Clash's RockNess Blog

CLASH'S ON-SITE SCRIBES WILL BE UPDATING THIS PAGE WITH ACTION FROM ROCKNESS AS AND WHEN IT HAPPENS...!

Robin's thoughts on arrival...

Well of course I’m biased.

Wouldn’t you be? A picture perfect site near your home town, with nothing to worry about except sunburn. RockNess is possibly Scotland’s wildest party, a place where sub bass mixes with fiddles and naturally as the sea meets the shore. With rumours of boat parties, tent parties and just plain parties RockNess is one long orgy, a place where inhibitions are lost and favoured memories are gained.

The site is, as always, perfect. Nature’s amphitheatre, the Muses of music have provided us with a wonderful landscape to play with. Now dotted with tents, tepees and all manner of contraptions the countryside has removed itself from blank fields and become something of a community.

Need help with your tent? Here’s a peg. Need a drink? Here’s a swally. Welcome to Scotland my friend, and don’t forget the suntan.

Flaming Lips

Wayne Coyne is a bona fide nutter. The Flaming Lips rattle through a euphoric set as night begins to draw in, drawing on the full reserves of their back catalogue. As ever, 'Do You Realize?' steals the show, but the band are almost upstaged by as group of Tellytubbies dancing onstage.

Yes, Tellytubbies. Sometimes seeing is believing.

Saturday 3.15pm

Having seen The Wallbirds - skiffle pop to soothe the soul - a quick jaunt to the main stage is in order. Dance punks Chew Lips are just getting the party started, with their singer literally shining in a pair of silver trousers. Careful mate - you get arrested for things like that in the Highlands.

Next up - the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Frightened Rabbit and the much talked about boat party. Anyone got any water wings?

Sunday!

Ah Sunday, the day of rest. Unless you're at RockNess, that is.

Saturday disappears in a blur of variable weather and typically thrilling music. Frightened Rabbit get an enormous crowd for their slot, and as ever the Selkirk lads do not disappoint. Sure, their melancholic streak might not fit the weekend's debauchery, but the rip roaring anthems tear the roof off the tent.

Dizzee Rascal is perfect for summer. Loud and outrageous, his continual exhortions to the crowd send Rockness into ever ascending hysteria. Orbital bring the spirit of '89 to the event, hidden between immense walls of technology the Hartnoll brothers never lose sight of the crowd. A stunning return from a truly seminal act.

Joe's Sunday

So the final day of Rockness has arrived, bringing with it a mass collision of interests. Toddla T or Mylo? Kissy Sell Out or Japanese Popstars? Erol Alkan or The Prodigy? Sprinkle that with the fact that even the smaller acts are discreet treats in themselves. Do I want to vibrate my booty to a dubstep storm or flip out some 2 step 80's grooving to the sound of Kissy's keytar? I can't decide, but en route to the Clash tent, the rather unknown Ray Summers can be seen whipping up near frenzy at the SoCo stage, and The Whip manage to provoke the earliest sightings of topless youths throwing each other around in a lovingly aggressive manner. Its only four o’ clock and its blatant that a general respite is beginning, with everyone pretty much sipping on energy drinks, resting in prep for what is expected to be a momentous Prodigy performance. And after that? Dubfire, then maybe Silent Disco… Choices, choices.

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RockNess Friday Gallery

RockNess Saturday Gallery

Watch Clash TV's interview with The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne HERE.

Check out a gallery covering the weekend at RockNess HERE