If you are asked to think of Scotland most of us will immediately picture a Scotsman dressed in tartan playing the bagpipes or something equally clich. Of course there are plenty of places across Scotland where you are likely to see a piper in full dress playing a selection of traditional Scottish tunes, especially at, or outside, popular tourist attractions. However Scotland is a thoroughly modern country and, while maintaining a healthy pride in it's past, is forward looking and forever inventive and this is superbly displayed in modern Scottish music. In recent years the United Kingdom has seen a massive increase in the number of music festivals and this is most apparent in Scotland where countless festivals present all forms of music from traditional through to fusion and the latest pop bands and DJ's who appeared at the recent Rockness festival just outside Inverness.
Like any other nation, Scotland has a rich musical past and the music of Scotland has continually changed with society. However Scotland has always been proud of it's past and this is extremely apparent in Scottish music. Today the country has one of the most diverse music scenes in the world and this diversity is proudly presented at the numerous music festivals held throughout the year. It is not unusual to see a person dancing to the sounds of the latest rock band then cheering a traditional act. In fact many festivals in Scotland have traditional acts appearing alongside the most modern and all add to a most wonderfully eclectic mix and exciting atmosphere.
Whatever your tastes in music there is a music festival in Scotland that features your favorite genre or style. If you like the traditional Scottish tunes, Celtic or Celtic fusion then festivals such as Celtic Connections, or the Hebridean Celtic Festival, showcase some of the finest acts of the moment. If you would rather see popular rock & pop bands or dance the night away to the best DJ's then the likes of Rockness, Wickerman and Tartan Heart will be more to your liking.
Rockness, being only it's thrid year, is one of Scotland's youngest music festivals but this year over 35,000 people attended. Taking place at Clune Farm, Dores (not too far from Inverness) the music festival has one of the most astounding locations on the banks of Loch Ness. Staged by Loudsound and Slingshot, Rockness may well be in a rural and remote setting but great care is taken to ensure that the traffic and superb transportation links flow freely and smoothly.
The first festival was held on Saturday 24 June 2006 and was mainly a dance event headlined by the popular DJ Fatboy Slim on the main stage and Daft Punk in the Clash Arena (a big top tent) with an attendance of around 10,000. The following year saw the event extended to two days. Again it was mainly a dance event with the Chemical Brothers headlining the first day and the rock act Manic Street Preachers headlining the second. Daft Punk again appeared in the Clash Arena which held only 10,000 capacity, as it was soon filled the sides of the tent were soon lifted to allow the full, 30,000 strong, crowd to enjoy their performance.
Rockness 3 saw a small increase in the crowd to around 35,000 and Fatboy Slim returned to headline the first day (which was mainly dance orientated). The second day was more rock orientated with Editors supporting the headline act Razorlight. Throughout the two days smaller tents pumped out dance sounds until the early hours with DJ's such as Pete Tong making an appearance.
A crowd of thirty five thousand party goers in the confined space of a town center is a policeman's nightmare as it, more often than not, there are numerous arrests, countless fights, many injuries and even deaths. Not so at Rockness, the atmosphere is incredible, everyone smiling and happy with not a care in the world. I did hear that there was one short fight and around ten arrests but this is nothing when you consider the numbers. Sadly one poor lad died which was widely reported in the newspapers but as the cause is not known (and witnesses reported no trouble) it is unwise to speculate. Overall it is one of the most friendly festivals I have visited in nearly 30 years of festival going!
Even more family friendly are the music festivals, Tartan Heart and Wickerman. These events are astounding in that the crowds are ultra friendly and the sight of small children and toddlers playing is not unusual and even babies attend, There are even baby changing facilities! At these festivals the parents are always responsible and the kids are seen wearing ear defenders when they are anywhere near the loud music. Festivals in Scotland are amongst the most friendly in the world.
Like any other nation, Scotland has a rich musical past and the music of Scotland has continually changed with society. However Scotland has always been proud of it's past and this is extremely apparent in Scottish music. Today the country has one of the most diverse music scenes in the world and this diversity is proudly presented at the numerous music festivals held throughout the year. It is not unusual to see a person dancing to the sounds of the latest rock band then cheering a traditional act. In fact many festivals in Scotland have traditional acts appearing alongside the most modern and all add to a most wonderfully eclectic mix and exciting atmosphere.
Whatever your tastes in music there is a music festival in Scotland that features your favorite genre or style. If you like the traditional Scottish tunes, Celtic or Celtic fusion then festivals such as Celtic Connections, or the Hebridean Celtic Festival, showcase some of the finest acts of the moment. If you would rather see popular rock & pop bands or dance the night away to the best DJ's then the likes of Rockness, Wickerman and Tartan Heart will be more to your liking.
Rockness, being only it's thrid year, is one of Scotland's youngest music festivals but this year over 35,000 people attended. Taking place at Clune Farm, Dores (not too far from Inverness) the music festival has one of the most astounding locations on the banks of Loch Ness. Staged by Loudsound and Slingshot, Rockness may well be in a rural and remote setting but great care is taken to ensure that the traffic and superb transportation links flow freely and smoothly.
The first festival was held on Saturday 24 June 2006 and was mainly a dance event headlined by the popular DJ Fatboy Slim on the main stage and Daft Punk in the Clash Arena (a big top tent) with an attendance of around 10,000. The following year saw the event extended to two days. Again it was mainly a dance event with the Chemical Brothers headlining the first day and the rock act Manic Street Preachers headlining the second. Daft Punk again appeared in the Clash Arena which held only 10,000 capacity, as it was soon filled the sides of the tent were soon lifted to allow the full, 30,000 strong, crowd to enjoy their performance.
Rockness 3 saw a small increase in the crowd to around 35,000 and Fatboy Slim returned to headline the first day (which was mainly dance orientated). The second day was more rock orientated with Editors supporting the headline act Razorlight. Throughout the two days smaller tents pumped out dance sounds until the early hours with DJ's such as Pete Tong making an appearance.
A crowd of thirty five thousand party goers in the confined space of a town center is a policeman's nightmare as it, more often than not, there are numerous arrests, countless fights, many injuries and even deaths. Not so at Rockness, the atmosphere is incredible, everyone smiling and happy with not a care in the world. I did hear that there was one short fight and around ten arrests but this is nothing when you consider the numbers. Sadly one poor lad died which was widely reported in the newspapers but as the cause is not known (and witnesses reported no trouble) it is unwise to speculate. Overall it is one of the most friendly festivals I have visited in nearly 30 years of festival going!
Even more family friendly are the music festivals, Tartan Heart and Wickerman. These events are astounding in that the crowds are ultra friendly and the sight of small children and toddlers playing is not unusual and even babies attend, There are even baby changing facilities! At these festivals the parents are always responsible and the kids are seen wearing ear defenders when they are anywhere near the loud music. Festivals in Scotland are amongst the most friendly in the world.
About the Author:
Rockness is over for another year (see Rockness Photos) but if you are planning to visit Inverness see our listings of hotels in Inverness at http://www.invernesshotelscotland.com/
