RockNess

Sub Club Sound System and Soma Records set for RockNess 2012

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In an announcement of cosmic proportions, RockNess today confirms a constellation of electronic acts guaranteed to unleash an unearthly level of dancefloor devastation this June. What’s more, the stratospheric celebrations are set to land on the Scottish Highlands for three days in a brand new stage concept – THE ARCADIA UFO – the likes of which Scotland has never seen!

Brought to RockNess by Arcadia, originators of the now legendary Afterburner, THE ARCADIA UFO is a 360 degree rave machine from outer space, based on a flying saucer, and guaranteed to get the party people well and truly moving! Loaded with an armoury of brand new high powered effects and a thunderous sound system, this incredible new sculpted arena, which replaces the Afterburner, will crash land into the festival radiating fire, light, lasers and intergalactic vibrations. Head there as dusk falls for a truly space age experience for 2012! And the soundtrack to THE ARCADIA UFO is suitably galaxy-spanning too.

Having thrown the mother of all birthday parties at RockNess last year to celebrate an output of outstanding electronica spanning 20 years, our friends at SOMA RECORDS are back with an almighty bang for 2012, assuming control of THE ARCADIA UFO on Friday and Saturday and with a line up set to eclipse last year’s now legendary birthday euphoria.

First up is an artist who enjoys one of the most loyal & die-hard fanbases of all, JAMES HOLDEN. Founder of the Zeitgeist Border Community label, and hugely in demand as a remixer extraordinaire, HOLDEN’s record releases – including his recent rave reviewed DJ Kicks compilation on the K7! Label – plus packed out globetrotting DJ sets are as forward thinking as house and techno gets. It is a great honour and pleasure to have him on the bill.

Known as the '3 Deck Master' and 'The Machine', BEN SIMS is an unstoppable force on the global electronic circuit. His Theory Recordings imprint, much of which enjoys cult status, is highly regarded by the scene’s mightiest players, and the skill and dexterity of his mixing knows no bounds. With a signature of tough funk and hard grooves, it is with much excitement that RockNess and SOMA RECORDS welcomes BEN SIMS to play his first ever set in the Scottish Highlands.

ANDREW WEATHERALL is one of the world’s most respected and dedicated DJs, an exponent of consistently cutting edge, genre defying music. Throughout the decades he has been a driving force at the heart of the most seminal movements. Where WEATHERALLleads others follow. His set last year as part of the SOMA RECORDS birthday party was of such blistering repute that, by popular demand, he’s back for more. And what a treat we have lined up as ANDREW WEATHERALL & SEAN JOHNSTON present ‘A LOVE FROM OUTER SPACE’ – a five hour set incorporating cosmic disco and house in its many different guises but never exceeding 122 BPM. Having started life in an intimate East London basement (The Drop) to showcase "an oasis of slowness in a world of increasing velocity", ‘A LOVE FROM OUTER SPACE’ has built its reputation as London’s best mid-week club night. Now in a Scottish festival exclusive, SOMA RECORDS bring the maestros to Dores for what will be the perfect start to the party.

Picking up the pace after the sun sets with their deep and warming house sound will be Glasgow legends SILICONE SOUL aka Craig Morrison & Graeme Reedie. Expect an abundance of new tracks dropping at RockNess as the duo will have just released their Soma20 Remixes album complete with reworks from the biggest names in house music, plus a much anticipated new EP this summer.

This sublimely curated line up join the other recently announced SOMA RECORDS acts; ‘Baron of Techno’ DAVE CLARKE, Dirty Bird and Mothership boss CLAUDE VONSTROKE and the fast rising forward thinking ANIMAL FARM.

Speaking about this year’s proposition on the brand new UFO, Soma Records boss DAVE CLARKE said "it's almost time for more unforgettable experiences around the Soma stage at RockNess. Last year was truly special and we aim to make this year's shenanigans even more so. Bring your stomping boots. Make no mistake, this is going to Rock."

Twenty five years ago the SUB CLUB opened in Glasgow. Since then, it has carved a reputation as one of the greatest clubs on the planet, always at the forefront and never compromising on its ethos of exceptional music. Now, following its inaugural landing on Dores last year, the SUB CLUB SOUND SYSTEM is back as we celebrate the club’s 25 YEARS with a line up oozing quality and class and more incredible names still to be revealed.

Formerly known as Ramadanman and head honcho of the esteemed Hessle Audio label, PEARSON SOUND pushes the boundaries from garage to deep house vibes with a masterful execution and clarity that has seen him hailed one of the most influential producers around. A regular at Fabric where his blinding sets never fail to demolish the dancefloor, PEARSON SOUND at RockNess is not to be missed.

Credited as one of the key figures to have pushed the NYC house music scene of the 00’s into a new era with a consistently unmatched vitality and coherence, LEVON VINCENT’s star continues to rise. Although anything but a newcomer. VINCENT’s recent fame can be seen only as welcome payoff. Through his outstanding imprints, Novel Sound and Deconstruct Music (with Anthony Parasole) and alongside Jus-Ed’s Underground Quality stable, VINCENT’s raw sound epitomizes the very essence of house music. Early arrival strongly recommended. LEVON VINCENT will smash the SUB CLUB SOUND SYSTEM.

Hailing from Paris, and one of France’s most wanted radio hosts and selectors, IVAN SMAGGHE has the ability to play music like a raw conduit between his famously obscure records and the dancefloor’s strobe-soaked bodies. Belonging to a top table often described as “The DJ’s DJs, SMAGGHE’s genre defying/defining production work originally in Blackstrobe and now in ‘It’s a Fine Line’, sees him injecting something of himself seamlessly into every mix. Having held residencies at both Fabric and The Rex Club in Paris, IVAN SMAGGHE commands respect of the highest order and RockNess is extremely pleased to be welcoming him this year.

