second consecutive year. The eclectic line-up sees English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran headline on Friday, Canadian Electro house producer Joel Thomas Zimmerman AKA Deadmau5 lead the bill on Saturday and Scottish rock sensation Biffy Clyro brining the festival to a close on Sunday. Other live acts appearing across the weekend include Wretch 32, Noah & the Whale, Mumford & Sons, Annie Mac, Justice, The Pigeon Detectives, DJ Fresh, Friendly Fires, Knife Party, Madeon & Beardyman while the Comedy stage is host once again to Scottish Comedian of the Year, Ro Campbel along-side Daniel Sloss with many more also appearing.
She joins an incredible line-up which has already been announced, including Jay-Z, who will headline the event on Saturday 23 June. Together they join an impressive list of artists such as Tine Tempah, Jessie J, Ed Sheeran, Florence + the Machine, Professor Green, Leona Lewis, DJ Fresh, Plan B, Flo Rida and Will.i.am.
BBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend 2012 will be staged across two days, Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 June 2012, in East London's Hackney Marshes. The event forms part of the London 2012 Festival and will feature over 100 UK and international artists performing on six BBC stages including the Radio 1 Main Stage, Radio 1Xtra Stage, Dance Stage, In New Music We Trust Stage and the BBC Introducing Stage..
Radio 1 have made 100,000 free* tickets available for the weekend. Ticket registration has now closed. For those who have their registration number, there will be two opportunities to apply for a ticket – 11am on Sunday 25 March and 4pm on Monday 26 March, online at bbc.co.uk/radio1. The majority of tickets will be reserved for those from Hackney and the other five Olympic boroughs, with allocation on a first-come, first-served basis.
Other acts confirmed for the live event include:
Andy C, Azealia Banks, Bombay Bicycle Club, Boy Better Know Feat Skepta & JME, Calvin Harris, Chase & Status, Chip, Dappy, David Guetta, D'banj, Deadmau5, Devlin, DJ Fresh, Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sande, Eric Prydz, Flo Rida, Flux Pavilion & Doctor P, Florence & the Machine , Jack White, Jay-Z, Jessie J, Labrinth, Lana Del Rey, Leona Lewis, Magnetic Man, Maverick Sabre, Michael Kiwanuka, Mindless Behaviour, Nero, Plan B, Professor Green, Rihanna, Rizzle Kicks, Sean Paul, Sub Focus, Swedish House Mafia, Taio Cruz, The Maccabees, The Ting Tings, Tinchy Stryder, Tinie Tempah, Will.i.am, Wretch 32.
BBC Three has been confirmed as Radio 1's television partner and will be the only channel where viewers can see the whole event.
BBC Three will also produce an exciting range of additional programming in the run up to the weekend, details of which will be announced in the coming months.
A truly multiplatform experience, the event will be broadcast on Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra with a major interactive presence online and many live performances able to watch on demand.
There are some more huge names to be added to the line-up in the coming weeks – keep listening to Radio 1 and 1Xtra for details.
This special event is being produced in partnership with Hackney Council.
Radio 1 will also be embarking on a month of outreach activity in East London ahead of the main event, including the Radio 1 & 1Xtra Academy that opens on June 1st, keep listening to Radio 1 and 1Xtra to find out how to get tickets to the Academy.
Canadian producer and DJ Deadmau5 is firmly established as one of the most innovative and successful electronic live acts in popular music today. He has a host of accolades – four Grammy Award nominations, three International Dance Music Awards, three Juno Awards and was described as the “most influential, relevant and forward thinking person in electronic music” at the 2010 Beatport Music Awards.
London born, Irish raised singer songwriter Maverick Sabre has his name ringing round the world right now and rightly so. First championed by BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra’s MistaJam as one of his “Ones to Watch for 2011”, Maverick Sabre’s gritty yet soulful voice is drawing audiences in and leaving them hooked. His debut album ‘Lonely Are the Brave’, released in February this year, has received widespread acclaim for its catchy lamenting social-political content.
Aussie DJ duo Knife Party will now be hitting the Hyde Park stage on Friday 6 July. The act is the newly formed side project of Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen, members of Australian electronic rock band Pendulum. Also joining the line-up is the much hyped electro act Feed Me. Double BRIT Award and three time MOBO Award and Mercury Prize winner artist Ms Dynamite also joins the line-up, and is set to bring her distinct sound to the Barclaycard Wireless Festival crowds. A formidable presence in the UK, her third studio album is set for release this year.
Following Friday’s line up announcement for Creamfields 2012 the UK’s No.1 dance festival have announced more acts to the bill. Dancefloor hit machine Afrojack joins the bill performing on Saturday 25th August – the Grammy award winner’s peerless reputation as a producer has seen him work with the likes of Madonna and collaborate with some of the worlds most respected artists including Black Eyed Peas, Steve Aoki and David Guetta.
