Rob da Bank says: “I spend my life thinking about who Bestival-goers would like to see at the show. The latest slew of acts highlights the sheer diversity of what people want to see at Bestival: I’m especially chuffed that The La’s have chosen Bestival to come back to the UK circuit and James Blake DJ-ing before Bjork will be a corker, no doubt. Roll on September!”
Following the announcement that Björk will be filling the final headliner spot at Bestival we are mega pleased to announce that legendary Merseyside beatniks The La’s will be getting the ferry across the Solent to join us at Bestival. One of the most influential acts of the past 20 years, The La’s majestic eponymous debut album has inspired countless bands including Oasis and The Coral, so it’s an utter joy that they have ended nearly two decades on hiatus to entertain the Besti-crowd with their near mythical melodies in what is an exceptionally rare appearance.
Other live acts joining the Bestival bill include Danish chanteuse Oh Land, AKA Nanna Øland Fabricius, who is currently taking the United States by storm with her cinematic take on timeless pop, alt hip-hoppers B. Dolan & Buddy Peace and indie rave Islanders Council Estate Super Models. There will also be appearances from Wolf Gang, Cocknbullkid, Tribes, Daughter, Lucky Elephant, Mad Dog, Skinny Lister, The Growlers and The Toy Hearts.
Action on the ones and twos comes courtesy of post-dubstep wunderkind James Blake who will be performing a rare DJ set to get the crowd in the mood for our Icelandic showstopper’s main stage finale on Sunday. Mark Pritchard and Steve Spacek will be getting adventurous and eclectic under their Africa Hi-Tech moniker, plus there will be speaker shaking sets from Nero, Toddla T & Serocee, L-Vis 1990, Mike Pickering, Bip Ling, IDC, Fear of Theydon, Low Fro, Omid, Pete Gooding andPhil Mison.
In support of their brilliant new album, ‘Hot Sauce Committee Part 2’, the Beastie Boys have revisited their classic video ‘(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)’, inviting a jaw-dropping who’s who from the film industry, including Elijah Wood, Danny McBride, Seth Rogen, Susan Sarandon, Will Ferrell, Jack Black and more to take part in ‘Fight For Your Right – Revisited’. So, we’re mega excited that we will be showing the new short film in full on the main stage and in the Big Top at Bestival. And that’s not all – the none-more generous Beastie Boys are offering the exclusive chance to win a pair of Bestival Tickets plus a copy of ‘Hot Sauce Committee Part 2’ on double white vinyl (and CD) and selected Beastie Boys back catalogue CDs plus a DVD Anthology. We’ll also select five runners-up who will receive a copy of ‘Hot Sauce Committee Part 2’ CD each. For a chance to win visit here and get involved!
Commenting on the film Beastie Boy Mike D told us: “It takes place in 1986 when the ‘Fight for Your Right (To Party)’ music video finishes shooting — and then the hi-jinks ensue. In film terms, this is a period piece.”
Just to get you even more excited about our fast-approaching shindig (September 8-11th, as if you didn¹t know!), we are teaming up with denim gurus Replay to give all you the chance to grab your very own ‘on the house’ pair of jeans which you can customise within the Replay Denim Studio at this year’s Bestival. 400 pairs are being given away to Besti-goers who can then have the unique experience of creating their own pair of jeans with specialised workshop tools. All you have to do is register online at www.replay.it/replayatbestival and then when you arrive at Bestival you can grab your complimentary pair of jeans and a festival-friendly gift bag. Share the love and tell your friends and, what’s more, as day turns to night the Replay Studios tent will be hosting live music and DJ sets.
Rob da Bank says: ‘I honestly can’t believe Björk is coming to Bestival. Without a doubt one of the most iconic musicians of the last century, Björk is always one step ahead of the pack with her music and innovations and the new Biophilia show is jam-packed full of technology, great interpretations of her amazing catalogue of songs and some brand new corkers. The grand finale to Bestival 2011 just got better!’
Björk’s unique vocal flare and experimental spark has made her one of the world’s greatest artistes and her spellbinding live shows have become the stuff of legend, so it’s a complete honour that she’s coming to our Isle of Wight shindig. In a worldwide outdoor festival exclusive, Björk will be playing a host of classic tracks, bringing things right up to date with her current hugely anticipated and inspirational musical project and album, ‘Biophilia’, which continues to push the boundaries of entertainment, combining music, apps, internet installations and live shows. Making it a sure fire guarantee that Bestivalites are in for a proper treat when it comes to this year’s closing set on the main stage.
Taking time out from rummaging through his extensive dressing up box, Rob da Bank said: ‘I can’t think of a more suitable act to judge this year’s Fancy Dress competition than the Village People! They practically invented the genre so prepare to put some effort in to wow the cowboy, impress the policeman or win over the Red Indian with your best Rock Star, Pop Star or Diva… The combinations are endless and, as ever, Bestivalites are invited to use their imaginations and not stick to the script’
As we know from years gone by creativity knows no bounds for you lot, so in return for giving us an upfront glimpse of your amazing creations you could be in with a chance of winning a lifetimes supply of Bestival tickets! All you have to do to enter is send us a photo of you dressed up in your Rock Star, Pop Star or Diva get-up to [email protected] and we’ll post them on our Facebook pagewww.facebook.com/bestivalfestival in a Rock Stars Pop Stars and Divas photo album. The Village People will then choose either the most radically rock n roll, the topper-most of the popper-most or deliciously Diva-ish costume from all of the entries on Friday 2nd Septemberand the winners will get their hands on that coveted lifetime’s supply of Bestival tickets, whilst two runners-up will bag a Bestival hoodie each, so make sure you email your pics in now for your chance to win!
David Hodo, the “Construction Worker” of Village People said: ‘Village People dress up in costumes every time we go on stage. It will be fun to judge other people who get dressed up also. We are so looking forward to being judges at the competition for Bestival 2011.’
As well as all the dressing up fun, the Bestival crew has decided to salute our pick of the heroes that make Bestival the truly wonderful fun-filled weekend it is. Working with the Big-Top Trumps game company from the Isle of Wight, we’ve commissioned a special limited edition game of Super Bestival Heroes Top Trumps for 2011, celebrating the people who are doing something special and wacky to help raise money for charity, raise the spirits or just make you feel that little bit better when you’re at Robin Hill.