Bristol boy EATS EVERYTHING (aka Dan Pearce) loves solid booty shaking beats and basslines, house "with a little more grunt". Continuing to set the pace for heavy releases in 2012 through San Francisco’s tech funk Dirtybird label, and winning support from the likes of Seth Troxler, Claude VonStroke, Pete Tong along the way, EATS EVERYTHING will descend all guns blazing on the SUB CLUB SOUND SYSTEM this summer.

Regarded as one of the most forward thinking club nights in the world, the Sub Club’s weekly SUBCULTURE residency is an institution that reigns supreme. HARRI and DOMENIC are revered by the electronic music fraternity the world over and week in week out bodies are well and truly jacked at this over two-decade-strong residency. Expect a storming party at RockNess as we celebrate 25 years of exemplary house music from the much respected duo, and toast the prospect of many more future treats.

Serving up lashings of deep, soulful house against a tech laced, percussion driven set, the brilliant SENSU comprises of Barry Price, Esa Williams and Chris ‘Junior’ Ingram. The trio nearly blew the roof off last year’s inaugural SUB CLUB SOUND SYSTEM as they unleashed a sensational live performance to a packed out audience. This year promises to be every bit as special, remaining true to theSENSU motto of good music, good people and good times.

THUNDER DISCO CLUB provide a stylistic disco-infused aphrodisiac to Glasgow’s brimming scene that clubbers will have been hard pressed to have missed. As one of the most recognisable brands in the city, and now a monthly fixture at the SUB CLUB, the collective brings a succession of on-point bookings, inspired themes and an ever-lasting lust for all things devious to its audience. Expect a set brimming with sunshine grooves come June.

Armed with Serato, two quick hands and the most diverse crate of dance floor fillers you’re likely to hear, BOOM MONK BEN is a frenzied fanatic of all things bass. From hip hop, dancehall, funk and breakbeats to house, dubstep and drum and bass if it makes theBOOM BEN move you’ll be hearing it this summer at RockNess. His monthly HYP? night at the Sub Club welcomes the foremost exponents of all things electronic and his Mixed Bizness music promotion agency is much respected.

Sub Club director MIKE GRIEVE commented “Rockness 2012 provides the perfect platform for the Sub Club to take the underground overground. With 25 years under our belt and a line-up of exceptional quality ready to represent in our anniversary year, we are raring to go – can't wait!!"

Finally, for now at least, taking to the ARCADIA UFO decks on Sunday as part of MYLO’s very special one off EPP PARTY will be mysterious duo TIGER and WOODS. The pair have been causing a commotion of late through the strength of a series of hand-stamped white labels and outrageously groovy mixes largely pulled from the disco boogie universe, so it with much excitement we await their sonic treats.

Joining the EPP PARTY is French DJ and producer YUKSEK. Ladled with sumptuous, buzzy electronic vibes, heard in all their glory on excellent recent album ‘Living on the Edge of Time’, a sublime soundtrack of top notch tunes await the RockNess crowd.

And bringing Sunday night’s UFO experience to an almighty superlative-defying climax will be MYLO. Expect a full scale hip wiggling, nu disco inferno mixed up with trademark genius throwbacks as we welcome Scotland’s beat loving electro wizard back to RockNess for his first appearance since the very first RockNess seven years ago.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Festival Director JIM KING said, “It’s birthday greetings all round at RockNess this year and there are some must see DJs coming to celebrate with Soma and the Sub Club. The Arcadia UFO Stage is brand new and takes off from where the Afterburner left last year. The Arcadia have promised it’s even better than the Afterburner and we know it’s one of the best stages at the festival and the perfect place for Weatherall to return with ‘A Love from Outer Space’. Tiger & Woods and Ivan Smagghe are super hot and I can’t wait to see them as well. Sub Club is already looking really great and good news is there is still more for them to announce.”

Friendly Fires, The View and more added to Rockness 2012 lineup

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FRIENDLY FIRES * DAVE CLARKE * THE DRUMS * JACQUES LU CONT * THE RAPTURE * ANNIE MAC * MYLO * ZANE LOWE *  KNIFE PARTY  * KASSIDY * ADMIRAL FALLOW * MYSTERY JETS * JAKWOB * CLAUDE VON STROKE * ANIMAL FARM * JAPANESE POPSTARS * LITTLE COMETS * LUCY ROSE * PORTER ROBINSON * BASTILLE * TO KILL A KING * THE DRAYMIN

SPECIAL GUESTS
THE VIEW

PLUS FIRST COMEDY ANNOUNCEMENT
TIM MINCHIN

Fresh from winning ‘BEST SMALL FESTIVAL’ for the second consecutive year at this week’s star studded NME Awards, and hot on the heels of MUMFORD & SONS, DEADMAU5, BIFFY CLYRO, ED SHEERAN, JUSTICE plus many more already having been announced, the good times keep on rolling as RockNess today confirm the latest names for the award winning line up.

The ViewFirst up and with tunes that say ‘party’ in a way this year’s RockNess audience will find hard to resist, FRIENDLY FIRES bring together a sound coated in melody with nods to nu- and old rave, the right measure of poppy brevity and slick vocals by disco dancing frontman Ed MacFarlane. Like a bringing together of all the great parts of an indie disco in one place, expect the perfect Loch-side soundtrack.