In addition Goodgreef Xtra Hard make a welcome return offering a new twist for 2012, this year as an outdoor stage delivered by the ‘Best in British’ talent from all the key brands and labels in UK hard dance. BBC Radio 1’s award winning Kutski headlines the stage alongside Kiddfectious legend Alex Kidd with support from the Awsum superstar Andy Whitby and king of the underground Mark EG plus the pioneers of the harder edged sound The Organ Donors and hardstyle’s finest duo Cally & Juice. Goodgreef Xtra Hard also introduces you for the first time a selection of the hottest, new and rising names in the British hard dance scene.
This year Creamfields has delivered one of the biggest electronic festival line up’s of the summer, which includes performances from deadmau5 (dance festival exclusive), Tiësto (exclusive), David Guetta (dance festival exclusive), Avicii (dance festival exclusive), Skrillex, Calvin Harris (dance festival exclusive), Example (dance festival exclusive), Axwell, Steve Angello (exclusive), Sebastian Ingrosso (Exclusive), Paul van Dyk, Above & Beyond, Eric Prydz, Groove Armada (DJ Set), Richie Hawtin, Sub Focus (Live), Knife Party, Laidback Luke (exclusive), Steve Aoki, Eddie Halliwell, Ferry Corsten, Loco Dice (exclusive), Seth Troxler, Major Lazer, A-Trak, Sander van Doorn, John Digweed and Joris Voorn.
First up is Canadian electro pioneer deadmau5 – this stadium selling artist has well and truly transcended the superstar DJ frontier and he returns to Creamfields for his last UK festival performance of the year on Sunday’s North Stage. Headlining the South Stage on Saturday will be Avicii, Some things are worth the wait and as one of the most requested acts over recent years this Creamfields debut will undoubtedly be one that goes down in festival history. Having attracted over 25,000 people for his performance in 2011 we’re pleased to welcome back Tiësto who returns to host his own Clublife stage and having secured the No.1 spot in the DJ Mag Top 100 and two Grammy nominations the mighty David Guetta takes the helm of Saturday’s North Stage. It’s undoubtedly been an apocalyptic year for Creamfields regulars the Swedish House Mafia who this year are focusing on their 65,000 capacity show at Milton Keynes Bowl, however, fear ye not as Creamfields has snared them back, this time Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso return to the fields of Cream to perform solo. Grammy award winning breakout star Skrillex performs under canvas this year as headliner of the BBC Radio 1Xtra arena, with his unique brand of dub-step, electro and glitch which has caught the imaginations of the planet’s dance-floors over the last 12 months it’s with great pleasure we welcome him back.
Other highlights come from the Grammy nominated and globally acclaimed Paul van Dyk who jets in from his Cream Ibiza residency just for the occasion, along with one of the most discerning trance outfits in the business Above & Beyond and the mighty Ferry Corsten. We see the return of everyone’s favourite flying Scotsman Calvin Harris who joins deadmau5 on the North stage plus a live performance from singer / rapper / musician / producer extraordinaire Example.
This of course is just the tip of the iceberg as we also introduce four new arenas for 2012. Internationally renowned techno god Richie Hawtin presents his brand new concept in the form of the M-nus presents Enter. Arena, curated by the man himself he brings together some of the most exciting artists from the scene including Loco Dice, Seth Troxler, Gaiser and Paco Osuna. Everyone’s favourite superstylers Groove Armada return to DJ as hosts of their very own arena, expect carnivalesque, ass shaking mayhem from the funk battalion who will be joined by BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix star A-Trak plus the highly anticipated return from DJ/Producer Stuart Price aka Jacques Lu Cont, not to mention performances from the likes of Fake Blood, Jaguar Skills, Alex Metric and Burns. BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Mistajam has curated his own Speakerbox arena featuring performances from the likes of Sub Focus Live, Knife Party, Borgore, Shy FX feat Stamina MC and Redlight. Creamfields favourite and international superstar DJ Mr Eddie Halliwell returns as host as he debuts the all new Fire It Up Arena – there are people who play records and there are DJ’s who blow minds – Eddie is the latter, expect a wagon load of production and SFX too, as this arena will be full throttle from start to finish as he’s joined by the likes of Sander van Doorn, Mark Knight, Funkagenda and Michael Woods to name a few.
Following last year’s superhero success Laidback Luke returns with his Super You&Me arena once again, and to celebrate we welcome a debut performance from American DJ/Producer and Dim Mak Records boss Steve Aoki (expect the odd stage dive!), Wolfgang Gartner, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano – what superhero outfit will you be wearing?
