Year on year Rob Da Bank’s Bestival at the Isle of Wight’s Robin Hill Adventure Park gains popularity and deserved credentials as one of the UK’s weirdest yet wonderful festivals. 2011 looks set to be no different as an exciting mix of rock, pop and rap veterans take to the stage alongside the blossoming new school.
Last year’s festival featured a contemporary concoction of headliners that included Dizzee Rascal, The Prodigy, LCD Soundsystem, Skream, Chase & Status and (odd-one out) The Flaming Lips.
This year’s headliners are a more versatile mix; The Cure, Pendulum, PJ Harvey, Primal Scream and original Beach-Boy Brian Wilson.
There’s still around 2 months before Bestival’s 100+ bands, artists, DJs and entertainers descend on the Isle of Wight but with Primal Scream having just delivered a dazzling headline set on Glastonbury’s Other Stage and several more of Bestival’s lineup wowing the muddy masses down south, it’s time to get excited.
For any fan of old-school hip-hop one of Bestival’s most exciting lineup announcements has to be Public Enemy. Flavor Flav and co. will bring their distinctive socio-political styles to the festival’s Main Stage.
Classic hip-hop has been making a resurgence via UK festivals for the past couple of years (Cypress Hill at last year’s Reading festival and Wu Tang Clan at Glasto’ this year spring to mind) and whilst Public Enemy have been touring select dates in the UK for a while now, they’ll no doubt be a Bestival highlight.
Bestival will also be showcasing the best of British in September with everyone from big name DJ’s Fatboy Slim and Magnetic Man to fresh names in the world of pop and rock such as Paloma Faith, Katy B and personal favourite (and local boy for me) Ed Sheeran.
Plenty of alternatives have also made the bill and will attract specific groups of fans. Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip, Crystal Castles, Health and DJ Shadow are all confirmed acts. Crystal Castles and Health promise electro-pop psychadelia at it’s best whilst the veteran DJ Shadow will be proving why he has a reputation for unforgettable live sets and mixes.
And here’s two reasons why Bestival is known as one of the more bizarre festival experiences of the summer music calendar; Mr Motivator and Village People. The YMCA-one hit wonders will be performing as well as aptly judging the fancy dress competition (at least it stops them from entering!)
Of course, two of the most hotly anticipated acts of this year’s Bestival are The Cure and PJ Harvey. Both will bring theatricality and years of experience with them to the Main Stage. The Cure will headline Saturday 10th September but without a full, disclosed festival day/time lineup we’re yet to know what clashes will occur but for these two at least it’s fair to say that clashes will be overlooked.
Further nostalgic highlights include kings of reggae Toots and the Maytals and Grandmaster Flash whilst the typical array of odd-ball events and activities will be on offer. The addition of a Roller Disco Ballroom Field and The ‘Swamp Shack’ will further confirm the festival’s wacky, outside-the-box credentials and for those wishing to partake in the festival’s fancy dress tradition this years theme is rock stars, pop stars and divas.
THE FULL BESTIVAL 2011 LINEUP
The Cure, Pendulum, PJ Harvey, Primal Scream present Screamadelica Live, Brian Wilson, DJ Shadow, The Maccabees, Robyn, Public Enemy, Big Audio Dynamite, Crystal Castles, Magnetic Man, Kelis, Mogwai, Chromeo, Clare Maguire, LFO, Paloma Faith, Village People, The Drums, Fatboy Slim, Groove Armada presents Red Light, Diplo, Boys Noize, Annie Mac, Hi Tek: Starring Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May, A Trak, Norman Jay, Hyperdub, Bestival’s All Gone Pete Tong featuring Pete Tong and special guests, Carte Blanche, Benga, Skream, Derrick Carter, Shellac Collective, Congo Natty, Skrillex, Claude Vonstroke, The 2 Bears, Andrew Weatherall, Toots and The Maytals, Noah And The Whale, Patrick Wolf, Global Communication, Graham Coxon, Cut Copy, Katy B, Zola Jesus, Grandmaster Flash, Modeselektor, Caravan Palace, Omar Souleyman, Jungle Brothers, Asian Dub Foundation, Beardyman, Health, John Grant, Junip, The Midnight Beast, Ms Dynamite, Pantha Du Prince, Wretch 32, Venetian Snares, Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Fenech-Soler, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, Labrinth, Sbtrkt, The Unthanks, Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Willy Mason, The Selecter, Kawa Circus, L-Vis 1990 7 The Neon Dreams, 65DaysofStatic, Live Film Score, Breakage feat Jess Mills, DSB Soundsystem, Brandt Brauer Frick, Goldie Lookin Chain, Japanese Popstars, Esben & The Witch, The Bad Shepherds, Eat Static, Foster The People, Los Campesinos, Oneohtrix Point Never, Rustie, Tanlines, Frankie & The Heartstrings, Andreya Triana, Rainbow Arabia, Mackab & The Roots Ragga Band, Totally Enormous Extinct, The Correspondents, Tweak Bird, Channel One Soundsystem, Banny Byrd, Smerins Anti-Social Club, Caitlin Rose, The Dhol Foundation, Max Tundra, Modestep, Our Broken Garden, Spark, Dry The River, Appeblim, Feed Me, Yasmin, Horndog Brass Band, Lanterns On The Lake, Trophy Wife, Islet, Two Wounded Birds, Logo, Sophie Barker, Yaaks, MZ Bratt, Bright Light Bright Light, Al Tourettes, 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, Ed Sheeran, The Hempolics, Marcus Foster, Tripwires, Various Cruelties, Catherine A.D., Cheviot Hill, Stopmakingme, Tall Ships, The Piney Gir Country Roadshow, Catherine Okada, Jackson Analogue, Luke Concannon, The Lullaby Club, MC Xander, Punks Not Dad, Puzzle Muteson, Subgiant, Brigitte Aphrodite, Fly Frankie Fly, Gideon’s Demise, The Fan Jets, Dr Syntax, James Owen Fender, Cranes, Mirrors, Mistajam, Across The Tracks, Andy C and MC GQ, Numbers with Deadboy, Jackmaster and Spencer, David Rodigan, Soul Jazz Soundsystem, DJ Zinc, The Nextmen, DY Hype & IC3, King Midas Sound (Hyperdub), Tim Green, White Wedding, Tensnake, Doorly, DJ Fresh, Krafty Kuts – Instant Vibes, Disco Bloodbath, Leo Zero, Beat A Maxx, Jamie George/Roska (Rinse), DJ Derek, Emalkay, A.Skillz, Bok Bok, Robert Luis, Ghost Poet, IDC, Jam City, Julio Bashmore, Reggae Roast, Barmisfits, Benji Boko, Duffstep, Oneman, Psychemagik, Feeling Gloomy, Tayo, Monki, Luv* Jam, Timo Garcia, Somberero Sound System, Emeralds.
BESTIVAL TICKETS
www.ticketline.co.uk/bestival-tickets / 0844 888 4410
www.redfunnel.co.uk/bestival / 0844 844 9988 (inc optional ferry travel bundles)
www.wightlink.co.uk/bestival / 0871 376 1000 (inc optional ferry travel bundles)