Each Super Bestival Hero has an individual card with their special skills and Rock star points, BPMs, Lunacy level, Stamina required and the Big Love their activity generates. The rules are just like Top Trumps, the top score wins in each category and the winner is the one with all the cards. You can download the game for free from our Besti-Blog so click the link, print out the page and cut around the cards for an ace game; guaranteed to make the ferry journey over to the Isle of Wight or early morning in your tent a little more fun.
And here’s just a little reminder that you if you haven’t already, you can download the cut and paste-tastic Nextmen Vs Bestival 2011featuring the crème de la crème of acts appearing at Bestival (with a sprinkling of Camp Bestival acts thrown in for good measure) all mixed with pin-point perfection from the Besti-Blog.
Remember that our fancy dress partner Smiffy’s will be on site again at Bestival, check out www.smiffys.com for some fancy dress inspiration and keep on checking www.bestival.net for all the up to the minute news.
18 STAGES OF LIVE MUSIC AND DJ’S, ROCKSTARS, POPSTARS AND DIVAS FANCY DRESS, RETURN OF THE WISHING TREE, HEAVENLY HEALING, FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR, COMEDY AND SIDESHOWS. NEW FOR 2011 THE ROLLER DISCO BALLROOM FIELD, THE SWAMP SHACK, AFTERBURNER ARENA WALL OF DEATH, KERSTIN RODGERS UNDERGROUND RESTAURANT, BOOM BOOM CLUB CABARET, CLASSIC ALBUM SUNDAYS, FREESTYLE SPORTS PARK AND SO MUCH MORE.
LIVE: OFWGKTA / TOM VEK / PROFESSOR GREEN / KITTY DAISY AND LEWIS / HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR / CRYSTAL FIGHTERS / SOUND OF RUM / ALEX WINSTON / BEN HOWARD / BRIGITTE APHRODITE / CATHERINE A.D. / CATHERINE OKADA /CHANCERY BLAME AND THE GADJO CLUB / CHEVIOT HILL / CHRIS PECK & THE FAMILY TREE / DOG IS DEAD / DR SYNTAX / FLY FRANKIE FLY / GHOSTPOET / GIDEON’S DEMISE / GOODBYE STEREO / GYPSY & THE CAT / HEMPOLICS / JACKSON ANALOGUE / JAMES OWEN FENDER / LOSERS / LUCY ROSE / LUKE CONCANNON / MAZES / MC XANDER / MIRRORS / NOSAJ THING / PAUL CHAMBERS / PAUL KALKBRENNER / PUNK’S NOT DAD / PUZZLE MUTESON / SECRET RIVALS / STOPMAKINGME / SUBGIANT / TALL SHIPS / THE CHAPMAN FAMILY / THE FAN JETS / THE PINEY GIR COUNTRY ROADSHOW / TRIPWIRES / VARIOUS CRUELTIES / WOO WOOS
DJS: DJ KRUSH / APPLEBIM / PEARSON SOUND / DANNY BYRD / CHRIS COCO / CHANNEL ONE SOUNDSYSTEM ACROSS THE TRACKS / AL TOURETTES / ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE / BARMISTFITS / BEAT A MAXX / BENJI BOKO / DAVEY MORGAN / DEAF BY DISCO / DJ RASTACORE / DUFFSTEP / FEELING GLOOMY / FILTHY DUKES / JFB / JOAKIM / KAF-TAN / LEO ZERO / LOVESICK / LUKE SOLOMON / MAX BRENNAN / MONKI / OLLI DUTTON / PSYCHEMAGIK / REV MILO SPEEDWAGON / SANCHO PANZA / SHELLAC COLLECTIVE / TAYO’S TRACKSUIT PARTY PRESENTS ‘FRESH TO DEATH’ / THOMAS URV / TIMO GARCIA / WHITE WEDDING
PLUS: COMMUNION HOST THE BANDSTAND
AND: THE NEXTMEN VS BESTIVAL 2011 – FREE DJ MIX!
Rob da Bank says: ‘Out of everyone that I’ve booked so far for Bestival I’m possibly more excited, nervous and downright psyched up that I’ve landed OFWGKTA for the main stage at Bestival. Believe me this will be a legendary, incendiary performance not to be missed. Tom Vek played one of the first ever Bestis and i can’t wait for his return as well as my main man Professor Green and a shedload more live bands and DJs to tickle your nether regions. I’m also very proud to welcome a new musical partner Communion on board – these dudes know their folk onions so watch out for them on The Bandstand on Sunday.’
We are beside ourselves with joy that the most exciting hip-hop act to have emerged for years and years Odd Future will be flying in to the Isle of Wight from LA to join our Robin Hill shebang! A true musical phenomenon headed up by Tyler The Creator, OFWGKTA’s live shows are about as punk rock as it’s possible to get and we’re going to be right in the middle of the mosh pit. See you there. That alone would be amazing but we also have the comeback king Tom Vek returning to Bestival. After a mysterious six year hiatus, Tom Vek’s new album ‘Leisure Seizure’ looks set to be one of the albums of the summer and here’s a sneak preview of a new track ‘World of Doubt’ to get you in the mood. Hackney’s finest Professor Green will be hyping the crowd with his trademark mix of attitude and heavy hooks, Sunday Best trio Kitty, Daisy And Lewis will be making a very welcome return to Bestival treating Bestivalites to self-penned tracks from their critically acclaimed new album ‘Smoking in Heaven’, New York discoid grooves will come courtesy of Hercules and Love Affair, Crystal Fighters will deliver a salvo of Anglo-Spanish electro action and Sound of Rum, another gem amongst Sunday Best’s august stable of delights, will be blowing the crowds away with fat beats and devastating rhymes.