Renowned for fusing legends with rising stars, the Pryda Friends arena is back, Eric Prydz heads up another eclectic line-up featuring a welcome return from John Digweed, debut appearances from Mixmag’s ‘Breakthrough Producer Of The Year’ Maya Jane Coles and Hotflush boss Scuba. Completing the bill for what will be one of the festivals most exciting arenas is Joris Voorn, Sébastien Léger and Jeremy Olander.
The trance continues in the Cream Arena with performances from Above and Beyond, Gareth Emery, Markus Schulz, Judge Jules and Mat Zo. Mafia don Steve Angello returns with his Size Matters arena featuring a special guest performance from Benny Benassi, Pete Tong, younger sibling AN21, Max Vangeli and Third Party.
Other acts include a Creamfields debut from BBC Radio 1 supremo Zane Lowe, Dirty South, Sebastian Ingrosso protégé and label peer Alesso, John O’Callaghan, Feed Me, Hardwell, Simon Patterson, Ørjan Nilsen, Adam Sheridan, Cazzette, Norman Doray, Syn Cole, Guetta collaborator Nicky Romero, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Australian lovelies NERVO and a debut performance from one of the most talked about and in-demand DJ/Remixer/Producer’s Porter Robinson.
They smashed it in 2011 so it’s with great pleasure we welcome back the 1Xtra crew for a second year, only this time they’ve moved to bigger capacity premises to accommodate the genres ever growing fan base, Skrillex is at the helm, along with Andy C feat MC GQ, Caspa, Flux Pavilion, Friction, Koan Sound, Doctor P, Loadstar feat MC Texas and Ikay whilst 1Xtra stable mates Skream feat. Sgt Pokes, Benga feat. Youngman and Mistajam keep the bass alive.
Queen of the mash up Annie Mac has pulled together a salivating line up for her Annie Mac presents arena, expect bass, electro, disco, house and dub-step from one of the most diverse tents on site with performances from dancehall duo Major Lazer, Erol Alkan, Crookers, Melé and rising star Madeon and if that wasn’t enough Brodinski joins Gesaffelstein for a special back to back set.
As well as being the name of Mixmag’s rag-tag bunch of in-house DJs, the Mixmag Allstars arena will feature a mix of the best up and coming DJ’s they’ve discovered in the past 12 months alongside some recognisable big name house DJ’s in the form of James Zabiela, Creamfields South America DJ legend Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Curly and Paul Woolford, combined they will be mixing a perfect Sunday session for those who have still got it in them!
Back to flaunt its ever-growing fabulousness is Hed Kandi who return as hosts of the Hospitality Arena. Last year sold out nearly 3 months in advance and this year we expect even greater demand as word spreads of this exclusive luxurious oasis on site…you have been warned!
And let’s not forget Friday night’s Silent Disco Arenas brought to you from That Mixmag Thing, UNION and Riva Starr’s label Snatch!
Creamfields welcomes back BBC Radio 1 & BBC Radio 1Xtra as this year’s exclusive radio partners; you can hear highlights from the event on both stations – www.bbc.co.uk/radio1 / www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra
The countdown begins….
CREAMFIELDS 2012 LINE UP
SATURDAY 25TH AUGUST
South Stage
Avicii Sebastian Ingrosso Alesso Cazzette Norman Doray Syn Cole
North Stage
David Guetta Example Nicky Romero NERVO Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike
Cream in Association with Mixmag
Above & Beyond Gareth Emery Markus Schulz Judge Jules Mat Zo Gareth Wyn Ben Gold Rob Harnetty
Size Matters
Steve Angello Pete Tong AN21 & Max Vangeli Third Party Tim Mason Qulinez Special Guest: Benny Benassi
Pryda Friends
Eric Prydz John Digweed Joris Voorn Maya Jane Coles Sébastien Léger Scuba Jeremy Olander
BBC Radio 1Xtra
Skrillex Skream feat. Sgt Pokes Benga feat. Youngman Andy C feat. MC GQ Caspa Flux Pavilion Friction Mistajam Doctor P Loadstar feat. MC Texas and Ikay Koan Sound Rudimental
Annie Mac Presents
Annie Mac Major Lazer Erol Alkan Crookers Madeon Brodinski vs Gesaffelstein Melé
Fire It Up
Eddie Halliwell Sander van Doorn Mark Knight Funkagenda Michael Woods Thomas Gold Kryder D.O.D
Hed Kandi Hospitality
Phil Faversham Sam Cannon DJ Eibhlin Sarah Louise Steve Lewis (Percussion) Aimee Jay (Saxophone)
SUNDAY 26TH AUGUST
North Stage
deadmau5 Calvin Harris Zane Lowe Feed Me Porter Robinson
Clublife South Stage
Tiësto Axwell Dirty South Hardwell Tommy Trash
Cream
Paul van Dyk Ferry Corsten John O’Callaghan Simon Patterson Ørjan Nilsen Adam Sheridan
Super You&Me
