While there were no great surprises at this year’s T in the Park launch, the programme was still hailed a success with Lily Allen (pictured) and Franz Ferdinand added to the bill, already including headliners Blur, Kings of Leon and The Killers. Snow Patrol, Razorlight and Elbow will also appear in Balado over the weekend. New acts confirmed include Keane, Bloc Party, Paulo Nutini, Manic Street Preachers, The Ting Tings, Maximo Park, James Morrison and The Mars Volta.

Elsewhere, happy news all round; the Outsider Festival will go ahead at Rothiemurchus Estate in June, following its launch in 2007, as part of the Year of Highland Culture. The music festival will include a race around the loch and mountain bike event. While the music line-up is still to be announced, organiser’s Unique Events promise a range of films, comedy and cabaret, plus talks and debates.

UZ director Pete Irvine referred to The Outsider’s ‘boutique style and atmosphere’, adding: ‘We are privileged to be able to set up our camp in beautiful Rothiemurchus. We feel we have a festival that’s truly of its time and place.’

In keeping with the rural theme, The Knockengorroch World Ceilidh Music Festival was announced for the end of May. Acts confirmed include The Orb and Roni Size, with Slovenian folk, Afro blues, Scottish reels, Chilean folk, beatboxing, German digital dub-step and comedians Phil Kay and Phil Nichol completing the mix.

RockNess organisers also revealed the headliners for this year’s Bollywood arena: Soma Records, Ed Banger Records and the mighty Sub Club. They join festival compadres The Flaming Lips, Orbital, Biffy Clyro and Placebo, alongside festival headliners The Prodigy, Basement Jazz and Dizzee Rascal.

Finally, Colourfest 09 is back in June, at Braehead , with Judge Jules and Rozalla on the line-up.

www.outsiderfestival.co.uk,
www.tinthepark.com and www.rockness.co.uk
www.knockengorroch.org.uk