There will also be sets from Alex Winston, Ben Howard, Brigitte Aphrodite, Catherine A.D., Catherine Okada, Chancery Blame And The Gadjo Club, Cheviot Hill, Chris Peck & The Family Tree, Dog Is Dead, Dr Syntax, Fly Frankie Fly, Ghostpoet, Gideon’s Demise, Goodbye Stereo, Gypsy & The Cat, Hempolics, Jackson Analogue, James Owen Fender, Losers, Lucy Rose, Luke Concannon, Mazes, Mc Xander, Mirrors, Nosaj Thing, Paul Chambers, Paul Kalkbrenner, Punk’s Not Dad, Puzzle Muteson, Secret Rivals, Stopmakingme, Subgiant, Tall Ships, The Chapman Family, The Fan Jets, The Piney Gir Country Roadshow, Tripwires, Various Cruelties, and Woo Woos.
There are plenty more DJS who will hopping ‘pon the ones and twos including Japanese hip-hop pioneer and trip-hop legend DJ Krush, sub-surfing dubstepper Applebim, Ramadanman alter-ego Pearson Sound , Hospital records stalwart Danny Byrd and horizontal groove-master Chris Coco. Plus we will have the mighty Channel One Soundsystem roaring like a lion and breaking down the barriers playing roots rock reggae music and there will be hands in the air action from Across The Tracks, Al Tourettes, Artificial Intelligence, Barmistfits, Beat A Maxx, Benji Boko, Davey Morgan, Deaf By Disco, Dj Rastacore, Duffstep, Feeling Gloomy, Filthy Dukes, JFB, Joakim, Kaf-Tan, Leo Zero, Lovesick, Luke Solomon, Max Brennan, Monki, Olli Dutton, Psychemagik, Rev Milo Speedwagon, Sancho Panza, Shellac Collective, Tayo’s Tracksuit Party Presents ‘Fresh To Death’, Thomas Urv, Timo Garcia, and mental reception vibes from White Wedding.
We are over the moon that none-more hip folksters Communion will be hosting the Bandstand on Sunday. The most cutting edge folk club around Communion will be presenting Marcus Foster, Ben Howard and brand new act Daughter.
Ben Lovett from Communion and Mumford & Sons said: ‘Bestival has fast become one of the most exciting British festivals both as an artist and a punter. With Communion hosting the Sunday bandstand this year we can’t wait to share in our celebration of new music and new communities.’
To get you in the mood for our 8th Bestival we have a staggeringly good The Nextmen vs Bestival 2011 free DJ mix available to download right now at NME.com. A roller-coaster ride of high-upon-high showboating top ranking tunes from the great and the good playing at Bestival and Camp Bestival this year, brought to you by the UK’s finest festival DJs The Nextmen, you need this mix in your life! So, what are you waiting for, get it while you can?!
Lastly but certainly not least you may have heard amidst the twitter-sphere, we have confirmed out third headliner and we’re bursting with excitement but we can’t tell you about that just yet. Combining the best elements of popstar, rockstar and diva into one super-exciting show-stopper, it will be worth the wait. Promise! So stick 1st July in your diary and we’ll reveal all then! But don’t hang around if you don’t have a ticket they’re flying; Ticketline has sold out and tickets from Red Funnel, Wightlink and Big Green Coach are selling like hotcakes.
Remember to keep on checking www.bestival.net for all the up to the minute news.
Rob da Bank Says: “It’s rare that I’m to be found not banging on about music, bands and tunes 24 hours a day but just for a minute I must pause to tell you about the amazing non-music business happening at Bestival 2011. From our very own new structures the Swamp Shack with its voodoo vibes to the Roller Disco to burn off the pies, from infamous food blogger MsMarmitelover’s Underground Restaurant to your very own humungous Free Sports Park with everything from BMX to Inline Skating and Parkour lessons…plus the Wishing Tree is expanding with the world’s smallest pub , an incredible array of cabaret and a bloomin’ great circus and so much more…Bestival is not getting bigger this year and we’re nearly sold out so get your (roller) skates on!”
The Wishing Tree, under the spell of its cultish hosts The Siblinghood of the Adjoined Orbs, has dramatically grown in size over the past year. Thankfully though there’s a wood cutters yard nearby to process all the timber from the tree, ready for some crazy construction. And just up the way is the old saw mill, built to deal with the largest logs in the world from the wishing tree and to power the largest band saw in the world. Thirsty work, we think you’ll agree, so the mini bar within the tree has been transformed into The Wood Cutters Arms, the smallest pub in the world.
Just as the cheering dies down from the last band on the Main Stage, you turn around to see a precession of huge, mysterious white figures floating down through the crowds. Twisted yet majestic, bewitching and ethereal, your eyes are not deceiving you. This is Herbert’s Dream, a magical show from French company Quidams, set to make you gaze in awe at this luminous and stunning night parade. For the first time, Bestival will be giving you the romance of a fully alfresco ballroom. Salsa with the sun on your skin, feel a late summer breeze in your hair as you shimmy through a cha cha. Framed by twinkling festoon lights as night falls you can lose yourself in a tango under the stars.
Pushing the boundaries of festi-food possibilities MsMarmitelover AKA Kerstin Rodgers will be at Bestival with The Underground Restaurant, an achingly cool, supper club from the foodies foodie with three sittings a day –lunch, dinner and a midnight feast. Simply delicious!
We are stupendously excited about a brand new area to Bestival; The Roller Disco. And when we say Roller Disco, we’re not joking, we mean the mother of all roller discos. With music blasting from a giant-sized jukebox stage that will feature the hottest DJs in the world, you’ve got no choice but to get involved as the skates are vintage and best of all they’re free to hire, or if someone else’s wheels doesn’t quite float yer boat, you can get your own high-tops pimped with sick trucks. There’s plenty of room for revellers without wheels too and either way you’re going to want to be there. Promise.
Proving you can never spoil a good walk, we’ve got Crazy Golf with the best crazy golf course in the country. Fact. And if the Plus Fours action isn’t quite enough to rock your world you can run away with the circus as No Fit State Circus presents Parklife, featuring a company of 10 international circus artists and musicians who will emerge from their crazy caravan to dazzle you daily with public taster workshops, creative exchanges, public rehearsals, happenings and impromptu high skill guerrilla performances, all accompanied by the ever popular NoFitState band
Keeping on the active tip, we are playing host to the Free Sports Park in its inaugural year at Bestival. The UK’s biggest touring sports park, you’ll be dumbfounding by their amazing displays including Mountain Board Freestyleand Big Air, Mountain Bike Freestyle Jumping, Mountain Bike Trials, BMX, Inline, Skate and Parkour and if you’ve got your own gear they’ll even let you have a crack too, but be warned it’s not for the faint-hearted.