Laidback Luke Steve Aoki Wolfgang Gartner Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano Zedd Swanky Tunes
Groove Armada Presents
Groove Armada (DJ Set) A-Trak Fake Blood Jaguar Skills Alex Metric Burns Special Guest: Jacques Lu Cont
Mistajam Presents Speakerbox
Sub Focus Live Knife Party Borgore Shy FX (Stamina MC) Redlight 16bit North Base
M-Nus Presents Enter
Richie Hawtin Loco Dice Seth Troxler Gaiser Paco Osuna
Mixmag Allstars
James Zabiela Hernan Cattaneo Nick Curly Paul Woolford George Fitzgerald Mar-T Anthony Probyn
Hed Kandi Hospitality
Carl Hanaghan Stephanie Jay Dave Silcox Matt Nash Steve Lewis (Percussion) Aimee Jay (Saxophone)
FRIDAY 24TH AUGUST (Silent Disco)
That Mixmag Thing
Brookes Brothers True Tiger The Prototypes Mixmag Allstars
UNION
Kissy Sell Out UNION Engine-Earz Experiment
Snatch!
Riva Starr Kim Fai The Japanese Popstars Jet Project
Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th June NewcastleGateshead Quayside
Dizzee Rascal, Deadmau5, Maximo Park, Noah & The Whale plus many more confirmed for the North East music spectacular
EvolutionFestival returns to the North East on the Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend with a stellar line up of the most influential and exciting names in popular music. Evolution attracts 28,000 people per day to the Quayside, delivering an outstanding bill of contemporary live acts and dj’s at an unbeatable price. And the 2012 line up is the best one yet!
2012 is the ‘Return Of The Rascal” headlining the main stage on Sunday is the irrepressible Dizzee Rascal. The ultimate showman whose pop sensibilities seamlessly fuse Grime, House and Hip-hop Dizzee Rascal ensures rapturous responses from audience and arrives with a sack load of number 1 hits including Dance Wiv Me, Bonkers, Holiday and Dirtee Disco.
Not the first dead rodent to be found on the Quayside but certainly the biggest, famed for his notorious live shows, the mighty Deadmau5 brings the biggest production ever to Evolution with his jaw dropping audio visual spectacular. His set up will no doubt light up the Quayside for a perfect finale to the weekend. With an epic mix of EDM Deadmau5 is a genuine global star and this is his only North of England show this year.
The North East’s favourite sons Maximo Park will grace the stage as very special guests in support of Dizzee. Having blazed a trail around the Globe representing all that is good and infectious about the North East we are stoked to have them at Evolution and with the band currently ensconced in the Studio working on their new album we look forward to giving the boys a HUGE hometown welcome as they hit the stage for one of their legendary, incendiary live shows.
Noah & The Whale delivered the hugely critically and commercially successful ‘Last Night On Earth’ album last year and are undoubtedly one of the best live bands in the country as their recent sell out UK tour demonstrated. Variously described as anti-folk, nu-folk and folk-pop (a confusing multitude of pigeonholes) alongside like-minded souls such as Laura Marling and Emmy the Great. Both of whom were part-time members of the band at various points.
Rizzle Kicks have been the undisputed breakout act of the past 6 months seemingly coming from nowhere to top radio playlist and the charts and injecting some fun into proceedings wherever they perform. Rizzle Kicks are destined for superstardom in 2012 and their set will be one of the feel good moments of the festival.
Whilst touring with the Arctic Monkeys with The Rascals, Miles Kane developed
a strong friendship with front man Alex Turner. They shared a love of the same musical influences, such as Nick Cave. The pair began to play together backstage, and soon began writing new tracks. They realized that there was a future in their songwriting partnership, and the Last Shadow Puppets were born. Since his work with Turner Kane has shone with his solo material and his debut album has won millions of plaudits.
With artist such as Devlin, Benjamin Francis Letfwich, Band Of Skulls, Spector and Jessie Ware amongst other confirmations on the main stage, Evolution 2012’s line up takes on monstrous proportions.
The Ballast Hills this year will be home of some of the most pioneering electronic music and all tastes are catered for with a truly amazing and eclectic bill across both days. DJ sets from DJ Fresh, SBTRKT, Jack Beats, Toddla T, Maya Jane Coles and a live set from Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs are certain to have the Evolution crowd partying into the night.
