Rockness kicks off summer music festivals

Jun 8 2009 By Michael Pringle

Festival Main 1

THE summer music festivals kick off this weekend as thousands of revellers head north to the banks of Loch Ness for Rockness.

Last summer there was a choice of more festivals than Scotland has ever witnessed before and it was inevitable that a number of these would fall by the wayside given the current economic climate. Among those to bite the dust are Loch Lomond Festival, Dunstaffnage, Connect and the Homecoming Festival scheduled for Irvine Beach.

Rockness is the first big one of the summer and music fans will be treated to sets from The Prodigy, Basment Jaxx, Orbital, Dizzee Rascal, Biffy Clyro, festival favourites Alabama 3 and a whole host of others.

Closer to home, the following weekend will see the Kelburn Garden Party taking place at Kelburn Castle near Largs. Acts include; The Aliens and the Kazoo Funk Orchestra.

T in the Park will again be the biggest festival of the year with a superstar line up. The festival takes place at Balado near Kinross on the weekend of 10th - 12th July. Friday and Sunday day tickets are still available but are without camping. The impressive line-up includes heavyweights such as; Kings of Leon, Blur, Snow Patrol, The Killers, Lily Allen, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. My advice is don't miss The Specials who will grace the main stage on Saturday. The band are back together after 28 years and if their recent comeback tour is anything to go by then Balado will rock to the ska sound of the Coventry band.

On the weekend of Friday 24th and Saturday 25th July, festival goers will head south to the Solway coast for The Wickerman Festival. There is always a large contingent from Ayrshire in attendance and this year will see The Human League, The Zutons, Billy Bragg, Utah Saints, Candi Staton and Idlewild grace the numerous stages.

The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival will take place on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th August in Inverness-shire. Headline acts include The Saw Doctors and Shed Seven.

August 15th is the key date for dance music fans as the organisation behind Colours and Streetrave bring their new creation EH1 to the Royal Highland Showground at Ingliston. Among the major DJs lined up are; Carl Cox, Fergie, Seb Fontaine and Fabio and Grooverider. Camping is available from Friday to Sunday.

The Wizard Festival takes place on the last weekend in August and playing this year at the Deer Park site near Peterhead will be The Levellers, The Charlatans and a host of others including The Beat and The Buzzcocks.

Although there are less festivals taking place this year, there is no doubt that the quality of the remaining ones is very high.

Don't forget the suncream.