We are uncommonly excited to announce that this year Bestival will feature the only Wall of Death act worth seeing. Death defying and deaf inducing. Hell’s Riders are due to put on a real spectacle that is as compelling as it is amazing. Rock n Roll in centrifugal form!
Amongst all the excitement, there’s always time for some intricate beauty so make sure you check The Secret Emporium. With the hottest and most talented milliners, jewellers, fashion designers and artists this side of Jupiter displaying hand picked goodies for your delectation. You have to make sure you bring your pocket money, kids.
And let’s not forget the all new Bestival Block Party on Saturday afternoon. Taking inspiration from the Blocos or individual sections of Brazil’s Rio carnival, the Block Party will be a parade divided up into a number of blocks, each one with its own name, identity and uniform designed and funded by you and your block mates! Watch this space for the Block names and ways to enter in the coming weeks… The traditional Fancy Dress Parade for everybody on Saturday will this year start at the far side of the campsite with the floats picking up people through the campsites as it goes. Join in your finery or just stand and watch in amazement as the Rock Star, Pop Stars and Divas of your imagination parade by, topped and tailed by Lost and Found and a marching band plus the resident Bestival dressing up box will be stacked full of vintage jump suits and sequins, antique theatre costumes and hand-made nonsense for all.
There will also be two more brand new attractions; The Ambient Forest, hidden deep in the woods will have spoken word programmed by Scroobius Pip, the David Lynch Foundation presenting meditation workshops and leftfield musical offerings and the best ambient and horizontal DJs in the world including Tom Middleton, Chris Coco, Phil Mison and Pete Gooding. And, new to the Wishing Tree field, The Swamp Shack; a ramshackle Louisiana bayou juke, straight from the pages of a Southern Gothic fairytale. Plus craziness abounds at theCabaret Tent with the Boom Boom Club, Gay Bingo, Who’s Talent is it Anyway and Marisa Carnesky’s Wunder Kabinet show. There will also be a whole host more merriment including the Blackout Gigs featuring live performances by acclaimed acts taking place in complete darkness, audiophile action with Classic Album Sundays and you can mix science with art, music and play with renegade researchers Guerilla Science in the Tomorrow’s World field. There will be the return of some old favourites too, including Bestival’s ‘Relaxation, Massage and Healing sanctuary’ Heavenly Healing and foot soaks, facials, hair washing and styling in the Pamper Lounge to keep you feeling fresh. And a perennial Bestival highlight with Come Dancing classes and competitions in the Spiegal Tent during the daytime every day, so you can learn some amazing dance moves from our Residential Specialist Dancing Teachers: The Jiving Lindy Hoppers!
If you want to make sure you can join us at Robin Hill Country Park for the eighth Bestival you’re going to have to be quick. Our main ticket agent Ticketline has now sold out so you’ll have to get your tickets from either the ferry companies; Red Funnel: www.redfunnel.co.uk/bestival / 0844 844 9988, Wightlink: www.wightlink.co.uk/bestival / 0871 376 1000 or for Coach travel including your ferry and a ticket you can get tickets from Big Green Coach:www.biggreencoach.co.uk/bestival they’re nearly all gone, so as the man like da Bank says get your skates on!
There’s still one more headliner to announce and tons of far out fun and frolics to unveil so keep on checkingwww.bestival.net for all the up to the minute news.
LIVE: Santigold / Johnny Flynn / King Creosote & Jon Hopkins / Yuck / Mr. Motivator / SL2 live PA performing “On A Ragga Tip” + SL2 / Foreign Beggars / Dutch Uncles / Ulrich Schnauss / Alice Russell / The Secret Sisters / Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer / Young Rebel Set / Chris Read
DJs: Joy Orbison / Busy P / Mary Anne Hobbs / Modular – Sneaky Sound System, Bag Raiders / Howard Marks (Dubstep Set) / Benji B / Jaguar Skills / The Heatwave Carnival -The Heatwave, Sticky, Lady Chann / Loefah / Bullion / Huw Stephens / Jaymo & Andy George / Kirk Degiorgio / Jon Hopkins / Firas & Jay Karim / Flying White Dots / Drm Rll Pls Dj’s / Sunday Best Forum Allstars / Prince Tribute Trio / Johnno’s Bugged Out New Years Day Set / Fragment Djs / Shepdog
PLUS: Bloco – Bestival Block Party / The Ambient Forest / Swamp Shack / Boom Boom Club / Black Out Gigs / Wunder Kabinet / Classic Album Sundays
AND: Grandmaster Flash Has A Message!
Putting old PT Barnum to shame, the Bestival crew’s unending quest to bring you the greatest show on earth continues apace with even more amazing acts joining The Cure, Pendulum, Primal Scream, PJ Harvey, Brian Wilson, Public Enemy, Mogwai, Kelis, Fatboy Slim and Groove Armada on the bill plus some very special festival exclusives. Spread across 15 stages from September 8th to 11th and curated by renowned arbiter of taste Rob da Bank, this year’s Bestival has it all like never before, from the great and good to your next favourite band, all topped off with the magic and madcap merriment that make our Robin Hill shindig a true one of a kind.
Rob da Bank says: ‘So we have another teasing taster of what we’ve got to invade the island with come September! Watch out for Santigold, Johny Flynn and King Creosote & Jon Hopkins, some of my favourite live acts at the moment plus DJs Ed Banger boss Busy P, dubstep dons Joy Orbison, Mary Anne Hobbs and Loefah and our Prince Tribute expanding to a threesome playing the Purple ones greatest hits! One of the things I’m most excited about this year is going to be the Block Party – a Rio style carnival procession with floats funded, designed and created by you lot. Roll on September.’