Evolution promoter Jim Mawdsley comments ‘We are very proud to bring such a strong and progressive line up to NewcastleGateshead for this years Evolution Festival. We look forward to partying with you all in June’.
Evolution festival continues to bring the best artists to the North East to perform in front of the UK’s most rapturous festival audience. At £25 for a day ticket or £35 for the weekend, Evolution continues its tradition of providing an amazing show for an unbeatable price.
Alongside hosting some of the biggest acts on the planet Evolution will once again introduce the crowd to a wealth of emerging local talent on the third stage – partnered with Generator the UK’s leading Music Development Agency this stage gives local talent a chance to get their foot on the ladder and play to the biggest crowd of their careers to date
For Hi Res Artist Pics / Biogs / Logos please visit: http://www.wearesoundproof.com/press.html
FULL LINE UP
Sunday 3 June
Spillers Wharf Dizzee Rascal Plus very special guests Maximo Park Miles Kane Devlin Benjamin Francis Leftwich Dog Is Dead Lulu James Theme Park The Lake Poets
Ballast Hills
Turbulence & Metropolis present
DJ sets from… DJ Fresh Jack Beats Shy FX Friction Toddla T Dot Rotten Citizen Codename:Tyrone
Monday 4 June
Spillers Wharf
Deadmau5 Noah & The Whale Rizzle Kicks Band Of Skulls Here We Go Magic Spector Jessie Ware The Milk Mausi
Ballast Hills
Wax:On presents
DJ sets from… SBTRKT Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (live) Maya Jane Coles Eats Everything Jackmaster People Get Real Mike Jones
Whilst the outdoor Bank Holiday Weekend extravaganza is the pinnacle of the Evolution programme we still have much more to announce – including the Evolution Emerging programme, Music Futures and the Jumpin Hot Club programme of shows that will be wrapped around Gateshead venues.
Sónar Barcelona, which will take place on 14, 15 and June 16, presents its first confirmed artists, including The Roots, Deadmau5, Hot Chip, Modeselektor, James Blake dj, Fatboy Slim, Richie Hawtin, Amon Tobin’s ISAM, Squarepusher, Nicolas Jaar, Luciano, Azari & III, Jacques Lu Cont, Friendly Fires, Metronomy, John Talabot, Mouse On Mars, BBC Radio 1 presents Annie Mac & guests and showcases from Hyperdub, Brainfeeder and 100% Silk, among others.
The festival travels to Africa for the first time with "A Taste of Sónar" on March the 2nd, in Cape Town (South Africa), in collaboration with the large multidisciplinary event Design Indaba. Among those performing will be Modeselektor, Byetone, Brodinski and some of the most prominent South African artists working today.
Sónar returns to Japan – for the fifth time – on 21 and 22 April forSonarSound Tokyo, with a line-up combining major international artists such as Squarepusher, The Cinematic Orchestra, Vincent Gallo, Clark, Rustie and some of the most outstanding representatives of today's Japanese scene.
Sónar São Paulo takes place on 11 and 12 May, and will be the largest of all the events organized by Sónar outside Barcelona, featuring – among others – Mogwai, Jeff Mills, Squarepusher, Za! and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, in addition to the previously announced artists Björk, Justice, Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto, James Blake, Four Tet and Modeselektor.
This year for the first time, Sónar is introducing the new payment system in two instalmentsfor purchasing the 3-day pass for the festival in Barcelona, with an initial payment of 80€ when the booking is made (before 31 March) and a second payment of 75€ before 5 May. Find all information about the Sónar tickets here
These 3 new dates make a total of 31 events that Sónar has organized all over the world, in countries like the United States, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Argentina, among others.
The achievements of MUMFORD & SONS since the release of debut album ‘Sigh No More’ has been a success story rarely matched in recent times. A story, written and mapped out on the road. From a live adventure across India, to sold-out arenas in America and Australia, and from the festival fields of Europe, to impromptu parks on the Railroad Revival Tour in America, each and every town and city that has welcomed the band has been treated to a jubilant performance, regardless of the size of venue. With countless acknowledgements across the Grammy’s, Brits and Mercury Prize, the music of these multi instrumentalist marvels is real, authentic and simply stunning .
Now this band of brothers is preparing to unveil album number two and hit their spiritual homes on the road once again. A little wiser, a lot more experienced, but ready to take their electrifying live show to the masses. RockNess is thoroughly delighted to announceMUMFORD & SONS as the first of this year’s headliners.
