Bestival 2011
Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th September 2011Robin Hill Country Park, Downend, Nr Arreton, Isle of Wight.. PO30 2NU, England MAP
£170 (Adult) - / £85 (Age 13-15) - SOLD OUT
Daily capacity: 50,000
The end of the summer bash, is held a microcosm of most of the festivals that have preceded it this year. A slice of music from festivals across the board from dance to rock, reggae to folk, and acoustic, alongside some more weird stuff across almost two dozen stages. Plus the chance to sample some of the best caterers that have been providing food all year, along with a host of things to do and see, that make some festivals a proper experience, and much more than just an expensive gig in a field. Admittedly, there's many noticeable ideas borrowed from the daddy of all festivals Glastonbury itself, and it seems to me that organiser Rob Da Bank acknowledges this in the large CND sign over the main stage.
However there's also a wealth of rising stars populating the bill, with the festival so late in the season it's a chance to catch the acts that'll be all over the festival circuit next season.
Ageing musical legend Brian Wilson frailly took to the Bestival main stage before his forthcoming retirement, to bring us his Beach Boy hits alongside a few randomly obscure tracks. He might be old, and a little slow and quiet, and no longer the driving force behind the harmonious heart lifting sound spilling from the speakers hanging either side of the stage but with a back catalogue like his it's a fantastic set overall. The second half of the set littered with Beach Boys tunes including 'Sloop John B', 'Wouldnt it Be Nice', 'God Only Knows', 'Fun Fun Fun', and 'Good Vibrations', and can you find a stronger encore than 'Johnny B Goode', 'Help Me Rhonda', 'Barbara Ann', and 'Surfin' USA'? This was a landmark moment and maybe the last time I'll ever see him, with a mammoth arms in the air singalong, and Bestival had provided us with a special moment that bonded the festival crowd, and buoyed us for the weekend.
Patrick Wolf afterwards provides a captivating set which means I don't arrive at Caitlin Rose until her last track. So it's back to the guitar fizz of Graham Coxon who shows that there is a place for indie guitar at Bestival. Magnetic Man, and Chromeo both pack out the Stardust Field whilst Glasgow's Mogwai provide us with a wordless soundscape and some cool accompanying visuals, they even throw in a vocalist for the final number.
Skrillex on the other hand delivers chest rattling dubstep that thumps from the speakers, the pounding is only bearable for so long before I make a break to Frank Turner who delivers a solo set to the amassed crowd, including a heart felt 'Long Live The Queen' sung on the fourth anniversary of Lexi's death.
Jaguar Skills, and the late night pyros, lasers, strobes, red lights, and fire hula dancers of Afterburner prove far too appealing to ignore, and we end up dancing the night away whilst the big beats drop until the sky begins to lighten. Little did we know with it would come rain. It's a bit of a shame that it's the little afterburner and not the full blown spider, but the laser visuals across a nearby exposed scarp are an added bonus.
review by: Scott Williams
photos by: Karen Williams / Phil Bull
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