Philly pop sensation Santigold is the first name out of the hat for the latest line up additions. Sassy and super-stylish Santigold’s jack knife beats, bouncing bass and soaring vocals are all that’s needed to light the blue touch paper for a coruscating crowd pleasing set. Nu-folk hero Johnny Flynn has quietly been making a name for himself gaining accolades aplenty for last year’s ‘Been Listening’ long payer, so we’re delighted that he will be delivering his pastoral and plucky gems for one and all. The obscenely prolific King Creosote AKA Kenny Anderson will be teaming up with Jon Hopkins to treat Bestivalites to a taste of their lauded ‘Diamond Mine’ long player and Nu-gazers Yuck whose slacker pop has been getting those in the know all hot and bothered will be crossing the Solent to wow the masses with their glorious melodious fuzz. In a UK festival exclusive Mr Motivator is back by popular demand, an unstoppable force, Mr Motivator will be moving and shaking his way through Robin Hill once again in his infamous 80’s onesy. Keep your eyes peeled and your limbs limber, the Motivator can strike at any time! Other acts bringing the goods to Robin Hill include SL2 live PA performing “On A Ragga Tip” + SL2, heavy dubstep purveyors Foreign Beggars, scratchy and angular Mancunian indie-popsters Dutch Uncles, blissful soundscape architect Ulrich Schnauss, silky voiced chanteuse Alice Russell, vintage country duo The Secret Sisters, gritty folk-punk seven-piece Young Rebel Set and soulful acoustic pop troubadour Chris Read.
Manning the platters that matter are a slew of selectors including lush genre-smashing genius Joy Orbison, ED Banger’s Busy P the mighty Mary Anne Hobbs, the one and only Mr Nice AKA Howard Marks performing one of his extolled Dubstep sets, Radio 1 funkster Benji B, ninja mash-up master Jaguar Skills, The Heatwave Carnival with The Heatwave, Sticky, Lady Chann and special guests, Jungle infiltrator Loefah, chillwaver Bullion, BBC Radio 1’s Introducing stalwart Huw Stephens, jump-up electro duo Jaymo & Andy George and UK techno legend Kirk Degiorgio. Firing long into the night there will also be sets from Jon Hopkins, Firas & Jay Karim, Flying White Dots, DRM RLL PLS DJ’S, our very own Sunday Best Forum Allstars, the Prince Tribute Trio featuring Bobby Friction, Nerm, and Tayo, the Modular crew with Sneaky Sound System and Bag Raiders, Johnno’s Bugged Out’s New Year’s Day Set, the Fragment DJs and Shepdog.
We are super excited to introduce the all new Bestival Block Party for the Saturday afternoon. We know you all love dressing up and the Parade has traditionally been the pinnacle of the craziness on the Saturday but we’re going one step further with you guys and girls and getting much more involved in 2011. Taking inspiration from the Bloco’s or individual sections of Brazil’s Rio carnival, the Block Party will be a parade divided up into a number of blocks, each one with its own name, identity and uniform designed and funded by you and your block mates!
Each block has a, a vehicle, a band and performers styled around a specific sub theme blending elements of music, fashion and icons of popular culture. Bestival is teaming up with a crowd funding site and ticket holders will then choose their parade block and donate to fund the creation and build of their chosen group. Watch this space for the Block names and ways to enter in the coming weeks…
We’ve got some crazy new spectacles for your pleasure this year including The Ambient Forest, which is Bestival’s newest area, hidden deep in the woods. By day our bearded chum and poet extraordinaire Scroobius Pip will programme spoken word for anyone wanting a break from the 4/4. Line up coming soon! After signing David Lynch to his record label Rob da Bank has invited the David Lynch Foundation to join us in the Forest with meditation workshops and leftfield musical offerings… watch this space for much more info. And lastly for the Ambient Forest, during the evening and into the night the best ambient and horizontal DJs in the world from Tom Middleton to Chris Coco, Phil Mison to Pete Gooding will play pure ambient for your brain and body.
We’re beyond mega-excited about something else completely brand new for Bestival 2011 – Swamp Shack! A festival exclusive, at the far end of the Wishing Tree field, stands a ramshackle Louisiana bayou juke joint, topsy-turvy on rickety stilt-legs and wreathed in dry ice…On the porch an undead Honky Tonk piano player tickles the ivories, as a dreadlocked Voodoo Blues Queen howls at the moon… All of a sudden, the piano bursts into flames as the moon starts howling back…Welcome to The Swamp Shack darklings… Created in collaboration between Trash City co-creative director Ruby Blues and Block 9, the set-design pioneers behind the legendary NYC Downlow Gay bar, The Swamp Shack is a brand new music-and performance venue, straight from the pages of a Sothern Gothic fairytale…Populated by an interactive cast of True Blood-style Deep South vampires, fading Southern Belles and a host of other unwholesome night-crawlers, the venue will also play host to some of the best bands and DJ sets from the UK underground, headline appearances from some very special big-name acts and late-night live drumming old skool Jungle sessions!
Taking over the Cabaret tent on Friday night will be East London’s purveyors of gin-soaked entertainment Boom Boom Club. Acid-tongued host Dusty Limits will present a cocktail of hand-picked headline acts including king and queen of the educational pop mash-up Frisky And Mannish, the matador king of oral ping-pong ball juggling and songs Paul Morocco, Chinese pole and acro-balance husband and wife duo Frayed Knot Circus, striptease unicyclist gentleman Count Adriano Fettucini, Banjolele-toting dandy rap superstar Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, daredevil fire performer and unruly showgirl Kitty Bang Bang, versatile character actress and inventor of “chav-burlesque” Kiki Kaboom, glow-in-the-dark hula girl Jessie Rose, big hitting show tune crooner Frank Sanazi and ivory-tickling genius accompanist Michael Roulston.
There’s even more surreal fun to be had at the Blackout Gigs every evening in the Countryside Centre at Robin Hill which will see audiences kept in the dark – literally. Another exclusive to us, live performances by acclaimed acts will take place in complete darkness, and the bands’ identities will never be revealed! This unique idea is the result of a collaboration between eclectic promoters Eat Your Own Ears and young artist Sam Potter, lately of Late Of The Pier. Blackout audiences can focus on the subtleties of sound brought about by the sensory distortion of total darkness, whilst the artists can perform and experiment free from expectations and preconceptions thanks to the absolute anonymity that the Blackout gigs offer them. We can’t wait!