Joining the RockNess bill as special guests, THE VIEW are one of the most exciting young rock bands of their generation.  A debut album that blasted straight into number one, multi million sales and two excellent follow up albums, massive radio and media coverage, Mercury Music Prize nominations…and a level of notoriety that only adds to their authentic bona fide star status. With a hugely anticipated fourth album set for release this summer – rumoured to be their finest yet and recorded in Nashvile with Angelo Petraglia (Kings of Leon) and Mike Crossey (Arctic Monkeys) – Loch Ness is officially on standby as THE VIEW prepare to unleash their electrifying sound to a guaranteed rapturous response.

Tim MinchinTIM MINCHIN is a comedy rock superstar whose sell out live performances are a juggernaut of potent, grandiose showmanship. As one of the most commanding figures on the global comedy circuit, Minchin’s unique signature of intellectually provocative wit set against a sweeping musical backdrop, led by the barefoot balladeer on his grand piano, is irresistible. Expect a suitably huge affair at Dores as RockNess continues to offer outstanding comedy across the weekend.

Known as The Baron Of Techno, a moniker given to him by the late great John Peel, DAVE CLARKE is a bonafide veteran of electro and the first headliner announced for this year’s much anticipated SOMA RECORDS proposition at RockNess. With peerless sets that straddle tracks from the dawn of house through to gothic punk, the man in black’s gritty rock n roll anarchist energy is second to none. Revered by techno connoisseurs the world over for his sonic integrity, as Clarke says, “I may be established but I’ll never be establishment”.

Glistening tunes and insanely catchy riffs have made New York indie rockers THE DRUMS one of the most brilliant breakthrough bands of recent times, largely due to excellent second album Portamento. Fronted by Jonathan Pierce, and with a sound of carefully constructed gems that draw influence from a gamut of artists most notably The Smiths, 2012 promises to see the band’s career trajectory continue.

JACQUES LU CONT (aka Les Rythmes Digitales, Man With Guitar, Thin White Duke, Pour Homme, Zoot Woman, Paper Faces…and Stuart Price) is a three-time Grammy-winning electronic maestro who counts New Order, Madonna, Missy Elliot, Scissor Sisters and The Killers as fans who have enlisted his sublime production expertise. He is also one of the most respected names in electro, devoid of pretension but never failing to deliver killer beats. LU CONT’s contribution to the Fabriclive series is widely regarded as one of the finest ever, and awesome new track ‘Church’ – the first we’ve heard in a long time – marks a stunning return to form.

THE RAPTURE were forerunners of the early 2000s post-punk revival, mixing influences from acid house, disco, electronic and punk rock.  A stream of excellent releases and high profile tours followed  – most notably as the support for Daft Punk’s wildly successful North American assault. Now, after a five year hiatus, the New York trio are back and in rude health.  Recent fourth album In the Grace of Your Love sees the band underpin their art-rock credentials but still with ample funky slabs of synth to keep the RockNess crowd dancing.

Zane LoweAlways guaranteed to deliver the very best parties, RockNess is delighted to welcome BBC Radio 1’s ANNIE MAC and ZANE LOWE back to Dores. As two of the nation’s foremost exponents of cutting edge new music – Annie with her magnificent ‘official start to the weekend’ Friday night dance show and Zane with his fast paced nightly unleashing of the freshest new sounds – both are sure to be given a rousing welcome when they hit up the festival.

It is with huge excitement that RockNess can announce the appearance this June of an artist who will without any doubt be one of the festival’s highlights, MYLO.  In a very special treat, MYLO will, for one night only, be bringing his famed EPP party to The Highlands. With a host of guest DJ friends to be revealed, expect a full scale hip wiggling, nu disco inferno mixed up with trademark genius throwbacks from the beat loving electro wizard.

KNIFE PARTY – the side project of Pendulum’s Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillem – has been touring and tearing up dancefloors in clubs across the world for the last year playing remixes of Swedish House Mafia, Nero, Porter Robinson as well as a load of their own heavy hitting material with Skrillex and Mistajam.  Recently released EP No Modern Talking is a smash, brimming with energy-packed madness and the wackiest beats you’re likely to hear. RockNess kids get ready!

Also confirmed are Glasgow rockers KASSIDY. The guitar wielding, four piece’s joyous harmonies draw on a range of influences most notably Crosby, Stills and Nash and the Grateful Dead, and their part folk, part hippie sensibility, captured to gorgeous effect on debut album Hope St unashamedly spans evocative and rousing Americana in equal measure.

Scotland’s ADMIRAL FALLOW know what they’re doing. Songs that are heartfelt, honest and as pure as the Scottish snow, harmonies that can’t help but raise a smile, melodies that blossom into glorious anthemic hooks, debut album Boots Met My Face, recorded at Glasgow’s famed Chem 19 studio with Paul Savage (former Delgados drummer) is probably the best example of orchestral indie folk-pop as you’re likely to hear. Magnificent.

Mystery JetsInheritors of Britpop and exponents of what could be loosely termed British guitar indie, London’s MYSTERY JETS are that…and so much more. Their inventiveness and output of ideas means they operate on a plateau far above most of the competition, with their most obvious peers being Super Furry Animals and British Sea Power. Three albums in, culminating in the triumphant third Serotonin, and a much anticipated fourth due for an April 2012 release, RockNess awaits their Highland arrival with fervour.  

Minimalist and menacingly reggaetronic, JAKWOB transcends the genres of dubstep, electro, ghetto-tech and breakbeat and is one of the hottest new producers and DJs around. Aged 22, he is already one of the go-to guys in remixing – Lana Del Rey, Little Boots, Empire of the Sun, Frankmusik, Lily Allen, Coco Sumner, Temper Trap and Ellie Goulding have all received the JAKWOB magic. However it is for his forthcoming album that expectations are high. Using his multi instrumentalist skills (he plays nine), and collaborating with writing and vocal partner Rocky, a sound rich with variety and inspired by flavours from his life so far is anticipated.