Intense and inspiring, to witness a DEADMAU5 live show is to experience shock and awe. A dazzling spectacular of technical wizardry and kaleidoscopic visuals that has seen the Toronto-born behemoth (aka Joel Thomas Zimmerman) garner acclaim from both critics and fans alike, and continue his ascent as one of the very biggest names in electronic music. Famed for his brand of progressive dance that has been shaking enormodomes across the planet, the Grammy-nominated, Billboard-topping superstar DJ and producer is seriously hot property and his RockNess headline assault will be a major festival highlight of 2012.
As one of the very best live bands around, BIFFY CLYRO are at the top of their game. A decade long assault on the globe’s live music circuit and a five album-strong catalogue heavy on blistering, fist pumping anthems has seen to that. The trio’s unique sound, brought to glorious fruition on platinum selling albums ‘Puzzle’ and ‘Only Revolutions’ is well honed – a mix of off-kilter tempos, thumping guitar riffage and soaring vocals – and has steered the Ayrshire trio’s well earned rise to rock glory.
Now with studio album six well under way, BIFFY CLYRO are heading to Dores to unleash their seriously big sound in the band’s first ever Scottish festival headline slot. Unmissable!
Speaking about the announcement, Simon Neil, Ben Johnston and James Johnston of BIFFY CLYRO said ''We are thrilled to be returning to RockNess in June, and this time we'll be headlining. The location is amazing and the enthusiastic crowd made for a memorable experience in 2009, so we're counting down the days until our return in 2012.''
As one of the UK’s most critically lauded new artists not to mention biggest domestic successes, ED SHEERAN’s rise to the top has been stratospheric. A triple platinum album, three sold out tours and a clutch of award wins and nominations – including four that sees him leading the way at this year’s Brit Awards, SHEERAN is hot. This one man, DIY phenomenon blurs timeless song writing with bang current hip hop, and he counts various collaborations including those with grime rapsters Wiley and Wretch 32 to his credit. ED SHEERAN’s RockNess appearance follows hot on the heels of a much anticipated and soon-to-begin three month US tour.
Annually topping the wish list of fans as their must-see live act at RockNess, it is with huge excitement that Gaspard Auge and Xavier de Rosnay, aka JUSTICE, will be bringing pummelling levels of intensity to the festival. The prospect of the French house duo – whose electrifying live shows have all who witness reaching for the superlatives – hitting up Dores is sure to generate elation.
The now seminal debut album ‘Cross’ saw JUSTICE widely revered as chief dance floor crusaders. Now with the release of long awaited second album ‘Audio, Video, Disco’ – an inspired push-pull friction of lush prog rock decadence underpinned with brutally executed beats – the dance floor is theirs for the taking once again.
In what will surely be the most fun journey of the summer, THE ROCKNESS EXPRESS makes its exciting debut this June and marks the Year of Creative Scotland. This specially chartered train will depart from London Euston, picking up festival goers at Birmingham, Derby, York and Newcastle, before delivering the up-for-it party people to their final destination of Inverness.
Expect a full scale shindig on board THE ROCKNESS EXPRESS with top music, surprise guests, the best of Scottish food, cocktails, games and goody bags. What’s more, RockNess Expressers will get priority access on site before anyone else arrives AND a private party! If that isn’t enough, the unbeatable price of £225 is sure to impress. For this, revellers will get a VIP weekend ticket with campingPLUS travel from any of these UK destinations (only £16 more than a VIP ticket on its own), and be boosting their green credentials while having heaps of fun at the same time. All aboard!
Packing a punch of originality, METRONOMY have creative vision and style in spades. Originally championed by Erol Alkan, this Devonshire electro pop four piece founded by Joseph Mount deliver a proper live electro proposition that’s as authentic and compelling as any rock band. Latest album ‘The English Riviera’ was one of 2011’s defining albums and Mount is also the prestigious remixer-of-choice for acts including Gorillaz and Franz Ferdinand, while collaborations with Florence & The Machine and Roots Manuva reinforce his musical crossover credentials.
With their shiny, radio ready melodies, NOAH & THE WHALE have moved into mass appeal territory with very good reason. Riding on a wave of euphoria generated by three consecutively impressive albums, including most recently ‘Last Night on Earth’, expect a brilliantly breezy set from these nu-folk popsters led by charismatic frontman Charlie Fink.
WRETCH 32 is one of the UK’s most talked about new hip hop artists. Smash debut album ‘Black and White’ incorporates diverse aspects of the hip hop genre from old school American funk through to contemporary grime and dub step, and guests include Example, Ed Sheeran and Chipmunk. WRETCH 32’s phenomenal success of 2011, which spawned consecutive top five hits including ‘Don’t Go’, ‘Traktor’ and ‘Unorthodox’ looks set to propel further with album number two due for a 2012 release. And he can cut it live too, vocally, instrumentally and visually…as the RockNess audience will bear witness to this June!
