aaamusic | On 24, Feb 2011

ROCKNESS – the most beautiful festival in the world – today reveals the stunning list of acts lined up for this summer’s monster party.

Joining the mighty KASABIAN, who headline the Main Stage on the FRIDAY is Northern Ireland’s music-mad trio and band of the moment who garnered critical acclaim across media and fans alike in 2010, TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB. With a plethora of sparkling tunes their set is guaranteed to have one and all singing and dancing.

Next up, in a very special treat, the masters of reinvention GROOVE ARMADA bring a brand new and exciting performance concept to the glorious backdrop of Loch Ness.  First, there was the Grammy nominated Black Light; then there was the live energy of White Light.  Now 2011 brings GROOVE ARMADA PRESENTS RED LIGHT. As a Live band they were legendary.  The RED LIGHT shows open a new chapter and accompany a series of dance-floor EPs to be released throughout the summer.  A 4 deck, multi F-X, audio visual DJ experience.  Rooted in the warehouse.  Delivered stadium style.

In terms of influence, stature and sheer quality of output DJ SHADOW is one of the most important and respected artists in experimental hip hop. Vital and vibrant, the news that the Californian master of the turntables, whose collaborations include Thom Yorke of Radiohead and Mike D of The Beastie Boys, is heading to RockNess is sure to generate widespread excitement.  Promising to summon dancing feet to the floor is RockNess favourite and Grammy Award winner MARK RONSON who returns with his magnificent record collection for a dazzling deck spinning extravaganza.

BBC Radio 1’s ANNIE MAC whose annual RockNess shindig is becoming as legendary as Nessie returns in 2011 and is joined by electro super producer & DJ EROL ALKAN. Radio 1’s brilliantly exuberant ZANE LOWE is also back to deliver his amour for the biggest and best genre spanning tunes likely to be heard all weekend. Rounding off Friday’s music proposition, until it’s time for more tasty treats to be revealed, are the band described by the NME as “The brightest guitar hopes of 2011”, BROTHER.

Joining SATURDAY Main Stage headliners THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS, is one of the country’s biggest cult indie bands THE CRIBS. With stinging guitars, jabbing hooks and catch-laden anthems, fans should prepare for an electrifying performance.  Armed with an abundance of shimmering tunes, the downright fantastic FRIGHTENED RABBIT – creators of such glorious swirling anthems that deserve to reverberate the length of the Great Glen are also announced.

Ripping up the Saturday of RockNess 2011 with their ground breaking LIVE show are dubstep pioneers, ground-breakers, scene-changers and move-makers MAGNETIC MAN.  Expect an arresting frisson of big bass beats from Artwork, Benga and Skream as they unleash their colossal show at ‘Ness that has been pushing the boundaries of electronic LIVEperformances across the UK.

With a certified gold selling album ‘Won’t Go Quietly’, a host of killer festival performances in the UK and Europe, a sell-out UK tour and gold sales of this year’s summer anthem ‘Kickstarts’, EXAMPLE is well and truly on a roll and is set to blow things up at RockNess. Topping off Saturday for now, a legend who needs no introduction and was described by the Daily Mail as ‘the most sophisticated drugs baron of all time’, HOWARD MARKS is back! Once again swapping rolling for spinning as he steps up to the decks and takes us on a rich musical nirvana.

Staying true to the eclectic RockNess music policy, SUNDAY’S Main Stage headliner and Scotland’s finest, PAOLO NUTINI,is joined by Scotland’s outstanding GLASVEGAS whose iconic sound and powerful, uplifting anthems looks set to be a major highlight of RockNess 2011.  The first single from the new album, ‘Euphoria, Take My Hand’ was Zane Lowe’s ‘Hottest Record’ on BBC Radio 1 and the hugely anticipated second album “EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\” is already being hailed as a modern day masterpiece.  GLASVEGAS at RockNess…prepare for another epic moment in Scottish festival history!

The unashamedly cheery THE WOMBATS with their dark yet exuberant and infectious alt pop will be the ideal soundtrack for RockNess as the monster party heads into day three.  Keeping the good times rolling thereon in are the brilliant US indie rockers WE ARE SCIENTISTS. And after absolutely blowing the proverbial roof off in 2010 the incredible BOYS NOIZEmakes a welcome return to satisfy even the most addicted-to-electro fiends.

Representing the ladies, first up is the sublime LISSIE who has been praised far and wide for her incredible natural talent by the music industry’s mightiest star makers. Joining LISSIE is a female force firmly on a trajectory to the top, the indomitable KATY B. Expect a set that sits high and pretty whilst thrusting a wicked rhythm somewhere between dubstep and grime.  KATY B has been taking the dubstep scene by storm, collaborating with the biggest names, including just-announced MAGNETIC MAN, and promises to get even bigger through 2011!

Set to shake off any Sunday weariness is the electronic duo SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO – guaranteed without question to be one of this year’s most compelling LIVE sonic treats. Also coming at the RockNess crowd LIVE is one of the most talked-about remixers and producers on the electro scene, FAKE BLOOD who is ready to generate a kinetically-charged atmosphere!  Expect to lose yourself in this LIVE performance where the beats will be dropped so hard your knees will-a-wobble as you head to the next awesome RockNess performance!

Capturing the imaginations of the RockNess masses with his keenly-defined sense of humour is one of Britain’s most admired original club DJs and AV pioneer DJ YODA who along with BBC Radio 1’s ROB DA BANK will be “playing the best in left field, right field and any bloomin’ field we can lay our hands on.”

And RockNess simply wouldn’t be complete without THE CUBAN BROTHERS. Sunday slumber? Not on their watch!  Finally, cue trumpet fanfare, Glasgow’s purveyors of all things big, brilliant and electronic, OPTIMO, will be delivering a feast of superlative sounds to excite your ears, and shake things up with no genre, no dogma, just music they love and want to share.

Festival Director, Jim King said, “We are really happy to be announcing these amazing and exciting new acts that will be appearing at the festival. There are quality bands and DJs from all genres of music and this is just the start with many more acts still to be announced. “

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

The line-up so far is:

Friday:
KASABIAN / Two Door Cinema Club /
Groove Armada presents Red Light / DJ Shadow
Mark Ronson DJ set / Annie Mac / Erol Alkan / Zane Lowe / Brother

Saturday:
THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS / The Cribs / Frightened Rabbit / Magnetic Man / Example / Howard Marks

Sunday:
PAOLO NUTINI / Glasvegas / The Wombats / We Are Scientists / Lissie / Katy B / Boys Noize / Simian Mobile Disco / Fake Blood LIVE / DJ Yoda /
Rob da Bank / Optimo / The Cuban Brothers

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.