On the party trip CLAUDE VON STROKE is a name synonymous with good times, and is announced as the second SOMA RECORDS act for 2012. Expect genre busting grooves, wonky beats and gear changing brilliance from this San Francisco-based maestro as he asserts control of the sensory extravaganza that is the ARCADIA AFTERBURNER.

ANIMAL FARM are four friends Darren Quail, Chris Lamb, Charlie Turtle and Ronin Vallelly. Influenced by early Detroit and Chicago techno, the boys have spent the last seven years perfecting their sound as residents at one of the planet’s most revered clubs, the SUB CLUB.  The boys have brought many of their electronic heroes to Glasgow including Ben Klock, Marcel Dettmann, Regis, Sandwell District, Ryan Elliott, Marcel Fengler and Mark Henning to name a few…plus a host Glasgow’s young talent including Harvey McKay, Gary Beck, BCR Boys, Mr. Copy and Simon Stokes. ANIMAL FARM also broadcast weekly on the city’s lead student radio station, Sub City.

Championed by Zane Lowe and Huw Stephens amongst many others, LITTLE COMETS are an indie-pop troupe to behold. Hailing from the North East of England, marvellous debut album In Search of Elusive Little Comets was a joyful collection of some of the catchiest tunes of 2011 and shining follow up EP Worry should see this excellent young band move into well deserved regular playlist territory.

Hailed by VOGUE as one of indie’s breakthrough stars of 2012, LUCY ROSE is an English singer songwriter whose full capacity, live performances are fast commanding a proper sense of occasion. Likened to Joni Mitchell and tipped as an English Suzanne Vega, ROSE, who has contributed vocals on Bombay Bicycle Club’s two most recent albums, exudes a quiet determination with a clutch of deceptively sweet songs that make her appearance at RockNess well worth the effort to check out.

Often called a prodigy of the electro genre, PORTER ROBINSON is a 19 year old producer who has rapidly ascended the ranks of the international electronic music scene, captivating audiences with his ability to skilfully blend genres into his own unique sound that's complex yet catchy, and classic yet cutting edge. He’s performed with Deadmau5, Moby, Afrojack and A-Trak. Check him out at RockNess to see why.

By all rights, BASTILLE should have a record deal and chart success such is the beautiful potency of their material. Festival slots at Isle of Wight, Glastonbury, Glade and Great Escape aside, the four piece from London have been marching on and growing their fanbase. Through this steady promotion, and the recent release of a thoroughly decent EP containing notable gems Icarus and Flaws.it now finally looks like BASTILLE’s moment could be arriving.

With a one off single released on the Communion label of Ben Mumford of RockNess headliners MUMFORD & SONS, and a well received EP My Crooked Saint, rousing folk rockers TO KILL A KING are an exciting new five piece whose poetic lyrics and gritty music has them as ‘ones to watch’ this year.

Mumford & Sons, Biffy Clyro and deadMau5 to headline Rockness 2012

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deadMau5The 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.  

Biffy CylroAs 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. 

Noah and the WhaleWith 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.

Cuban BrothersAnd 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.

RockNess launch incredibly priced weekend tickets for 2012

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This exceptionally priced ticket will allow Festival Fans to experience as described by the NME ‘the UK’s most eye-wateringly gorgeous festival site’ without breaking the bank!  
 
Even better still, fans that want to come to a festival but find it difficult to find the funds all at once, will have the option to buy their £99 ticket in 3 instalments at the ridiculously low price of £33! 
 
Jim King, Festival Director commented, “We’re delighted to be able to offer this amazing ticket price.  When you think of the quality line ups that RockNess has every year there can’t be a more value for money 3 day festival ticket in the UK. The offer will be limited so we advise everyone to try their best to find the 1st instalment of only 33 quid and book as early as they can.”
 
RockNess 2011 saw historic headline performances from Kasabian, The Chemical Brothers and Paolo Nutini, drawing the biggest main stage crowds ever seen at the festival.  With stand out moments from Groove Armada, Magnetic Man, Glasvegas, Boys Noize, Emeli Sandé and Lucy Rose, to name just a few.  
 
The cogs are already turning in RockNess HQ to make sure that 2012 will be even bigger and better!
 
The £99 launch tickets go on sale at 10am on Thursday 4th August via WWW.ROCKNESS.CO.UK

Ms Dynamite, Yasmin and more announced for RockNess

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The Year of the Ness is so close you can feel it and the countdown is well and truly on. Today the good times just keep on rolling as more incredible acts are confirmed for the already heaving-with-quality line up.

Ms DyanmiteOn the cusp of once again blowing up the urban music scene, and the RockNess Main Stage, is MS DYNAMITE. Massively important in her genre with strong connections to the underground and a number of notable cutting edge collaborations to her credit, expect an amazing live show and stunning return to form. As Artwork of MAGNETIC MAN, who also play RockNess this year comments “the energy she brings is unreal. MS DYNAMITE is one of those people who puts her own stamp on everything she does. She’s just got it. Her amazing stage presence helps too.“

Flying the flag for the very best breakthrough talent from the Scottish Highlands, JAMES MACKENZIE & THE AQUASCENE take to the RockNess Main Stage for an unmissable performance. This Inverness four piece, fronted by James MacKenzie and supported by the very best in string accompaniment, evoke the finest moments of Damien Rice and Crosby, Stills & Nash yet maintain an originality that is melodic, engaging and uplifting. 

