Midge Ure, The Skids

A snapshot of the Scottish contribution to post-punk's legacy was provided in glorious fashion at Fife's former mining heartlands.

Booking an artist of the stature of Midge Ure promised a major coup for Rockore, with the extra bonus of a turn from local lad Richard Jobson and his Skids cohorts on a diverse bill.

An added sense of anticipation was prevalent ahead of the former Ultravox leader's headline appearance given his recent decision to postpone a batch of impending shows due to an undisclosed health issue.

Now aged 71, Ure has spoken often in recent times about the precious nature of live performance when faced with the inevitable march of time, and there was certainly a sense of occasion surrounding his set on the shores of Lochore.

As darkness descended, the lost classic Call Of The Wild – a non-album single from 1986 – got the boisterous crowd instantly onside as the ravers fell to earth following a slamming turn on the decks from techno guru George Bowie.

It was apparent from the off that Midge was taking a no-nonsense approach to the proceedings, briskly launching into an exhilarating take on Ultravox synth drama I Remember (Death In The Afternoon).

Armed with his customary Vintage guitar and dressed all in black with a polo neck under a trim flight jacket, the Glasgow-born legend brought his customary presence to a stage that also featured regular bandmates Cole Stacey (bass), Joseph O'Keefe (keys) and Russell Field (drums).

Chit-chat was kept to a minimum during a 12-song set that included such highlights as Fade To Grey – rapturously received by the sell-out crowd – a sublime, super-charged All Stood Still and If I Was, with a memorably stylish guitar solo at its conclusion.

A diversion, of sorts, arrived by way of The Voice, which saw Ure foregoing his otherwise magnificent six-string exploits in order to augment the keys department.

Here, the sense of awe in watching a master craftsman at work was, perhaps inevitably, less obvious, but for lovers of electronic pop of the first order it was surely right up there with his best efforts of the night.

It's fair to say that we'd already been spoilt by that point. A rousing Dancing With Tears In My Eyes, bookended by mass singalongs – including a solo intro tilt at Flower Of Scotland – was left to fill the role of cherry on the cake.

For their part, the Skids provided just as much energy and big-time quality to this year's Rockore.

The four-piece, including Goodbye Mr MacKenzie and Filthy Tongues bassist Fin Wilson returning as a temporary fill-in, have been hitting their straps in recent times.

What better opportunity, then, to relish a veritable "best of" from the outfit originally put together by Big Country great Stuart Adamson in Dunfermline, less than 10 miles from Loch Ore, in 1977?

Raised in the conjoined settlements that lie beside the festival's base, frontman Jobson, as is his wont, was keen to share his thoughts with his audience, mischievously telling all and sundry he'd had his first snog over the road in Crosshill.

Was it possible to detect a hint of pride, as well as obvious ironic intent, that he went on to declare, "I would like to think of us as the number one band from Ballingry"?

Blasting through such provocative anthems as Charade, The Saints Are Coming and the Donald Trump-baiting Working For The Yankee Dollar with brilliant backing from guitarist Connor Whyte and co, the 64-year-old's sheer commitment to the cause would surely have impressed even the original line-up's hardest to please fans.

After nailing the frenzied jig that is Masquerade – nominated by Jobson as his favourite Skids song – Fife's finest unleashed their signature Into The Valley, the singer prolonging the moment by bringing it down with a call and response exchange with the crowd ahead of a frankly bonkers TV Stars.

"We would never be in a band if it wasn't for the Clash, one of the greatest bands that ever came out of the UK," he enthused, teeing up a furious cover of Complete Control.

Fittingly, given the setting, he took it back to the beginning to finish with the still strange Charles, "the first song we ever wrote" – surely a proud moment for the frontman's best friend growing up, one Budgie Croal, who was seemingly present in the crowd.

Rockore's earlier performers on the day included long-running tribute duo Erasured, who impressed with a lively selection from electro guru Vince Clarke's hallowed back catalogue.

Boasting a four-piece brass section, ska outfit Pork Pie hit all the right notes with a set comprising such two-tone classics as Lip Up Fatty, One Step Beyond and Enjoy Yourself, while the returning Ultimate Rock Show brought their own party vibes with a homage to the likes of Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC and their favourites Queen.

Overall, Rockore's big day in 2025 proved to be another triumph for the hard-working volunteers who make up the Benarty Events Group. For expertise and sheer friendliness the community-based organisers put a lot of other better-known summer gigs in the shade.

Midge Ure – the setlist:
Call Of The Wild
I Remember (Death In The Afternoon)
Fade To Grey
Passing Strangers
No Regrets
All Stood Still
If I Was
Vienna
Love's Great Adventure
Hymn
The Voice
Flower Of Scotland/Dancing With Tears In My Eyes

* Check out shotbyagunnphotography.com for more photos from Rockore by Steve Gunn.