Bestival

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The Bestival is a music festival on the Isle of Wight. It is held annually in late summer since 2004 in a small country park called 'Robin Hill'. The event is organised by Rob da Bank and is an off-shoot of his Sunday Best record label and club nights. The Isle of Wight was chosen for many reasons as the site of the Bestival primarily due to its outstanding natural beauty and the fact that the Isle of Wight has more carnivals per capita than anywhere else in the country.

It is the smaller of the two festivals recently started on the Island. It is more alternative than the (Nokia) Isle of Wight Festival, offering a large selection of vegetarian foods; a dressing up tent and 'secret stages'. 2005 saw the attempt to set the Guinness World Record for most people in fancy dress at any one event. There was no previous record.

It has a heavy involvement in supporting social, political and environmental causes. The 2006 Bestival was featured Brian Eno backing a stop the Iraq war campaign. The Bestival aims to be Carbon neutral not only by Carbon offsetting but also by reducing waste and emissions.

The Bestival also has a non corporate feel to it which is why it is described as a boutique festival. It is renowned for piloting innovative ideas including an inflatable church where people can get married. Another feature is Breastival, a quiet yurt tent designated for breast feeding mothers and their children. The involvement of the local Womens Institute was widely praised, this involved the Institute organising refreshments for a minimal price.


[edit] Bestival Details

Bestival 2004
Attendance - 10,000

2004 - Basement Jaxx, Fatboy Slim, Zero 7, The Bees, Mylo, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Subgiant

Bestival 2005
Attendance - 15,000

2005 - Saint Etienne, Röyksopp, The Magic Numbers, Super Furry Animals, 2manydjs, The Go! Team, Soulwax

  • Voted the Best (Medium-sized) Festival and the Most Innovative Festival at the 2005 UK Festival Awards.

Bestival 2006

Attendance - 17,000

2006 - Amadou & Mariam, Brakes, Devendra Banhart, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Gogol Bordello, Good Shoes, Hot Chip, iLiKETRAiNS, Jim Noir, John Martyn, Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Klaxons, Lily Allen, Mystery Jets, Pet Shop Boys, Scissor Sisters, Scritti Politti, The Cuban Brothers, The Fall, The Long Blondes, The Pipettes, The Stranglersand The Sunshine Underground.

  • Voted the Best Medium to Large sized festival at the UK Festival Awards.

Bestival 2007

September 7 - September 9

2007 - Beastie Boys, The Chemical Brothers, Primal Scream, Gregory Isaacs, The Levellers, The Orb, Billy Bragg, The Maccabees, Dub Pistols, Calvin Harris and The Shakes.

[edit] External links


Live Acts: Beastie Boys // The Chemical Brothers // Gregory Isaacs // Levellers // The Orb // Billy Brag // The Maccabees // The Cuban Brothers // Dub Pistols // Calvin Harris // Mr Hudson & The Library // Simian Mobile Disco // Bonde de Role // Cagedbaby // Horace Andy // Jah Wobble // Zion Train // Fujiya and Miyagi // Fionn Regan // Daedalus // Ska Cubano // Super Nashwan // Kate Nash // Remi Nicole // Shakes // Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip // Fields // Adjagas and many more live acts to be announced…

DJs: François K // Gilles Peterson // Tim Westwood // Rob da Bank // David Holmes // Justin Robertson // Erol Alkan // Ben Watt // Andy C and many more DJs of the highest calibre...

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