Saturday 13/06/09 RockNess Festival 2009, Day Two @ Loch Ness, Scotland

After a rainy night Day Two indecisively shifts between blazing heat and showers.  The Wallbirds bring their good looks to the Fat Sams arena, situated to the left of the Main Stage.  They deliver indie/country vibes; a harmonica makes an appearance as well as the lead singer’s stomping enthusiasm.  They are on early so the tent is not full but a good few fans are present.  Songs like ‘Eight o’clock Blues’ sound exactly as expected, this band is mediocre, the lyrics are bad but they have room for improvement.  The best thing about the Main Stage is sitting in a good, grassy, sunny spot on ‘Nessie Hill’ - the slope leading down to the stage and overlooking the Loch.  Sneaky Sound System are not the dirtiest of electro outfits, but at 3pm it’s far too early for that anyway.  Their leading lady belts out impressive dance-pop songs such as ‘I Just Don’t Want To Be Loved’ which are ideal to bob your head along to, even if it is still throbbing from the night before.  However, her impressive lung capacity does become a tad irritating and samey after a while.

On to the Clash tent and an unlikely DJ Yoda provides the first sounds of Scotland, mixing a bag-piped Scottish national anthem in dub-step fashion and remixing the rather amusing theme tune from childhood favourite cartoon ‘The Family Ness’.  He plays allsorts of mash-ups from the Mario soundtrack to M.I.A.’s ‘Paper Planes’.  It is refreshing to hear some hip-hop at what is essentially a dance festival.  Annie Mac follows on with her understated cool, delivering the essential crowd pleasers and returning the scene to its dancey routes, but not as much as the grimy electro Crookers who radically fire up the crowd.  It has to be said a lot of energy is needed for RockNess, if you want to make the most of every act you pretty much have to dance constantly for three days, and well, the Scottish certainly seem to manage it!

A well-earned break from the crazy crowds was found in Frightened Rabbit.  Absolutely massive in Scotland, this Scottish band is a firm favourite and provides a soothing, softer sound on delicate ears.  There are no dance-maniacs here, Fat Sams appear to have hosted the indie selection of the day and Frightened Rabbit are a welcomed change aesthetically, atmospherically and musically.  Their casual keyboard, strumming guitars, echoing vocals, falsetto and tales of heartbreak both charm and seduce every crowd member with songs like ‘Head Rolls Off’.

The evening approaches and the Main Stage is most surely the place to be.  Dizzee Rascal is absolutely electrifying, procuring hit after hit, jamming through ‘Fix Up Look Sharp’, ‘Flex’ and ‘Dance Wit’ Me’ before obvious highlight ‘Bonkers’ – without a doubt the soundtrack to the weekend and played by almost every DJ.  Basement Jaxx headline this evening, everything about this set was visual – at the most visual festival, in the most visual setting, this band had dancing bears and love hearts flying about the screens and an entire plethora of people onstage, from singers to ballet dancers all in colourful and innovative outfits.  At one point a ‘Sex on Fire’ remix is featured and the countless singers and contributors give this performance a circus-like feel, this is a real party band and highlight of the weekend.  They played a vast range of songs from a soulful, romantic, solo version of ‘Romeo’ to the pumping ‘Where’s Your Head At?’ the crowd go insane and the Jaxx have it all.

Rock Ness festival in photos: