They thought we'd lost our marbles when we invited 30,000 rock fans to our castle

Aug 17 2008 By Billy Sloan, Showbiz Editor

THE Duke of Argyll has a personal checklist of rock bands he is planning to watch at this month's Hydro Connect music festival.

He is hosting the massive outdoor event at his home at Inveraray Castle and can't wait to see Franz Ferdinand, Goldfrapp, Duffy and Amy Macdonald.

But no prizes for guessing who is top of his hit list. He said: "I've only heard a few tracks on the radio so far from one of the newer acts who are appearing but I'll definitely check out the Duke Special."

The castle was built in 1745 and took 60 years to complete. It's a spectacular setting and there's not a blade of grass out of place in its lush gardens.

So it's easy to understand why some people thought the 40-year-old Duke - Torquhil Ian Campbell - had lost his marbles when he invited 30,000 music fans to his home to listen to their favourite bands at the inaugural Connect last year.

He said: "During the build-up to last year's festival, as more diggers were driving over my grass verges, I thought, 'Crikey, what am I doing?'.

"During the show, I could hear the bass reverberating off the castle walls and thought the windows were coming in. But I was still able to sit back and enjoy it."

The Hydro Connect fest - from August 29 to 31 - boasts big-name acts such as Kasabian, the Manic Street Preachers, Paolo Nutini and Sparks.

The Duke and Duchess - wife Eleanor Cadbury - were married in 2002. Her great, great grandfather founded the famous chocolate makers of the same name.

The couple have two sons, Archie, four, and two-year-old Rory, with baby number three expected in November. They can't wait to have some of the biggest names in rock perform at the castle.

The Duchess said: "Last year the Beastie Boys, Bjork and the Divine Comedy were brilliant. I'm a big music fan. The first record I bought was The Reflex by Duran Duran. I liked Spandau Ballet and Wham, too...I'm very much a kid of the 80s."

The Duke added: "I watched Amy Macdonald open the concert last summer. I thought it was great that a Macdonald was performing in the back garden of a Campbell.

"I'm thrilled she's coming back again this year. She's a brilliant, very talented Scots girl."

The Duke and Duchess joined forces with Geoff Ellis, of DF Concerts, to launch Connect.

The Duke said: "Tourism is what we do and it's a very important part of what goes on locally.

"I only had to listen to Geoff talking about a festival and it got me thinking this is something we could do very well. The local community were very enthusiastic.

We hope the event helps put the castle on the map in global terms."

The Duke inherited his title - at 33 - when his father died in 2001.

His more laid back, down-to-earth approach makes him the perfect royal host for Hydro Connect. He said: "I'm lucky to have become a duke by birth. I'm the youngest duke in the UK but it's a question of what you expect a duke to be.

"My father wouldn't necessarily have disapproved of the festival but I don't think it's something he would have done.

"I see Connect as a long-term project. You can't judge the event on one or two years.

"We're all pleased so far but in 2010 we can really pass judgement and build on it."

For Hydro Connect tickets, see www.connectmusicfestival.com or call 08444 999990.

MAILFILE

TORQUHIL IAN CAMPBELL is the 13th Duke of Argyll and chief of the Clan Campbell.

His distinguished line of predecessors includes Archibald Campbell, a soldier and politician who imported exotic plants in the 18th century and has a tea tree named in his honour.

But there are also skeletons in the Campbell closet. In 1963 the then Duke, Ian Douglas Campbell, hit the headlines when divorcing his wife Margaret. She was an infamous nymphomaniac and the court hearing shocked the nation with its revelations about aristocratic sex games.

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