As the proud winner of 'Best Major UK Festival' in the UK festival awards 2010, the Island’s very own Bestival returns to Robin Hill Countryside Adventure Park for an eighth year this September.
The event, which is officially recognised as being the last UK festival of the season, takes place from Thursday 8th - Sunday 11th September.
The Bestival, its admirable reputation as the second largest music festival to be held on the Island (following the Isle of Wight Festival in June) defines the event as a "boutique music festival" set in the heart of the Island at Robin Hill near Downend and Newport. The event is is the innovative creation of Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank, wife and Creative Director Josie, plus co-founders John and Ziggy from PR company Get Involved. The event itself derived from ten years of pioneering fun musical events and record releases from Rob da Bank's Sunday Best empire.
Often referred to as one of the friendliest festivals you could ever hope to attend, happiness and enjoyment is without any doubt, the name of the game at the Bestival. It is probably fair to say that the down-to-earth, highly original yet wondrously eccentric experience generated carries equal significance to the wealth and variety of musical marvels on offer during the course of the three-day phenomenon.
The first Bestival, in September 2004, was headlined by Basement Jaxx, Fatboy Slim, Zero 7, The Bees, Mylo and Lee 'Scratch' Perry and was a ground-breaking success. Bestival 2005 meanwhile saw Royksopp, The Magic Numbers, Super Furry Animals, 2manydjs, The Go! Team and Soulwax take to the stage (amongst many others!). It also set the Guinness World Record for the Biggest Fancy Dress Party (10,000 people dressed as Cowboys & Indians).
In 2006 over 350 different acts played to a packed audience. Gogol Bordello, the Pet Shop Boys and the hugely popular Scissor Sisters headlined the event with chart-topper Lily Allen and Caribbean/Latin American band Kid Creole and the Coconuts also delighting the crowd throughout the weekend, which once again broke the world record for the most people to be wearing fancy-dress in one place in the whole world… ever!
In 2007 Bestival fans were blown away by the larger than life Chemical Brothers, Hip Hop legends the Beastie Boys and Scottish rock group Primal Scream. English Pop/ska band Madness appeared as 'Surprise Guests' - an exciting new highlight to the weekend which is set to feature once again in 2009.
In 2008 more than 30,000 music fans flocked to Robin Hill Country Park to be part of arguably the wettest event to be staged on the Isle of Wight in living memory! But even mass flooding leading to a deluge of mud failed to dampen the spirits of upbeat Bestival-goers, who partied on to the likes of My Bloody Valentine, Amy Winehouse, Underworld and surprise guests Grace Jones and The Specials regardless.
2009 was named the “Year of the Spectacular” with one of the highlights being a fiery spectacle - otherwise known as the Blastival - which evolved and unfolded over three nights blending astounding pyrotechnical pleasures with stunning street theatre and cumulating in a superb firework display on the Sunday evening. Mainstage acts included Massive Attack, Kraftwerk and Elbow.
2010 was dubbed “The Year of the Fantastic” with bestival-goers strongly encouraged to exert their fancy-dress imagination and enter into the wacky world of fantasy. Headline acts included The Prodigy, The Flaming Lips, Dizzee Rascal, Rolf Harris, Gil Scott-Heron, Roxy Music, Echo & The Bunnymen and the Isle of Wight's very own Level 42.
Some superb new additions to the Bestival in more recent years have included the 'Restival' - an area set aside purely for relaxation purposes and fending off any festival fatigue, the 'Jestival' which features a whole host of top name comedians such as Phil Jupitas and Ed Byrne plus many rising stars as well as Club Dada, the House of Bamboo, Pink Flamingo, Time for Tease and the BBC Introducing tent amongst others.
Friday Headliners: Pendulum Saturday Headliners: The Cure Sunday Headliners: Bjork
Whilst Primal Scream, presenting Screamadelica in its entirety, headline the Big Top on Saturday night. Other acts include Brian Wilson, P J Harvey, The Maccabees, Fatboy Slim, Public Enemy, Kelis, Paloma Faith, Village People, Noah And The Whale, Groove Armada and Robyn.
Plus the world’s biggest fancy dress party, Bollywood cocktail bar, Laughter Clubs, Farmers market, Kids area, Morris dancing, magical moments and much more…
Bestival has always been renowned for its fancy dress themes. 2008’s fancy dress theme was a strangely prophetic one but in the rain-soaked surrounds of Robin Hill the “30,000 Freaks Under The Sea” theme looked utterly stunning. All of the Sponge Bobs, Jellyfish, Submarines, Octopuses and Mermaids gave Bestival a special magical aura that kept everyone smiling.
For 2009 the organisers decided to get cosmic and go with an Outer Space theme, in 2010 the theme was Fantasy and this year it's Rock Stars, Pop Stars & Divas. A selection of dressing up stalls will be available on site.
Bestival 2011 is a sell out! With an incredible line-up that includes The Cure, Bjork and Primal Scream in the headline slots, plus a cast of 100s more live acts and DJs, 50,000 tickets have sold out a good couple of months before show time!
Thursday 8th Sept: The car park will be open from 9am. The box office opens at around 11.30am and the campsites will open at midday.
Fri/Sat/Sun: Car park & box office open at 9am.
Thurs/Fri/Sat/Sun: No entry into the site after midnight on any night.
Monday 12th September: Campsites close at 2pm and car parks at 4pm.
The car park is next to the Bestival site just beyond the Hare & Hounds Pub. Please follow directions. Car Parking Tickets are payable when you arrive; these cost £10 until 6pm on Saturday and £5 thereafter. Tickets are valid for the whole weekend (even if you come and go). Please look out for the "Camping Car Park" sign as soon as you approach the festival.
For more detailed information about the Bestival including how to get there, when to get there, when to leave, how to book yourself a Tipi, a Yurt, a Boutique Camping option or a ready pitched tent, plus for useful information about the campsites, campervan areas and disabled facilities, please visit the official Bestival website.