YasminHot on the heels of her support slot on EXAMPLE’s headline UK tour, the gorgeous and talented YASMIN will no doubt reacquaint with the British rapper at RockNess as she joins the bill in this year’s new Rock n Roll Circus Arena. Having DJd for many big artists including N.E.R.D. and with recent musical forays including Devlin and Labrinth, YASMIN is one of the hottest new names on the scene so check her out.

Leading the charge of a new generation of Swedish pop stars, NIKI AND THE DOVE combine epic choruses with Eastern European drum styles to make soaring songs dripping with euphoria. Intriguing and dramatic, a visit to the Rock n Roll Circus is recommended to see what Dazed & Confused hails as “brilliant pop”.  In contrast and in keeping with the eclectic best new music vibe of Rock n Roll Circus, it’ll be a flamboyant retro rock takeover as the quite excellent TOM ODELL extols his utterly charming, and at times operatic brand of original pop.

 
MIKE DIGNAM’s dynamic vocals and energetic compositions bely his tender nineteen years. Two self penned, self recorded and self produced albums in, the second of which is set for release on his self created label this summer, and a number of successful tour support slots under his belt, catch this impressive talent in the Rock n Roll Circus while you can.
 
The beats take centre stage in the Goldenvoice Arena for the duration of DJ and remixer ZEDD’s set as he prepares to unleash a radical and super catchy soundtrack that buzzes and hums. Definitely one to watch as collaborations with Gaga, Skrillex, Fatboy Slim and Armand van Helden testify.
Having slowly seduced audiences for the past year with their sweeping and relentlessly rocking soundscapes, Glasgow’s STRAWBERRY OCEAN SEAlook destined for greatness.  A personal invitation by James Allan to open for GLASVEGAS on their current tour has seen the fast rising four piece garner rave reviews and RockNess welcomes them to the bill.
 
Festival favourite THOMAS GANDEY (aka CAGED BABY) is back with exciting new material that captures his tough techno and sexy nu disco trademark and is aimed squarely at the dance floor. All round legend GRAEME PARK returns too for more spreading of the gorgeous, uplifting garage and house music gospel and the ROCKNESS CEILIDH ALL STARS kick the weekend party into gear with a blast of banging ceilidh music.  
Elsewhere, RockNess is pleased to announce that some of the most exciting DJ talent from Inverness and The Scottish Highlands is set to keep the party rockin’ all weekend including  ABRAHAM THUNDERWOLF, POLYMATH, FILTH, THE LED, SOUNDCLASH DJs and AUDIOLIFE.
 
Finally, the party loving, fashion-tastic WE OWN creative collective make their RockNess debut on site with an exclusive retail showcase of their cool, coveted WE OWN merchandise. What’s more, the WE OWN team have lined up Dutch DJ wunderkind DEM SLACKERS to spin his magic in a very special set in HOWARD’S END.  With DEM SLACKER’s tracks supported by Crookers, Steve Aoki, Fake Blood, Don Rimini, Sinden, Tommy Sunshine, Mightyfools and many more, and with tours in Hungary, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK already confirmed, electro stardom beckons.
 
Festival Director Jim King comments “We’re really pleased to announce these latest acts. JAMES MACKENZIE & THE AQUASCENE are a really talented local band that I can’t wait to hear live, YASMIN is going to be huge and it’s really exciting to have MISS DYNAMITE. We’ve also got the cream of the Highland club scene to rock Howard’s End into the early hours. Howard’s thinking of pulling out his dub step set so the guys had better be on top of the game. There’s now officially only 2 weeks to go until the start of the summer!”

Rockness unveils the Bacardi Get Together

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An arena to hang out with friends,enjoy Mojitos, laugh, dance, soak up the atmosphere and generally enjoy the festival buzz, The BACARDÍ Get Together will have cocktails to share with your mates, cabanas to sit and hang out in, free Wi-Fi to connect with your friends and, of course, great music.
 
DJs playing The BACARDÍ Get Together on Friday including rave master Hervé,  discoid electro twins The Glimmers, disco deviants Disco Bloodbath, Serge Santiago and Tom Neville’s amazing Retro/Grade project, Moda collective founder Tom Staar, psychedelic mash-up merchants Psychemagik, Scandalism’s Stripes and Floorplay resident Kiwi.
 
Saturday’s dancefloor includes sonic tracks from Alex Metric, French electronic maestro Alan Braxe, Scotland’s finest Grum, remixer du jour Starsmith and stomping beats from Russ Chimes, plus there will be some very special sets from Bicep DJs, Stripes and Kiwi.
 
Sunday’s line-up will see some more very special guests plus brash disco from The Magician, a DJ set from Crystal Fighters, handclap and cowbell vibes from the C90s, Fabric resident and bugged out regular Stopmakingme, BleeD’s Casper C and Stripes and Kiwi.
 
ROCKNESS TICKET INFO:
Student offer - £145 weekend camping/non camping plus free coach travel in Scotland and selected UK destinations from Citylink pick up points.
General offer – £149 weekend camping/non camping
General offer – £159 weekend camping/non camping weekend camping/non camping plus free coach travel in Scotland and selected UK destinations from Citylink pick up points.

Win a slot to DJ & perform at Rockness 2011

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The artist and band search will begin with the best 20 entries performing on the brand new RockNess Sound City Stage across the weekend, sitting on the same bill as Kasabian, Paolo Nutini, The Cribs and Glasvegas. The winning act will be decided the day after the festival and will be showcased across the RockNess and Sound City communities and will win a support slot on a forthcoming UK Goldenvoice tour in the 12 months following the festival. The winning act will also return to perform at RockNess 2012 in the Goldenvoice Arena.

