The Bestival is a three-day music festival held at 'Robin Hill' country park on the Isle of Wight, England.

BESTIVAL TICKETS Trans-Siberian Orchestra The Eagles Tickets Sebastian Maniscalco Tickets Andrea Bocelli Tickets Rod Wave Tickets Jeff Dunham Tickets

Origins

The festival has been held annually in late summer since 2004, in a small country park called 'Robin Hill'. The event is organized by BBC Radio 1 leftfield DJ Rob da Bank and is an off-shoot of his Sunday Best record label and club nights ^[1]. Creative Director and wife Josie da Bank and co founders / partners John and Ziggy from Get Involved are also involved in organising the event.

In 2004, the festival was only attended by 10,000 people, a figure which has since increased to 17,000.

The Isle of Wight was chosen for many reasons as the site of the Bestival, primarily due to its notable natural beauty. It is also known that the Isle of Wight holds more carnivals per capita than anywhere else in the United Kingdom ^[2].

Festival ethos

Besides being generally smaller, there are several qualities that make the Bestival different from the Isle of Wight Festival. It is considered more alternative and diverse, offering a large selection of vegetarian foods; a dressing up tent and a 'secret stage'.

Bestival is well known for its fancy dress themed days (usually the Saturday of the festival). In 2005, an attempt was made to set the Guinness World Record for most people in fancy dress at any one event.

The festival is also heavily involved in supporting social, political and environmental causes. The 2006 Bestival featured Brian Eno backing a stop the Iraq war campaign. Bestival also aims to be Carbon neutral, not only via Carbon offsetting but also by reducing forms of other waste and emissions - however, as yet this has not been fully implemented and Bestival has yet to be nominated for a Green Festival Award ^[3].

Bestival has however been nominated for several other awards at the UK Festival Awards - having won the best medium sized festival in 2005, 2006 and 2007 ^[4].

The Bestival is often described as a "boutique festival" due to its non-corporate feel. It is also known for piloting odd and innovative ideas, including an inflatable church where people can get married. Other features include the "Breastival", a quiet Yurt designated for mothers and their breast feeding children. The local Women's Institute has also been involved by providing refreshments for a minimal price.

Bestival Details

Bestival 2004

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

Bestival 2005

Attendance - 15,000

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

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

Bestival 2006

Attendance - 17,000

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

• Voted the Best (Medium-sized) Festival at the 2006 UK Festival Awards.

Bestival 2007

Attendance - 17,000

September 7 - September 9

2007 - Beastie Boys , The Chemical Brothers , Primal Scream , Madness, Gregory Isaacs, The Levellers, The Orb, The Gossip, Kate Nash, Jack Peñate, Patrick Wolf, Billy Bragg, Easy Star All Stars, The Maccabees, Dub Pistols, Calvin Harris, Friendly Fires and The Shakes.

• Voted the Best (Medium-sized) Festival at the 2007 UK Festival Awards.

Bestival 2008

Attendance - 17,000

September 5 - September 7

2008 - My Bloody Valentine , Amy Winehouse , Underworld , Aphex Twin, CSS, Hot Chip, Will Young, The Coral, Sam Sparro, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Alphabeat, Black Kids, Sugarhill Gang, The Breeders, George Clinton, Gary Numan, The Human League, Grace Jones, The Specials, Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip and 808 State.

Bestival 2009

11 - 13 September

2009 - Massive Attack , Kraftwerk , Elbow , MGMT, 65daysofstatic, Fleet Foxes, Little Boots, Mika, Klaxons, Soulwax, 2manydjs, Seasick Steve, Friendly Fires, Bat for Lashes, Florence and the Machine, Zane Lowe, Diplo, Annie Mac, Skream, DJ Yoda, Lily Allen, Carl Cox, Michael Nyman, Squarepusher, Bjorn Again, Rob da Bank, Fujiya & Miyagi, La Roux, Krafty Kuts, Jack Penate

See also

• Camp Bestival

References

1. What is Bestival?
2. Isle of Wight Carnival 2006
3. Green Festivals Award Website
4. Festival Awards