ROCKNESS MAP
bank job Hosting his own Sunday Best Arena once again, Rob Da Bank tells us why
RockNess is such a unique festival
It’s one of the most beautiful sites for a festival probably anywhere in the world. Obviously you’ve got Loch Ness nestling at the bottom of the site but the whole drive out there from Inverness through rolling hills and valleys is totally stunning. There is so much space at RockNess, I’m quite envious coming from Bestival, where we struggle slightly because of the layout of the site. Obviously there’s the whole monster legend or whatever it is: I like the mythical angle to it too. Since they started RockNess, we’ve been
hands-on, with creative ideas and sorting out talent. I’ve worked with [festival director] Jim [King] before so it was quite natural that we’d get on board. I love going to festivals, just DJing, but it’s nice to be able to have a bit of a say in the line-up and how things look and feel.
I’ve been focusing mainly on the tent that
we’ve been helping programme. Fake Blood will be fantastic. He’s been DJing for a few years and is now coming out with a live show. It looks wicked. It’s a typically eclectic kind of Da Bank- like line-up. Beardyman, who’s signed to my label, then Boys Noize, Simian Mobile Disco and Sub Focus; there’s a lot of the kind of electronic stuff I like and then things like Niki & the Dove, with their Scandinavian indie-pop crossover thing.
I’m a huge fan of The Chemical Brothers and they’ve got a monster new show, so I’ll definitely try and check them out. I do tailor my set for festivals and tailor it even more for a Scottish crowd. I often play my happy hardcore bootleg of The Proclaimers’ ‘500 Miles’, which always goes down stonkingly well. The first time I played it I was really nervous, but then the chant went up and I’ve played it every year since. Quite often going on at 2 or 3pm in a tent at a festival it’ll be half-empty, with a few people just nonchalantly nodding their heads. But I went on at 2 or 3 the first time I played RockNess and the tent was full of three or four thousand kids going absolutely crazy. People know how to party but they also really know their music, so it’s one of the coolest festival crowds around. ■ Rob Da Bank plays the Sunday Best Arena, Sun 12 Jun.
40 THE LIST 26 May–23 June 2011
TRAVEL INFO The easiest way to get yourself to RockNess is via Citylink’s direct bus service. Here’s our handy guide to their services:
GLASGOW
EDINBURGH STIRLING
DUNDEE
OUTWARD: OUTWARD:
OUTWARD:
OUTWARD:
Friday 10 June 1pm–4.30pm
RETURN: Monday 13 June 10.30am–2pm
Friday 10 June 9.45am–2pm 11.45am–4pm Saturday 11 June 9am–1.15pm Sunday 12 June 9am–1.15pm
RETURN: Saturday 11 June 11.30pm–3.45am Sunday 12 June 11.30pm–3.45am Monday 13 June 9am–1.15pm 10am–2.15pm 11pm–3.15pm noon–4.15pm
Friday 10 June Noon–4pm Saturday 11 June 9am–1pm Sunday 12 June 9am–1pm
RETURN: Saturday 11 June 11.30pm–3.30am Sunday 12 June 11.30pm–3.30am Monday 13 June 10.30am–2.30pm 11.30am–3.30pm
Friday 10 June 10.30am–2pm 12.30–4pm Saturday 11 June 9.45am–1.15pm Sunday 12 June 9.45am–1.15pm
RETURN: Saturday 11 June 11.30pm–3am Sunday 12 June 11.30pm–3am Monday 13 June 9am–12.30pm 10am–1.30pm 11am–2.30pm noon–3.30pm
There are also regular shuttle buses from Inverness throughout the weekend and further services from Aberdeen, Aviemore, Dunfermline, Perth, Nairn, Forres, Elgin, Pitlochry, Preston, Newcastle, Sheffield, Birmingham and London. ■ See citylink.co.uk/e_rockness.php for full details and ticket bookings.