RockNess is thrilled to call upon the expertise of the Sound City team to help judge and host the new stage for the nation’s hottest up and coming artists.  They are a perfect partner to help deliver a global platform for all RockNess entrants running the UK’s most perfectly formed and coolest boutique city festival, Liverpool Sound City, a yearly world class music, media and technology conference in the World’s most legendary musical city and now having positioned themselves internationally with Dubai Sound City.
 
Dave Pichilingi, Sound City Director commented ‘We are delighted to be working with RockNess on this brand new initiative.  Like RockNess we are absolutely committed to bringing the best new music to our audiences.  The core value at Sound City is all about breaking emerging talent in the UK.  The plan is to make this part of a much wider strategy for working together on similar projects in the future.’ 
 
So if you think you have what it takes to command a festival stage and give the already world class line up a run for their money then enter now.  
 
You will need to submit your entry on Sonic bids, all the submissions will be listened to and judged by worldwide promoters, Jim King, RockNess Festival Director, Dave Pichilingi, Liverpool & Dubai Sound City Festival Director and Goldenvoice Promoters Simon Jones and Carlo Scarampi.  20 handpicked finalists will then have their tracks available for RockNess fans to listen to from Monday 30th May and open for the public vote from Monday 6th June.  The 20 finalists will ALL perform at RockNess 2011 on the RockNess Sound City Stage, where our esteemed panel of judges will watch their performances and RockNess fans will be able to vote for their favourite act of the weekend.  Public voting will finish on Wednesday 15th June, the numbers will be taken into consideration alongside the opinions of the judges and the winner of this amazing prize will be announced on the 16th June 2011.   Enter now at www.rockness.co.uk. 
 
 The winner will then receive profile promotion through the RockNess communities and a support slot on a Goldenvoice tour in the 12 months following the festival.  Not only this, but the winning artist will get to perform again at RockNess 2012 in the Goldenvoice Arena.
When you submit to RockNess Sound City Stage Band Search 2011, you get a two-week free trial of Sonic bids. 
Submit for no cost for a limited time only.  Price increases to $10 (approx. £5) on 19 May.
Calling All Budding DJ’s…
 
If electronic music is more your thing and you are an aspiring DJ, then this is your chance to win a slot at the most stunning festival and play on the same line up as Groove Armada, Boys Noize, Simian Mobile Disco & Laidback Luke.   So if you think you can get the crowds jumping and blow the proverbial roof off the Loch then this is the competition for you! 

To win the opportunity to play a set at the almighty RockNess festival all you have to do is upload your biggest club mix to letsmix, visit www.rockness.co.uk for full links.  All mixes will be voted on by the public and with the 20 DJs with the most votes being judged by our expert panel, Jim King, RockNess festival director and Barry Price, Sub Club Director.  Online voting will close on the 26th May where the 6 finalists will be contacted on the 27th May.  From those 20, 6 semi finalists will be asked to battle in person at Sub Club on the 4th June 2011!  The winner will then be chosen on the night by crowd reaction and our panel of judges Barry Price, Sub Club Director and Jim King, RockNess Festival Director and will join us at RockNess to play the biggest set of their life!

 
Jim King, RockNess festival Director commented ”We’ve had some top class entrants to the DJ competition since we started and for me it’s a great way to listen to new DJs and encounter new styles.  We are committed to hosting the event so we can offer up and coming Djs an opportunity and a platform to get their name out into the industry.”
The grand prize will be a DJ set at RockNess 2011, VIP weekend camping passes for the winner and a friend with artistes passes on the day that they play.  
2nd prize will get a pair of weekend camping tickets for them and a friend to come to the festival.
The 6 finalists will also all receive a Premium account with Letsmix that allows them unlimited storage and mobile/streaming.
 
ROCKNESS TICKET INFO:
Student offer - £145 weekend camping/non camping plus free coach travel in Scotland and selected UK destinations from Citylink pick up points.
General offer – £149 weekend camping/non camping
General offer – £159 weekend camping/non camping weekend camping/non camping plus free coach travel in Scotland and selected UK destinations from Citylink pick up points.

RockNess add more acts to the lineup for 2011

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RockNess Organiser Jim King commented: “We’re really pleased to announce that Bombay Bicycle Club will be performing at RockNess. They fit perfectly into the Saturday Goldenvoice arena and are really great live band to catch at the festival.”
 
bombay bicycle blubWith their third album slated for release in June, Bombay Bicycle Club will be making the journey to Dores to wow the RockNess crowd on Saturday 11th June with a mix of their eagerly anticipated brand new material and classic tracks from their first two critically acclaimed albums. Built around Jack Steadman’s uniquely compelling vocals, Bombay Bicycle Club’s live momentum has made them one of the UKs brightest up and coming bands.
 
Folk-rock trio Sparrow and the Workshop will also be on hand on the Sunday at RockNess to showcase their ethereal and electric musical brew. Comprising an American, a Welshman and a Scotsman, the threesome distils pop, rock and traditional folk that spans the globe into a truly haunting and beautiful live spectacle.
 
San Franciscan alt-electro three-piece Afghan Raiders are confirmed to join the party, also playing on the Sunday. Colliding dance vibes with classic punk rock riffs and pop melodies Afghan Raiders can effortlessly get a crowd jumping with their high octane live show.
Manchester based ambient techno purveyor Callum Wright AKA D/R/U/G/S is set to bring his lush DIY electronica to the party. One of the most buzzed about bands of the last six months, D/R/U/G/S’ MPC fuelled excursions into widescreen dance music of all flavours has made him a top tip for those in the know.
 
