Crowded festival line-up revealed

Award-winning singer KT Tunstall will headline the Outsider festival

Crowded House and Scottish singer KT Tunstall will headline the new summer Outsider festival in the Highlands, it has been announced.

The legendary New Zealand group are set to make their only Scottish appearance at the festival, which will combine music with a range of outdoor events.

Organised by Pete Irvine of Unique Events, the new festival will also have a strong environmental agenda.

Electronic acts and DJs will also feature at the event in the Cairngorms.

Electronica duo Lemon Jelly and Celtic acts Salsa Celtica and Shooglenifty are set to perform to the 10,000-strong crowd at Rothiemurchu on 22 June to 24 June - the same weekend as the Glastonbury festival in Somerset.

A mountain bike event over three different distances - 20km, 45km and 65km - and a 12k run for all abilities are amongst planned outdoor activities.

The Outsider promises a weekend packed with opportunities to participate in outdoor activities combined with great music Alison Magee Highland 2007

Mr Irvine, of organiser Unique Events, said the festival offered something different.

"It's a completely new concept and we hope that the Outsider experience will be something that people will want to get involved in and hugely enjoy," he said.

Alison Magee, chair of Highland 2007, a year-long celebration of Highland culture, added: "The Outsider promises a weekend packed with opportunities to participate in outdoor activities combined with great music - and all this set against our fantastic Highland scenery."

Discounted "early bird" tickets are available until 31 March, while full price tickets go on the sale the following day.

Meanwhile, organisers of the Rock Ness festival, held on the banks of Loch Ness for the first time last year, announced the Manic Street Preachers would join its line-up.

The addition comes after an announcement last month of headline acts including The Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk and Groove Armada.

The festival takes place outside the village of Dores on 9 and 10 June.