For those about to RockNess...

It says something about the continuing proliferation of electronic music of all types that an increasing number of main stage acts at summer festivals have made their name tweaking knobs, programming drum machines and generally blurring the boundaries within a domain historically dominated by swaggering guitar bands. Yet, barring a few exceptions (such as Kraftwerk’s hotly anticipated headline slot at T in The Park) the best of this year’s festival electronics can be found in those areas left in the hands of some of Scotland’s most reputable underground clubbing institutions. This month’s Rockness lineup is a case in point, with the Sub Club Soundsystem and the Soma Arcadia Arena offering a diverse selection of dancefloor-oriented acts for those who prefer to shun the wafting sound and over-crowded vantage points of the main event.

Among the Sub Club stage’s highlights on Friday 7 June is legendary house producer, Kerri Chandler. Brought up in New Jersey and exposed at an early age to the growing New York garage scene, Chandler quickly took to DJing and producing his own music. Though building a huge fanbase over the years and with DJ appearances across the globe filling his calendar, he has always kept his sound deep and soulful, remaining true to his underground roots. This was apparent earlier this year, when he took to the mic to tell a Paris crowd he wouldn’t be playing “commercial shit”. If they wanted that, they should “get the fuck out”. In other words, Kerri means business.

 The opening night also features a set by Bristol’s Julio Bashmore, who's been riding a wave of acclaim since the establishment of his Broadwalk label and the release of monster hit Au Seve in 2012. This year he has continued his fine form, collaborating with hotly tipped producer Kowton for a release entitled Mirror Song. The other standout in Friday’s Sub Club selection is Glasgow’s Jack Revill AKA Jackmaster. An integral part of the renowned Numbers collective, Revill has established himself as one of the best DJs around with set lists comprising everything from jacking house and pounding techno to UK bass music and healthy doses of 80s disco classics.         

Meanwhile, the Soma Arcadia Arena announces its presence at the festival with a Friday line-up including local techno talent Gary Beck and Hans Bouffmyhre, while headlining is Figure label boss, Len Faki, who holds down a residency at celebrated Berlin clubbing institution Berghain. With a stack of solid releases to his name, including his recent Basement Trax Vol. 1 on Ostgut Ton, Faki is likely to keep the tempo high with a style of DJing that has made him popular the world over. Soma’s Friday line-up is completed with another German act, Pan-Pot, a duo well acquainted with regulars at The Arches’ Pressure nights.

Saturday’s Sub Club bill sees local heroes Harri & Domenic of Subculture joined by electronic music royalty in the shape of Carl Craig, one of the leading names in the second wave of Detroit techno. Constantly evolving his sound through a host of sterling aliases such as 69 and Paperclip People, Craig has released timeless records in his own right and also through his influential Planet E label. Other highlights include Hot Flush label boss Paul Rose AKA Scuba and Berlin’s Henrik Schwarz.

Over at the Soma arena, Joris Voorn and Glasgow’s Animal Farm provide the last of Saturday’s highlights. Finally, as the festival nears its conclusion on the Sunday, the arena hosts Philadelphia native and Ovum records boss Josh Wink whose early acid hit, Higher State of Consciousness, has provided the soundtrack to many a hedonistic festival weekend since its release in 1995. That just about wraps things up. If none of that lot takes your fancy, there’s always Steve Aoki. Hmmm.