Finally, Ireland’s hotly tipped Funeral Suits will be demonstrating just why they’ve been enjoying the support of some of alternative music’s biggest players on Saturday. Expansive and heavy without being overpowering the trio’s debut album has been produced by the legendary Stephen Street  and their debut single is already enjoying support from Zane Lowe, Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens, marking them out as ones not to miss.
 
ROCKNESS TICKET INFO:
Student offer - £145 weekend camping/non camping plus free coach travel in Scotland and selected UK destinations from Citylink pick up points.
General offer – £149 weekend camping/non camping
General offer – £159 weekend camping/non camping weekend camping/non camping plus free coach travel in Scotland and selected UK destinations from Citylink pick up points.

Rockness Comedy lineup announced!

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RockNess TV – RockNess Gary Tank Commander Viral on MUZU.

 

From the best Scottish talent to some of the biggest festival comics from around the world, it’ll be rip roaring giggles galore between 1.30pm – 7.30pm each day in the new and improved HOWARD’S END.
 
The line up is topped each day with comedy heavyweights, kicking off on FRIDAY with headliner IAN COGNITO. Ian has headlined some of the best line ups in British comedy and is renowned for taking risks (he appears to be banned from more comedy clubs than any other British comedian!).  Catch him unrestricted at RockNess.  Joining Ian on Friday is Scottish Aussie Comic Cowboy, and controversial Scottish Comedian of the Year 2010, RO CAMPBELL, plus the inimitable one man tornado and fount of masterfully timed jokes that flout the very laws of censure… the REVEREND OBADIAH STEPPENWOLFE III.  Hear how he was lost but now he’s saved in this howlingly funny show.
 
Also on Friday is a comedian who walks a fine line between irony and downright obnoxiousness, MARTY McLEAN. His fearlessness of offending is legendary and the laughter in the audience is usually peppered with gasps of disbelief, and occasional cries of outrage, as those witnessed him storming last year’s Howard’s End will testify.  BRUCE FUMMEY has been speaking since the age of seven months and now delights audiences with his natural verbosity and flair. A toastmaster with a difference, Bruce’s gravitas can keep even the most demanding of crowds entertained. Should be right at home at RockNess!  ERIK LAMPAERT is renowned for sweeping up audiences in the sheer energy of his performance. Delightfully weird with a keen eye for the absurd, his scatty character rips like a mini-hurricane. Superb banter for day one of the festival. 
 
The newcomers are on fire this year. Glaswegian new kid on the block MIKEY ADAMS  joins the bill. Destined for a great future in comedy, Mikey has been enjoying rave reviews including ‘very, very funny’ LIST, and  ‘the whole crowd were with him as he ramped up the level of expectation’ One4Review.  JAMES KIRK is another one to check out if you can.  Winner of the So You Think You’re Funny? New Act (previous winners include Peter Kay, Lee Mack and Dylan Moran), James “does comedy on his own terms” and made an appearance in the recent series of the excellent Gary: Tank Commander. 
 
Scottish Comedian of the Year finalist and fast rising MC RAY BRADSHAW is on Friday’s bill too.  Ray is ginger and it’s caused his some pain. Expect a set peppered with witty one liners!  CHRIS HENRYstarted his joke telling career after performing song and dance shows in the holiday industry for six years (took him that long to figure out he couldn’t sing or dance). Now this loveable rogue will be sharing his bizarre and occasionally shocking tales at the Loch this June. 
 
Bringing his talent in abundance on Friday is MAC STAR. He sings professionally in a Jamiroquai tribute band.  He has performed as a male stripper. He has a laugh that could be used as a weapon. Mac Star is renowned for blasting his audience into submission with a warm but authoritative machine gun delivery.  And if straightforward west of Scotland patter is your thing then EDDIE CASSIDY is your man.  Eddie is wowing audiences as one third of the sold out ‘An Alky, A Junkie and a Psycho Walk Into A Bar’ show.  Hilarious.  Completing Friday and continuing the Glasgow banter is the strange but distinctive, and more than a bit different, DARREN CONNELL, and the politically incorrect JOHN WALKER – noted for his role in the sketch comedy show Full Frontal as well as a famed impersonation of John Howard, Prime Minister of his native Australia.
 
Headlining SATURDAY’S comedy line up at RockNess is ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ star SEAN HUGHES who is flying in especially.  Known for his dark, acerbic sense of humour and quick fire comedy style, Sean is one of the funniest out there. Past winner of the Perrier Comedy Award for A One Night Stand with Sean Hughes, he also exercised his well honed comedic skills as team captain on the smash comedy show.  Joining Sean is ANDRE VINCENT.  Born in Woolworth’s Department Store in Penge, Andre has not stopped appearing in the most unusual of places since. He started his career as a professional show-off at an early age, becoming a star struck stage brat and working whenever a small child was needed to up-stage everyone. Fast forward and Andre Vincent is now one of the top stand-ups in the country today.  Talking of top stand ups, tough, funny and original, with a brilliant and distinctively Glaswegian line in creative insults, RockNess is absolutely delighted to welcome back SCOTT AGNEW for what promises to be another big, burly, barnstorming performance.  Unmissable!  
 
