Fatboy Slim will tonight entertain crowds of more than 25,000 people at one of his legendary outdoor shows.

But his excitement is tainted by his disappointment that he cannot stage a repeat of his acclaimed beach event in his home city of Brighton and Hove.

His latest show is more than 500 miles away in a tiny lakeside village in Scotland, five miles from Inverness.

The DJ, who lives in Hove with wife Zoe Ball and their son Woody, says he took the show all the way to Loch Ness after he was barred from staging another event on Brighton seafront.

The area was not only chosen for its idyllic charm but because it was able to cope with a vast influx of people, whereas Brighton and Hove was not.

Fatboy, aka Norman Cook, told The Argus he had desperately wanted to arrange another event in Brighton, following his Big Beach Boutique in 2002, but police refused.

He said: "I would rather do it in my home town. I am bored of trying to explain to everybody in Brighton why we can't do another one.

"The council really wanted us to do it. We wanted to do it. The police made it impossible. It is a shame.

"The council were very supportive because it puts Brighton on the map and it brings money in. We were trying to do it down Madeira Drive but the police didn't want to know."

Instead he has taken his music to every corner of the world including Rio, Bondi Beach and now to the little village of Dores, where tonight's event has been dubbed Rock Ness.

The DJ said the rural location made it easier to deal with problems of congestion and policing.

While police in Brighton and Hove are firmly against the superstar DJ staging an event next to the sea, their Scottish counterparts welcomed a show on the edge of a loch.

Superintendent David O'Connor, of Northern Constabulary, said: "We are looking forward to the concert and hopefully the event will pass without serious incident, with everyone having a great time and enjoying the occasion.

"Although we have contingencies in place, I urge revellers to be safety-conscious and moderate their behaviour for health and safety reasons."

The sell-out concert, costing £35 a ticket, will be staged against the spectacular backdrop of Loch Ness. There will also be performances by Carl Cox, Mylo and Audio Bullys.

Ella MacRae, councillor for Loch Ness East, said: "It is the biggest thing that has ever happened in the city of Inverness. This is a small community.

"There are 220 residents on the electoral roll. There is going to be an influx of about 25,000 people.

"When it was announced, a lot of people here didn't know who Fatboy Slim was.

"Organisers have worked with the community and seem to be getting on great. I am proud of the people in the village. It has gone so well. Nobody is getting into the village without tickets.

Brighton's Big Beach Boutique attracted criticism after it was overwhelmed by 250,000 people. A woman died falling off railings on to the Lower Esplanade. There were 160 injuries and the area took weeks to clean.

But for the vast majority, it was one of the best nights Brighton and Hove has ever had.

Simon Burgess, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: I invite Fatboy to talk to us because it was such an amazing gig. I was there with my kids."

Chief Inspector Steve Barry, of Sussex Police, said: "We wouldn't support big events on the beach. It is a sloped, pebbly beach and you have to consider public safety.