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Dave Clarke is gearing up for RockNess!

Friday 4 June 2010

Dave Clarke is gearing up for RockNess!

Sitting here with the sun coming in, checking out who is on which day at rockness's 3 day weekend next week, as the tangible excitement builds around me! It seems like almost everyone I know in scotland is going this year.

As it approaches there are lots of things for us at soma to sort out even though we only play a small-ish part in the mammoth overall proceedings- with our Saturday stint at the new afterburner stage- we have 6 artists- gary beck, silicone soul, fergie, chris lamb (animal farm), edit select and our headliner green velvet. The minute I saw what the afterburner on youtube from glasto I thought of green velvet - I think you will all get it when you see the flames and theatrics as he closes the stage between midnight and 2am on the Saturday night! A lot of folk I know who went to bestival last year had told me about it and its great jim king the rockness head honcho has briught it to scotland.

From the soma side of things there was some good news this week- Gary Beck is being recorded by radio one for his first essential mix and its so well

deserved- as well as soma he is recording for some great labels like minus and saved. Also we have the new silicone soul cd out soon - a great mixed compilation of their amazing darkroom dubs label which is shining bright at the moment. Silicone soul are huge in the north of scotland- although hailing from glasgow they first dj-ed in inverness at some wild parties in the countryside and the jungle palace club- its where they cut their teeth and the support is still strong.

Edit-select is the new project from long time soma collaborator percy x - he is big with richie hawtin and luciano so you get the picture - he is gonna play earlier in the evening with his more minimal sound. Fergie is a great dj too - he turned his back on the hard house scene and the money that went with it a few years back to follow his passion in techno music - starting from scratch and building a great new vibe up - both with his releases and his gigs. He has come along way and last year remixed slam's positive education and played our Pressure night. Kicking off the day for us is animal farm's chris lamb who is a veteran glasgow jock- he is gonna do a great warm-up and we have now also decided that he will kick things off earlier at 430pm in the late afternoon sun with a set starting with a selection of cuts from our chilled out soma coma series which we have just prepared the relase of volume 4 - its a perfect way to start and its the other side of soma- from ambient and beatless to emotive building

electronica- gearing up to some deeper end house music. Here are the times for soma at the afterburner stage.

430-530 soma coma chill out

530-630 chris lamb (animal farm)

630-745 edit select

745-930 silicone soul

930-1045 gary beck

1045-12 fergie

12-2 green velvet

Of course there are plenty of other things I want to check out - its a great weekend. I can't get up there on Friday as we have cajmere (green velvet's alter ego) playing house music with slam at the sub club in glasgow but the ones to watch in my opinion are crystal castles on the mainstage) playing before the mighty fat boy slim who played the inaugural rockness and some old mates of ours, booka shade in the clash arena and of course the sub club crew at the afterburner.

Arriving on Saturday I will be spending most time at our stage of course but given the chance I will be checking out leftfield's anticipated return on the mainstage and of course aphex twin who is probably on at the same time.

Sunday is more of a day off so I can get around the whole place- blondie are a favourite from my youth and I bought the first strokes album as soon as it came out - they look like the younger blondie band members so I knew I would love them. Of course I must hang out with my namesake dave clarke the dj too. Vitalic live is going to blow everyone away and then derrick may closing the afterburner is a must for anyone with even a passing interest in dance music - the originator and innovator! I think Sunday circus residents are also going to be a last minute addition which will be great as I love those guys and their music. Rockness and roll!

What a weekend in store whatever tickles your fancy!

Dave Clarke

Soma