The exclusives keep on coming as Marisa Carnesky, modern day show woman and creator of the Ghost Train, will be hosting Sunday night in the Cabaret tent with an exclusive Wunder Kabinet show. Expect performances by the weird and the wonderful, a rag-and-bone style magicians workshop of illusions, mine, drag and surreal acts, with Marisa weaving in her twisted dark comedy in between. This is cabaret but not as you know it.
Classic Album Sundays are also set to join the throng putting on a Communal and Audiophile Listening Experience at Bestival that will give you a rare chance to fully listen to a classic album in it’s entirety on a Class A audiophile system. It will elevate the listening experience to greater heights and take you as close to the studio recording of the album as possible. In the communication age, where we’re always on call, texting, tweeting, emailing and more, when is the last time you ‘listened’ to an album from beginning to end undisturbed and focused? For many of us, it has been a while and for most of us, never in an audiophile way. So grab yourself a tea, and hole up with us at the Countryside Centre for an hour of uninterrupted aural bliss.
Lastly, Rob da Bank recently caught up with the previously announced Grandmaster Flash who had this to say about his appearance at Bestival!
There’s still one more headliner to announce and tons of far out fun and frolics to unveil so keep on checking www.bestival.net for all the up to the minute news.
Rob da Bank said – ‘It’s amazing to be part of the world’s first 3D TV festival extravaganza on Sky. Bestival in 3D will be a mind-blowing explosion of colour and multi-dimensional music and mayhem and it’s great to be working with Whizz Kid again to bring it to life. Having Camp Bestival too as part of the Sky festival season means we’ve got a great summer of TV ahead.’
This year we’ll be beaming all the best bits of music and mayhem from Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight directly into your front room, all in very modern 3D on Sky. Teaming up with the legendary Malcolm Gerrie’s Whizz Kid Entertainment Bestival will broadcast two hours of LIVE 3D TV each day from Friday 9th through to Sunday 11th September, so you’ll be able to experience Bestival’s unique magic in 3D form – amazing! There will also be a super-sized 90-minute Bestival Special on Sky One following the festival season’s closing spectacular, so everyone who was there can relive their glories and catch up with the bits that they’ve missed.
Taking a flavour of 14 stages of live music and capturing the crazy Bestivalites Rock Stars, Popstars & Divas fancy dress frolics, as well as all the eye-popping sights and sounds of our party paradise, the Bestival 2011 TV spectaculars will be pushing the boundaries of weekend entertainment!
We’ve still got our Sunday night headliner, literally hundreds of top drawer turns and plenty of crazy fun and games to announce so be sure to keep checking www.bestival.net for all the latest action.
And don’t forget you’ll also be able to catch all the action from Camp Bestival – which takes place at Lulworth Castle, Dorset between 28 -31 July featuring sets from Primal Scream, Blondie, Mark Ronson and Business INTL, Laura Marling, Mr Tumble, Shrek, The Gruffalo & lots more – on Sky Arts 1 this summer as part of Sky’s summer festival season.
Rob da Bank said: ‘My brain literally never stops whirring, thinking and puzzling over who to book for Bestival. The ‘anything goes’ approach seems to have worked so far so I’m proud and pleased to announce Pendulum as Friday headliner who will smash the hell out of Robin Hill for sure. Just as importantly PJ Harvey will be making her only UK festival appearance of the year at Bestival and then from The Maccabees to Public Enemy, Mogwai to Fatboy Slim and a shedload of up and coming artists its possibly our most out there line up yet… and let’s not forget The Cure headlining Saturday night! Dont be shy, get in there now!’
An incendiary live act that has consistently laid waste to feverish crowds across the globe, we are hugely excited to announce that Pendulum will be headlining the main stage on Friday night at Bestival 2011. Friends of old, Pendulum know the Bestival score and are all set to knock your socks off once again with a top drawer set of filthy beats, scorching riffs and heavy sub action. With their last album Immersion hitting number 1 in the UK charts and a new and much anticipated record in the works Friday night is destined to go off with a bang!
One of the highlights of Camp Bestival 2009 was undoubtedly PJ Harvey’s spellbinding solo performance, so we are overjoyed that she will be joining us at our Isle of Wight shindig to play the main stage on Saturday night in a UK Festival exclusive. With her eighth studio album Let England Shake gaining universal plaudits and a recent Outstanding Contribution to Music award at the NME Awards, PJ Harvey is at the height of her powers so you can expect a seamlessly sublime set. Brighton’s own Maccabees are also due to make the journey across the Solent to join the party with a large dose of the grandiose indie-pop, as previously announced by Rob da Bank on Nemone’s BBC 6 Music show, Public Enemy will be bringing the noise with a hit-packed performance, the recently reformed Big Audio Dynamite featuring the legendary Mick Jones will be demonstrating just how influential their pioneering sound has become, Scottish post-rock behemoth Mogwai, whose recent ‘Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will’ album has seen them in their finest form are going to be mesmerising the main stage crowd and James Blake will be giving out the neo-dubstep crooning.
Multi-award winning chanteuse Kelis will unleash her dance-powered RnB, Noah & The Whale will be showcasing their last night on earth twisted electro-funk will be supplied by Chromeo, Paloma Faith’ssurreal theatrics are set to entrance and there will be surf pop aplenty from The Drums,. When it comes to legendary Hi-NRG pop it doesn’t come better than The Village People who will be enticing you to join the navy and hang out at the YMCA, Clare Macguire’s staggering vocals will win over one and all, Jamaican hit-machine Toots & The Maytals will be proving reggae’s got soul, and Patrick Wolf will also be having the time of his life.