FRESH / LIVE aka DJ FRESH is one of the most influential figures of the UK’s drum ‘n’ bass movement. Having cut his teeth on the illegal rave and pirate radio station scenes of the 90’s, he went on to found the label BC Recordings and the genre’s most popular website Dogs on Acid as part of the drum ‘n’ bass collective Bad Company. Fast forward to a prolific solo career punctuated along the way with remixes for Pet Shop Boys, DJ Shadow, Pendulum, Grooverider and Apollo 440, plus the co-founding of the seminal Breakbeat Kaos label, and the output of FRESH / LIVE is as impressive as it has ever been.
Topping the NME Cool List for 2011, accorded third place in the BBC Sound of 2012 and championed by the industry’s mightiest star makers, twenty year old Harlem rapper AZEALIA BANKS, is without question, the hottest new name in music. Thrust into the spotlight with ‘212’ – her brilliant, bouncing, dripping-with-attitude debut, BANKS exudes wit and energy while her music walks a tightrope between fruity humour and outright controversy. Early stage position advised!
Following his barnstorming beat boxing onslaught last year, RockNess is over the moon to welcome back the stupendously talentedBEARDYMAN! As one of the planet’s foremost exponents of all things outrageously insane yet brilliant, Dores will need the next five months to prepare.
DEATH IN VEGAS are back. Richard Fearless is back. And sounding like a man with purpose. New album ‘Trans Love Energies’, recorded in Andrew Weatherall’s Shoreditch studio is a house inspired electronic rhythmical treat. Weird and wonderful lyrical medleys, supremely well crafted psychedelia and sometimes plain spooky vibes, expect bodies to move en masse come June.
Next up…cue disco-tastic fanfare…it is with monumentally huge excitement for RockNess to proudly announce that CHIC featuring NILE RODGERS, the funkiest band on the planet, are heading to Dores!
Founded by the legendary NILE RODGERS, these peerless purveyors of booty shaking beats, whose roll call of all time dance classics include ‘Good Times’, ‘I Want Your Love’, ‘Le Freak’, ‘Dance, Dance’ Dance’ and ‘My Forbidden Lover’…to name just a few…promise to deliver what will surely be one of the summer’s defining feel good sing-along, disco dancing moments.
Staying on a disco vibe, albeit the underground deep house version, ETIENNE DE CRECY (aka Motorbass, Super Discount and La Chatte Rougee) is the epitomy of the original ‘French sound’ and one of the best house music makers ever. A key figure behind the French capital's rise as a leading dance music hub during the 1990s, the quality of DE CRECY’s output remains fierce and well deserving of the respect he continues to generate.
Having recently put out only his third EP, albeit one on Joe Goddard from Hot Chip's Greco-Roman label, and continuing to rack up countless fans including RockNess favourite Annie Mac, Orlando Higginbottom aka TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS's star is rising. Bouncing in true one-man-band style between laptop, keyboards, drum machine and live vocals, don’t be surprised if the speakers literally and metaphorically get so hot they catch fire (again) by the boundary breaking brilliance of this new talent.
Last time he descended on Dores the party-o-meter went off the scale, so RockNess is extremely pleased to announce the return of the brilliant BUSY P for more outrageously good music and vibes. As owner of the sublime Ed Banger Records, home to Justice, Feadz, Uffie, Sebastian and Mr Oizo to name a few, BUSY P’s parties are legendary as RockNess will once again witness!
A string of releases played out by the likes of 2 Many DJs, Boys Noize and Erol Alkan has brought the work of French maestroGESAFFELSTEIN recognition and acclaim as one of electronica’s undisputed hottest forces. Now aligned to Brodinski’s Bromance label,GESAFFELSTEIN makes perfect art soundscapes for purveyors who like their beats on the deeper, darker side but still with enough danceable allure. Also joining the bill is Newcastle born DJ, musician and Ed Banger friend RITON. With a new album due for release in 2012 with Surkin and AlunaGeorge, following hot on the heels of his recent output at the end of 2011 on his label Riton Time, expect an artist on suitably impressive fine form.
And RockNess just wouldn’t be complete without the irrepressibly entertaining and absolutely magnificent THE CUBAN BROTHERS, heading back to Dores for a weekend long mix of madness and mayhem.
Last but certainly by no means least, RockNess is thrilled to reveal the homegrown electronic heroes from The Scottish Highlands who complete this first announcement for 2012. Operators of the biggest club night in Inverness and winners of ‘Club Night of the Year’ at Scotland’s ICA Awards, FILTH djs Ross Lyle and Andrew McGibbon are on fire . They are joined by POLYMATH aka Martin Gowans. This talented rising star whose own tech house productions have featured on the playlists of Radio 1’s Kissy Sell Out, Tiga and Wolfgang Gartner will be right at home at RockNess. Completing the trio of talent is COUNT CLOCKWORK, Khalid Hussain & Louis Buick. This duo are the freshest, young talent to come out of Inverness in recent times with support slots to Dem Slackers and Dillon Francis under their belts plus a forthcoming Fake Blood gig. Having reached the shortlist stage of MTV’s Brand New for 2012 and with a track featured on NME.com, the future is bright.
