- RockNess Festival
"RockNess" is an annual dance festival which takes place in
Scotland at Clune Farm,Dores , on the banks ofLoch Ness . The first RockNess festival took place on24 June 2006 and has grown in size every year since. In June 2008 AEG took over as the main promoter of the festival. [http://www.efestivals.co.uk/news/080613a.shtml Promoter AEG takes over Rock Ness, eFestivals, 13th June 2008]Inaugural festival
The first festival was held on Saturday
24 June 2006. The festival had two stages, a main stage and big top, which were active throughout the day. It started at midday and both stages hosted different dance acts every hour and a half, until 21:00 whenDJ Fatboy Slim played a final 2 hour set. Other acts at the 2006 event incudeX-Press 2 ,Carl Cox ,Mylo ,Scratch Perverts ,Stanton Warriors and Linus Loves. [http://www.rockness.co.uk/2006/news-g.asp Rockness 2006 news archive]2007
In 2007 the festival was increased to two days and had additional stages. Headlining on Saturday where the
Chemical Brothers , while Sunday was headlined byManic Street Preachers on the main stage andDaft Punk in the Clash Arena. Other notable acts includedThe Charlatans ,Groove Armada ,The Bees ,The Feeling , andNite Versions . [http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/rockness/2007/ eFestivals Rockness 2007 page]Daft Punk were much more popular than expected and the 10,000 person Clash tent was soon filled, the sides were removed by organisers to allow a reported 30,000 people to see the set. In addition the Daft Punk set was initially held up by nearly an hour due to lighting problems.Daft Punk responded to this by playing an uncharacteristic 10 minute encore, as found on the2008
The 2008 festival took place on
June 7 andJune 8 Fatboy Slim was the headline act on the Saturday, with indie rock groupRazorlight the headline act closing the festival on the Sunday. Other notable acts includedThe View ,Underworld ,Calvin Harris ,The Cribs ,Editors , andSoulwax . Pendulum where also expected to play at the festival but pulled out at short notice.A couple where married at the 2008 event after becoming engaged at the festival the previous year. The event took place at the inflatable church on the Saturday afternoon. [http://video.stv.tv/bc/entertainment-fivethirty-20080606-rockness-wedding/ Couple from Paisley get married at Rockness, STV, 06 June 2008]
2009
Rockness 2009 will take place on the 13th and 14th of June 2009. No acts have been formally announced for the 2009 festival though tickets where available for a deposit shortly after the 2008 festival ended.
Media Sponsors
UK new music station,
XFM has been the official radio broadcast partner for the festival coverage. [http://www.xfm.co.uk/article.asp?id=557826 X-clusive: RockNess 2008 line-up and tickets, XFM, 24 January 2008]Channel 4 broadcast highlights of the 2008 festival weekend on national television, bringing highlights of each bands set live. [http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment-news/2008/03/14/rock-ness-lands-channel-4-tv-deal-86908-20350262/ Rock Ness Lands Channel 4 TV Deal, 14 March 2008]
Controversy
2007
The festival management where criticised for their decision to place Daft Punk in the 10,000 capacity Clash Arena instead of the main stage. The festival was Daft Punks first Scottish show in over 10 years which made the set a "must see" for many of the 35,000 festival goers. [http://www.clashmusic.com/live-review/rockness-2007 Daft Punk rock the Clash Arena at Rockness 2007, Brian Murnin, 12 June 2007]
There was some controversy at Rock Ness 2007 with the death of one festival goer from taking an overdose of
heroin in thecar park outside the main arena and camp site. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6738253.stm Festival car death man identified, BBC, 11 June 2007]Professional footballer
Richie Hart who plays forInverness Caledonian Thistle was detained in connection with possession ofcocaine on the banks of Loch Ness at the 2007 festival. He admitted to the charge of possessing cocaine and was fined £300. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7037163.stm Footballer admits cocaine charge, BBC News, 10 October 2007]2008
Due to the death the previous year, tighter restrictions where put in place for car park access at the 2008 event. Festival goers where told that they would not be permitted to return to their cars during the weekend. Due to public pressure this was later relaxed to permit multiple trips for unloading camping equipment, but alcohol would only be permitted on the first entry. This amendment was not well published however leading to much confusion over the position on returning to cars. In addition the VIP car park was not well signposted leading many VIP ticket holders to park in the main car park.
In the 2008 festival a teenager was found unconscious in front of the main stage. He was taken to hospital by air ambulance but later died. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7442408.stm Youth dies at Rock Ness festival, BBC, 8 June 2008]
References
External links
* [http://www.rockness.co.uk/ Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/rock_ness Official Myspace]
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/rockness Flickr Group]
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