There will also be live sets from Global Communication, Graham Coxon, Jungle Brothers, Cut Copy, Metronomy, Zola Jesus, Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip, Ed Sheeran, Modeselektor, Fake Blood, Caravan Palace Asian Dub Foundation, Beardyman, Health, John Grant, Junip, Midnight Beast, Ms Dynamite, Breakage Ft Jess Mills, Wretch 32, Venetian Snares, Fenech-Soler, Gentlemen’s Dub Club, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, The Correspondents, Jaipur Kawa Brass, Labrinth, Sbtrkt, The Unthanks, Willy Mason, The Selecter, Kawa Circus, L-Vis 1990 & The Neon Dreams, Emeralds, Brandt Brauer Frick, Goldie Lookin Chain, Japanese Popstars, Esben & The Witch, Bad Shepherds, Eat Static, Foster The People, Los Campesinos, Oneohtrix Point Never, Rustie, Tanlines, Frankie & The Heartstrings, Ulrich Schnauss, Andreya Triana, Rainbow Arabia, Macka. B & The Roots Ragga Band, Tweak Bird, Smerins Anti-Social Club, Caitlin Rose, Dhol Foundation, Max Tundra, Modestep, Our Broken Garden, Spark, Dry The River, Feed Me, Yasmin, Horndog Brass Band, Lantern On The Lake, Trophy Wife, Islet, Two Wounded Birds, Logo, Sophie Barker, Yaaks, Mz Bratt, Bright Light Bright Light, D/R/U/G/S, Liam Bailey, Maverick Sabre, 6 Day Riot, Starslinger, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Carmen Rosa, Ellen & The Escapades, Kyla La Grange, October, Post War Years, Treefight For Sunlight, Marcus Foster
The inimitable Fatboy Slim will be making a triumphant return to the Isle of Wight to wield his weapons of choice on the decks for the Bestival crowd. Showcasing their brand new four-decks n FX thrills Groove Armada will present Red Light, BBC Radio 1’s Zane Lowe will be dropping the knowledge to keep your feet moving, Annie Mac Presents is going to be smashing it for your pleasure once again this year and celebrating his 20th year as BBC Radio 1’s kingpin of dance Bestival’s All Gone Pete Tong. Hi Tek Soul Starring Kevin Saunderson & Derrick May will see the two bona-fide giants of the music scene dropping the sickest Detroit Techno, atmospheric instrumental hip-hop vibes come from DJ Krush,Chicago House love comes from Derrick Carter, dubstep pressure is on hand thanks to Joy Orbisonand the much lauded Andrew Weatherall will be taking things long into the night.
Plus there will be more action on the ones and twos from Andy C & MC GQ, Congo Natty, Loefah, DJ Derek, Skrillex, Claude Vonstroke, Tensnake, Doorly, Julio Bashmore, Jam City, Bok Bok, Emalkay, DJ Fresh, DJ Hype & IC3, Tim Green, The Nextmen, Krafty Kuts – Instant Vibes, A Skillz, Mistajam, Soul Jazz Soundsystem, Horse Meat Disco, Disco Bloodbath, Reggae Roast, True Tiger and Robert Luis.
Helping to ensure that things are going right off at all hours we’ve teamed up with a series of heavyweight sound systems including Hyperdub who will have sets from Kode 9 & The Spaceape, Joker, King Midas Sound, Nomad, the amazing Rinse FM crew with Skream & Benga, Zinc, Jamie George, Roska, P Money, Numbers featuring Jackmaster & Spencer and Deadboy, the Modular crew who will be unveiling their full line-up soon and the Digital Soundboy Soundsystem feat. Shy FX, Breakage, B. Traits with Donaeo and Youngman & Stamina MC.
We’ve still got our Sunday night headliner, literally hundreds of top drawer turns and plenty of crazy fun and games to announce so be sure to keep checking www.bestival.net for all the latest action.
LIVE: KITTY DAISY & LEWIS | THE CUBAN BROTHERS | YAAKS | GHOSTPOET | SKINNY LISTER | MR B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER DJs: ROB DA BANK | SOMBRERO SOUND SYSTEM | GREGS GREATS
PLUS
A VERY SPECIAL GUEST TO BE ANNOUNCED
With just over two weeks to go until March 19th when all good Bestival-ites descend upon Camden, to take over KOKO and party the night away at our exclusive annual London bash, we can reveal not only our sumptuous line-up of musical goodies but also our hotly debated Bestival Fancy Dress theme for 2011!
Rob da Bank says: ‘Dressing up and escapism has always been a big part of Bestival and our faithful crew are mega inventive to the point of eccentricity! This year’s theme of Rock Stars, Pop Stars and Divas should give everyone enough ideas to really let rip with some outrageous, weird and downright flamboyant outfits. There are no excuses! Having said that i hope everyone doesn’t take it too literally – I’d love to see some Frank Zappas, Captain Beefhearts, Skream and Bengas or a Karen Carpenter as much as the better known faces. This has got to be a great opportunity for some group action too! Personally it’s a toss-up between Dolly Parton and Prince… could make for an interesting outfit!’
That’s right it’s time to channel your inner Rock Star, Pop Star or for the more daring, to unleash your inner Diva. If you’ve ever fancied yourself as the late great Michael Jackson or think you can give Madonna a run for her money in a leotard or perhaps rocking Slash’s iconic top hat look has always appealed, now’s your chance as we launch our Rock Stars, Pop Stars And Divas theme. KOKO is the testing ground for the big one on the Isle of Wight, so we want to see a cornucopia of Kate Bush-a-likes, a deluge of David Bowies and a full-house of Freddie Mercurys rocking, popping but hopefully not stropping (hold it down you Divas!) at our no holds barred rave-up at KOKO and then again in September at Robin Hill Country Park when we’ll be going for the biggest fancy dress party world record again!
Along with all the dressing up shenanigans we’re exceptionally excited to announce that Bestival favouritesKitty Daisy & Lewis will be topping the bill at our exclusive London Shindig at KOKO on March 19th. With a new single on Sunday Best imminent (keep an eye out on Monday for more news on that) and the release of the much anticipated second album in the offing, the band will be playing a wealth of brand new self-penned material as well as all the old classics, including ‘Mean Son of a Gun’ and ‘Honolulu Rock-A-Roll-A’, in their first headline appearance in over a year! That’ll be worth the ticket price alone!
Other top turns playing at our one of one-off Besti-bash include The Cuban Brothers, our intrepid Havana trio who will orchestrate a giddying display of body popping and funk and, most probably, nudity to blow away the winter blues and get people very much focussed on a summer of fun. Joining them will be Eastbourne’s Yaaks who will portray the thoughts of Jean Jacques Rousseau through their six musical minds and the medium of pop music. From philosophy to rhymes from beyond the grave, well almost, asGhostpoet will be on hand to chill and inspire with his drifting tales of the morning after the night before. High octane folksters Skinny Lister will get things rocking with some foot stomping shanties and Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer will recite the hippest hop in the bestest Queen’s English.