Perched on the shoulder of decency, shouting his slightly-skewed invective and dark view of the world, PARROT is one of stand-up comedy’s great mavericks.  His massive influence on the modern comedy scene extends far beyond his own stand-up act, having written for such stars as Dave Allen, Jack Dee and Jo Brand and shows including Rab C Nesbitt and Jonathan Ross Live. Expect a hard-hitting, quick-fire performance.  Alongside Parrot, and with a repertoire of blistering, unadulterated material which pushes dangerously near the boundaries of good taste is one of Scotland’s true comedy gems,MARK NELSON.  Winner of the inaugural Scottish Comedian of the Year and with a sold out 2010 Fringe debut, Mark’s RockNess performance is strongly recommended. ‘Nelson possesses a talent that’s simply obscene… a star in the making’  LIST.  International globetrotter, English Comedian of the Year finalist, SKINS contributor and general heart throb, JOEL DOMMETT is also Highlands-bound to share his manically funny musings. Known for reducing sell out audiences into bouts of uncontrollable laughter, this five time winner of the Comedy Café competition is not to be missed.
 
GUS LYMBURN burst onto the comedy scene in 2006 when he performed at The Stand’s Red Raw night. Since then he’s been charming and disturbing audiences in equal measure (don’t be fooled by the cheeky chappie demeanour, behind the puppy dog eyes lurks a sick mind). Never one to take a standard approach to his stand up, Gus’s act can – and has – incorporated a range of props from noodles to a burka, and on one occasion in a routine described by the Evening News as ‘the act of a desperate man’ – a can of squirty cream.  He has even sustained a cracked rib when a mock stage fight with a fellow comic got out of hand.  Joining Gus is former BBC presenter JULIA SUTHERLAND who stumbled into stand-up as the result of an on-air dare. Four years later, after losing 6 stone, she returned to comedy – with a whole new perspective.  Her bold observations on relationships and tales of life in her new body pull no punches.  PAUL ALCROFT has been entertaining audiences from Largs to Inverness since his introduction to comedy 20 months ago. With sharp lines, funny anecdotes and rapid delivery RockNess is pleased to be providing a platform for this exciting new talent.
 
SARAH-MAY PHILO – for raunchy confessions and enlightenment on life, love and everything in between, look no further than this blonde bombshell.  Dump those Cosmo magazines, tell ‘Dear Deidre’ you’ve found another source of cheap unqualified life-counselling and join Sarah-May at RockNess for laughs and musical interludes.  DARREN CONNELL drops back in again on Saturday too.
 
Headlining SUNDAY is Scotland’s youngest comic prodigy DANIEL SLOSS.  Half-man-half-Xbox, this hormone-ridden twenty-year-old started doing stand-up aged just 16. Daniel sold-out three Edinburgh Fringe seasons, starred on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Rob Brydon Show, Jason Manford’s Comedy Rocks and Mock the Week as well as starring in his own BBC show The Adventures of Daniel  – all before he started to shave.
 
SCOTT AGNEW, REVEREND OBADIAH STEPPENWOLFE III, PARROT, RO CAMPBELL, MARTY McLEAN,  MARK NELSON, CHRIS HENRY and RAY BRADSHAW all return to hit up Sunday’s Howard’s End and they are joined by the hilarious TEDDY. Ross ‘TEDDY’ Craig’s comedy style incorporates true life stories, topical gags, and sharp-edged one-liners weaved together in a darkly comic, self-deprecating and edgy fashion. Having cut his teeth at The Stand Comedy Club and with a stint at the acclaimed The Comedy Unit production company where he worked as writer (including on Only An Excuse?),  Teddy has been doing stand up gigs as a freelancer ever since.  
 
JOE HULLIAT began entertaining audiences with a varying range of underhand comments on race and class relations in modern Britain. Since then he has performed in the US, where he also produced the satirical podcast ‘Big Throbbing Question’, interviewed guests such as George Galloway as well as creating a prolific online profile much of which features his cult political character Tarquin Bartleby. “Frighteningly smart, thoroughly funny and consistently charming ” – Gus Beattie, BBC Radio 4 Producer.
 
Completing the RockNess 2011 comedy proposition are two fast rising Scottish talents, DAVID INNES and MATT WINNING. As one fifth of The Unusual Suspects comedy coalition who recently wowed audiences at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival, expect a range of surreal, dark, angry, lateral and educational humour from DAVID INNES. Paisley boy MATT WINNING is also steadily making a name for himself…in between studying for a PhD in the Economics of Renewable Energy.  Finalist in the Chortle Student Comedy Awards, Matt’s brand of humour is both intelligent and compelling.
 
And last but certainly not least the whole raucous weekend of laughs will (hopefully) be held together in some orderly fashion with MC extraordinaires BILLY KIRKWOOD, ALAN ANDERSON and the aforementioned ANDRE VINCENT.  The bonafide Ayrshire born ‘comedy fizz bomb’ BILLY KIRKWOOD is a must see with a massive cult following, surreal style of storytelling and near non existent attention span. Undeniably funny, unspeakably juvenile.  And if ever there was an authority qualified to compère the opening of this year’s comedy in Howard’s End it has to ALAN ANDERSON.  As the promoter behind the Scottish Comedian of the Year, the annual event is now one of the hottest dates in the calendar and is always a night to remember!
 
Commenting on this year’s comedy proposition at RockNess, Festival Director Jim King said “The comedy programme last year was a great success and we wanted to build on that with more depth to the line. Brett has come up with some great names as well as the very best in emerging Scottish comedians, and with comedy now having its own home this year it’s going to be a really important part of the festival for many years to come”.
RockNess 2011 takes place 10-12 June, 2011 in the village of Dores, close to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.  

Exclusive coverage of this year’s festival will be available on BBC ALBA and the BBC iPlayer

TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Student offer - £145 weekend camping/non camping plus free coach travel in Scotland and selected UK destinations from Citylink pick up points.
General offer – £149 weekend camping/non camping
General offer – £159 weekend camping/non camping weekend camping/non camping plus free coach travel in Scotland and selected UK destinations from Citylink pick up points.