Speaking about RockNess 2012, Festival Director JIM KING commented, “I'm so happy with the list of acts we're announcing today that I now just can’t wait for the first tent peg in the ground and for the party to start.
It was only a matter of time before we got lucky and were able to welcome Biffy Clyro back to Loch Ness. Since their debut they've gone on to become one of the biggest rock bands in the UK and on home turf you know they're going to produce something extra-spectacular.
Mumford and Sons. Wow. I am over the moon they agreed to play our show. They could have played anywhere but they chose The Highlands. It’s going to be special.
The Mau5 needs no intro. He was close to appearing last year but the good news for us is that the live show has just got bigger and better and he follows in some hallowed steps at RockNess as a true electronic headliner, something you can't experience anywhere else in Scotland. His show is just so good and he’s already got plans to make this one of the best shows we’ve ever seen. I promise you will not have seen a main stage production like this. It’s massive!
Justice is the act everyone has been asking us to book since we started the festival. French house music holds a special place at RockNess and these guys are simply the best.
There’s so much quality across the rest of the bill from Ed Sheeran who’s arguably the biggest rising star of the last twelve months with Wretch 32 on to absolute legend Nile Rodgers who brings his seminal band Chic to the main stage in what will be for me a highlight of the festival. The only question remains is can he out funk and out dance the Cuban Brothers.
This announcement is just the start. We have heaps of great bands and DJs still to be revealed and the comedy headliner this year is an absolute corker!
So, I’ll call it first then…. Mon the Biffy! Mon the ‘Ness!"
TICKETS GO ON SALE 9AM THURSDAY 26TH JANUARY. FOR DETAILS ON TICKET AGENTS GO TO WWW.ROCKNESS.CO.UK 3 day weekend camping – £159 3 day weekend non camping – £149 3 day weekend camping / non camping student ticket – £145 3 day VIP weekend camping ticket – £209 3 day VIP weekend non camping ticket – £199 3 day Disabled weekend camping – £79.50 – please email [email protected] 3 day Disabled weekend non camping – £74.50 – please email [email protected] The RockNess Express – £225 Additional travel packages available.
Heineken Open’er is proud to announce that music legend and long term pop innovator Prince is confirmed to headline the main stage on Saturday 2nd July in what is, at this stage, the first European festival to be announced. Exactly ten years to the day since Heineken Open’er first opened its gates the mighty Prince will take to the stage in what is set to be the biggest celebration of the festival’s triumphant ten years so far. Taking place from Thursday 30th June to Sunday 3rd July 2011 and voted ‘Best Major Festival’ for the second consecutive year, tickets for Open’er are now on sale at http://www.opener.pl/en
In addition to Prince, Heineken Open’er is delighted to announce that cult indie-rockers British Sea Power (1st July), critically acclaimed Chapel Club (2nd July), rising stars The Asteroids Galaxy Tour (2nd July) and American indie band The Twilight Singers (30th June) have also been added to the spectacular tenth anniversary line-up.
Heineken Open’er takes place from Thursday 30th June to Sunday 3rd July in Gydnia, Poland. Having firmly secured its position as one of the biggest and best festivals in Europe, the festival has subsequently been honoured at the last two European Festival Awards picking up the Best Major Festival in both 2009 and 2010.
The festival’s outstanding value at only £79 for a weekend camping pass means no music fan will want to miss this year’s festival. Combined with reasonable air travel from either Wizz Air or Ryan Air, it has never been a better time for UK festival goers to experience their musical favourite music for less.
Heineken Open’er Festival 2011 Line-Up So Far…
Thursday 30th June
CARIBOU COLDPLAY CRYSTAL FIGHTERS FAT FREDDYS DROP PAOLO NUTINI SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO THE NATIONAL TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB THE TWILIGHT SINGERS
Friday 1st July
ABRAHAM INC. CUT COPY FOALS PULP YOUSSOU N’DOUR BRITISH SEA POWER
Saturday 2nd July
PRINCE BIG BOI KATE NASH PRIMUS CHAPEL CLUB THE ASTEROIDS GALAXY TOUR
Sunday 3rd July
CHROMEO DEADMAU5 HURTS JAMES BLAKE M.I.A. THE STROKES THE WOMBATS
