Rockness 2010 – dubbed the most beautiful festival in the world - takes place on Friday 11th - Sunday 13th June and returns as a three-day event again after last year's success.

The countdown to Rockness 2010, Lock Ness's very own festival officially commenced with the announcement that The Strokes - recent recipients of album of the decade by NME for 'Is This It', the seminal work that defined a moment and sent the band on a trajectory to global acclaim - are confirmed to headline the Highland music festival in June. Widely acknowledged as one of the finest exponents of alternative garage rock in a generation, and renowned for their electrifying live shows, the band's Rockness assault signals an end to a four year hiatus that comes with the tantalising news of a new album on its way.

In a hugely exciting new development, which bears testament to the kudos and blossoming popularity of Rockness, BBC Radio 1 has also been announced as the official radio partner to the festival. The station's hottest names including Annie Mac and Rob da Bank are all set to head north to host their own unique arenas. Line ups are set to be revealed over the coming months.

In a monstrous Scottish festival exclusive, the spectacular sensory overload known as the Arcadia Arena will make a big, bold Rockness debut too. This world class audio and visual feast, orchestrated by the Arcadia collective of artists, technicians and engineers, blew Glastonbury into orbit last year and was one of the most spectacular night time shows the festival had ever seen. Now the extravaganza is heading to Rockness, where a mind boggling array of post-apocalyptic pyrotechnics, dramatic podiums extending into the crowd, multi rave platforms and truly awesome fire performance displays will all be set against a cutting edge music offering from the world's top DJs. This is one of the few times the Arcadia Arena will have been witnessed outside of Glastonbury; and set against the iconic backdrop of Loch Ness, it is bound to be a beautiful show.

In customary Rockness tradition too, the very finest electronic and dance music will be represented in full force for 2010. Back by overwhelming demand and in a move sure to generate mass excitement, the mighty 2manydjs are lined up as the official house band of this year's festival. A unique new production that is yet to be unveiled, promises to take their great live reputation to another level too. In a weekend-long sonic assault, the prolific duo are confirmed as hosting 2manydjs live in their own arena on the Saturday as well as performing live as Soulwax on the Sunday. What's more, the good time vibes and exemplary mash ups will continue throughout the weekend, as for the first time Radio Soulwax will be broadcasting online from the festival site. Rounding up this exciting news is the announcement that Friendly Fires, the Mercury-nominated electro pop-sters will also be bringing their epic sound-scapes to The Highlands in another RockNess debut.

Another must see will be Club 75, which will feature featuring Xavier De Rosnay from Justice, Cassius, Busy P and DJ Medhi – arguably the world's most exclusive DJ collective. Part Justice, part Cassius, with the very best of the awesome Ed Banger Records thrown in, the all-French star line up is set to deliver what promises to be one of the hottest performances of the entire summer in a stunning UK debut at RockNess 2010. Club 75 nights are as rare as they are lauded, and the Rockness appearance in June promises to be one of the most defining of the entire summer...anywhere!

Jim King, RockNess' Festival Director said on the announcements: "We're definitely going to have our best ever line up this year with some of the strongest new acts to be announced over the coming months. Where else would you get Justice meets Cassius meets Ed Banger's finest, all in the same booth at the same time. We're also targeting acts that have been hugely influential over the last decade and none come bigger than The Strokes. We're really excited about 2manydjs playing live and they have some extra special production announcements to make in the New Year. There's a lot still to be unveiled and I'm actually as excited about Arcadia's Afterburner coming to Rockness. When I saw it at Glastonbury I thought it was the most amazing installation I'd ever seen at a festival. It's going to blow people's minds. We all think 2010 is going to be a really great year at Rockness."

Rockness, Dores, Scotland
Friday 11th to Sunday 13th June 2010
www.rockness.co.uk