10/04/2006
BESTIVAL
ROBIN HILL COUNTRY PARK, ISLE OF WIGHT
SEPTEMBER 8TH - 1OTH
Sunshine, good music and a large slice of weirdness – three vital ingredients that make up any self-respecting festival. It is therefore fitting that Rob Da Bank’s Bestival should take centre stage as the UK’s summer festival season draws to an end because it has these three factors in abundance. Now in its third year, the idea of inviting 15,000 people to camp on the Isle of Wight in the second week of September might seem a bit risky in terms of the weather but it seems that everything that the Sunday Best touch invariably turns to gold. This was my third visit to Robin Hill Country Park for a weekend of debauchery and for the first time, I managed to return with my phone – but don’t let that fool you into thinking I didn’t have a good time. The word “eclectic” is often over-used but in this case, there is no other way to describe the choice of music on offer. From Amadou and Miriam to DJ Zinc, there is something for every music buff to truly savour in the numerous tents and stages dotted about the newly-expanded and picturesque location. The Main Stage saw the likes of the Scissor Sisters, Gogol Bordello, Pet Shop Boys, Kid Creole and the Coconuts and The Stranglers all strut their stuff, while the Bollywood Bar and Big Top hosted most of the other high-profile acts such as Sasha, Pendulum and a wicked old skool set from Carl Cox. But, in reality, Bestival is more about the sum of its parts than any glitzy headline acts. Innovations like the Inflatable Church that turns into a disco, the 60s psychedelic band living in a jukebox and Human Scrabble help to create the unique atmosphere, while the surreal feeling of seeing 15,000 people in fancy dress is highly recommended. The Clowns theme was dropped beforehand (although Scissor Sisters ignored this) due to worries over the potential for severe bouts of Coulrophobia, so instead there were a variety of weird and very weird outfits on display that would frighten the life out of your grandmother. Rob Da Bank’s Sunday night set in the Bollywood Bar provided the weekend’s grand finale and it was fitting way to round things off. The best of artists like Dolly Parton, Barrington Levy, Pulp and even Bugsy Malone all get dusted down for one last chance to say goodbye to the summer. Roll on next year...
Words: Ed Aarons
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