American sports and entertainment giant AEG has bought the major stake in festival at Dores which has run for the last three years and last weekend attracted around 35,000 music fans. The deal could give Rock Ness the clout to attract some of the top worldwide artists.

AEG – Anschutz Entertainment Group – is the second largest concert and tour promoter in the world and owns a string of venues across America and the UK as well as running festivals such as Coachella in California and touring artists including Prince, Bon Jovi, Beyonce and Justin Timberlake.

The company bought and revamped London's former Millennium Dome creating the O2 Arena where Prince appeared for three weeks last year, and in America it owns David Beckham's Galaxy LA football team.

The controlling share will be held by AEG Live UK. It is understood the deal still leaves local promoters Rob Hicks and Joe Gibbs of Slingshot and Jim King of Loudsound at the helm of Rock Ness.

One of the three Rock Ness directors, Rob Hicks said: "AEG is a first class international operator and promoter, and together we'll build Rock Ness into one of Europe's premier music festivals.

"The level of acts that we are already discussing with AEG for next year demonstrates the exciting future the festival has, and we think that they are a great partner for us to join up with.

"This is really fantastic news for the Scottish Highlands and the local economy. The hard work undertaken by key local stakeholders including the Northern Constabulary, Highland Council and emergency services gives out the positive message that the region is a place where international operators can successfully do business.

"The investment made by AEG demonstrates the belief and confidence that they have in the festival and its amazing location in the Highlands."

AEG Live president of international touring Rob Hallett said: "Rock Ness is a great concept in a beautiful location run by excellent operators, and we are certain that many of the artists we tour will agree."

The AEG deal will not affect the Slingshot partnership's other Highland festivals – Joe Gibbs' Tartan Heart Festival at his family home at Belladrum or Rob Hicks' Ulllapool-based festival Loopallu.

Just over a month ago, the Slingshot duo went public on their struggle to secure acts for their Highland festivals because of exclusion deals by other music business players.

They complained that promoters such as T in the Park's DF Concerts were increasingly preventing bands from playing in other Scottish festivals for up to a year with exclusion deals.

They said the growth of the deals meant not just headliners but even small, breaking bands were being prevented from playing smaller festivals by what they called "corporate giants".

Now, the AEG deal means that Rock Ness will be in a stronger position to compete for the bigger acts.

* In April it was announced that a 67% share of T in the Park now belonged to Gaiety Investments Denis Desmond and the world's biggest promoter, American company Live Nation.

Both AEG and Live Nation are currently competing to open up the market for live concerts in the Gulf, seen as the new touring frontier.

m.chrystall@highland-news.co.uk

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