Bestival main man Rob da Bank will don the ones and twos for one of his legendary party sets, as the visionary behind the beyond eclectic line-ups which have made Bestival so beloved over the past nine years, you can expect to be cutting rug all night long. Also hitting the decks will be the ever amazing Sombrero Sound System who will cross genres and generations to make it a truly special evening and Greg’s Greats who will be dropping the needle on a treasure trove of shellac grooves. Plus we have one more very special guest to be announced soon!
Yes! One of the most influential bands around, The Cure will be crossing the Solent to join us at the festival season’s last hurrah for their only European show of 2011! From their debut album ‘Three Imaginary Boys’ to 2008s critically acclaimed ‘4:13 Dream’, The Cure has inspired countless bands in the last three decades and whilst most of their contemporaries have fallen by the pop wayside they remain as relevant and vibrant as ever. As one of the Bestival crew’s collective favourite bands of all time, we’re all jumping for joy that The Cure is coming to the party to headline Saturday night at Bestival. September really can’t come quickly enough for us.
A gleeful Rob da Bank says: ‘I’ve spent the last twenty years of my life listening to The Cure and the last five attempting to persuade Robert Smith and the crew to hop on a ferry to our magical Isle. I’m still not sure what we’ve done right but I’m overjoyed that they are coming as Saturday night headliners. Few bands have had such a massive impact on my life (and hairstyles) so I’ll see you down the front!‘
Iconic Cure frontman Robert Smith commented: “I am delighted and excited that The Cure’s only European festival performance in 2011 will be at Bestival… We will do all we can to help make it a weekender to remember!“
Topping this year’s Best Major Festival Award winning show will be no mean feat but Rob da Bank and the ever-trusty Besti-crew have left no stone unturned to make our 2011 show even better than ever ensuring that Bestival will be the festival for music lovers! Bestival’s eighth outing – taking place at Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight from the 8th to the 11th of September 2011 – is all set to be truly legendary. And here’s why!
Fresh from their triumphant Olympia gigs we can announce that the mighty Primal Scream will be presenting their landmark album ‘Screamadelica‘ in its entirety, headlining the Big Top on Saturday night. ‘Screamadelica’ transformed the musical landscape in the early 90s and with the band’s current run of shows celebrating the album completely sold out this is a golden chance to catch a pioneering band performing their meisterwerk in all its coruscating glory. The legends keep on coming for Bestival 2011, with Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson set to bring his baroque surf-pop to Robin Hill. Brian’s song writing prowess and production ingenuity has made him one of the most deeply revered figures in pop music and one of the most influential composers of the 20th Century. With a litany of timeless hits that can’t fail to ignite the main stage crowd, it’s a complete honour to have him onboard.
With the big hitters lining up thick and fast, Bestival’s reputation as the place to catch the freshest, best and most exciting music all spread across 14 stages continues with a host of acts, both old and new, currently causing a stir, including bass futurists Magnetic Man. The super-group that has brought Dubstep culture to the mainstream, Artwork, Benga and Skream will be unleashing a speaker smashing, rug cutting assault for your pleasure. Swedish chanteuse Robyn will be bringing her blend of pop nous and electro cool to the party. Described by the Guardian as the missing link between Abba and Orbital, Robyn’s boundless energy is sure to be infectious. The blogosphere’s biggest band right now Crystal Castles will deliver their synth punk stylings like only they can. Currently riding high with their ‘Not In Love’ single in collaboration with Robert Smith, Crystal Castles are at the top of their game ands an unmissable live act.
Fat beat brilliance at Bestival will come in the form of DJ Shadow who is currently slaying audiences on his Live from the Shadowsphere tour. DJ Shadow has consistently blown us away, so we really can’t wait to see what he’s got in store for us. Bass-heavy Techno purveyors LFO will be on hand for some heads down action. One of Sheffield’s greatest exports LFO mainman Mark Bell keeps on pushing the envelope, so expect some proper heavy frequencies. Syrian superstar Omar Souleyman will be unleashing his ecstatic vibes, wild arpeggios and soaring synths on an unsuspecting crowd, the UK’s most exciting new pop star Katy B will be on a mission with added soul and bass, glitch-rockers 65daysofstatic will perform a live film score, Portsmouth’s finest Cranes will be playing their dadaphonic future songs, Berlin wunderkind Boys Noize will be cutting up the digital mayhem, Diplo will be smashing together eclectic rhythms for maximum impact, the youngest ever DJ to win a World DJ Battle Championship, A-Trak will be terrorising the turntables and Norman Jay will be bringing the good times like only he can.
Hip Hop stalwart and all round party starter Grandmaster Flash will be rocking some dope beats, illustrious reggae and dancehall selector David Rodigan will be dropping the irresistible riddims, 2 Bears featuring Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard will be turn loose the burly beats, DJ Mehdi and Riton’s Carte Blanche project will supply the weekend weaponry, minimalist techno don Pantha du Prince will be rolling out the low end acid-throb and just to keep the Bestival flavours brewing the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain will return to wow one and all.
There are still plenty more stellar acts to be announced, including two more headliners, plus there will be lashings of trademark Bestival off-the-wall behaviour with merriment, magic, mayhem and plenty of lovely tea and cakes. We’ve listened to all the feedback from you and have made a few little tweaks so that there will be some changes to the wondrous landscape of the UKs most creative festival courtesy of Josie da Bank’s eye-catching expertise that are going to make Bestival 2011 the greatest show on Earth! So what are you waiting for?
Commenting on Bestival 2011 Rob da Bank added: ‘This year felt like a landmark year for Bestival. There’s no avoiding the fact that we’ve become a large festival but I still feel we’re more intimate than any of the other shows our size and, crucially, we’re 100% independent. That means we book who we want to book, choose all the food stalls and traders ourselves and listen to our messageboards and fans 365 days a year to make sure we keep Bestival the best. Things we’re focussing on for Bestival 2011 are keeping Besti as the place to see new bands, making the campsites much more of a community with better roadways to clear litter and make finding your tent easier, we’re also starting to put stages at the other end of the site so it’s not just one long tunnel of stages. Hope you can make it in 2011!‘
Remember to keep checking www.bestival.net for all the latest action.
