Camp Bestival 2008

United Kingdom | 20 July 2008

Treated to headlining performances from Chuck Berry, The Flaming Lips and Kate Nash, the crowd will be praying Bestival’s ‘smaller sister’ continues for years to come.  

Set in the idyllic Dorset countryside with surrounding beaches, woodland and of course, Lulworth Castle, Camp Bestival provides the perfect setting for a family festival. With countless activities for parents and children and a line up that satisfies the broadest of musical tastes, Rob Da Bank has once again delivered another fantastic festival.  

Chuck Berry headlined the opening night, treating the crowd to some old school classics, such as Johnny Be Goode. The 81-year-old grandfather of rock ‘n’ roll proved he still has it despite being the eldest person at the entire festival. Regardless of the age difference, the guitar pioneer rolled back the years and showed parents and kids alike just how rock ‘n’ roll should be played.

Earlier in the day the fantastic musical family, Kitty, Daisy and Lewis wowed the crowd with a selection of rock ‘n’ roll numbers, that wouldn’t have been out of place in a 1950s diner. While most 15, 17 and 18-year-olds are busy steering clear of their parents, in the case of this Durham family Mum and Dad are jiving away on stage playing the double bass and guitar. 

Afterwards, the fantastic Dan Le Sac and Scroobius Pip showed just why they’re one of the best musical duos to break though this year. Opening with the theme tune to the Antiques Roadshow, Dan Le Sac upped the tempo and broke into 'The Beat That My Heart Skips' whilst charismatic frontman Scroobius Pip looked in his element on stage. Delivering a set list including 'Look For The Woman' and 'Thou Shalt Always Kill' with genuine passion and venom. But he still has the charm to joke with the crowd, announcing that Angels: “Was infact about childhood suicide and revenge, just perfect for the young crowd.” 

The following day saw thousands of parents rolling back the years and really embracing the festival spirit, but this time equipped with fancy dress costumes and their children. The organisers had announced a theme for the day, Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter’s tea party, which led to thousands of white rabbits, Tweedle dums and other weird and wonderful characters roaming around the picturesque site.

The performance of the day, and the weekend came from the awesome Flaming Lips with Wayne Coyne delivering a rousing stage entrance that royalty would have been proud of. The band began playing and with a crescendo of anticipation, then all heads turned towards the lit up Lulworth Castle. Through the castle doors rolled out a ten foot high inflatable ball with Coyne inside. Crowds parted as he descended to the stage, crowd surfing over the barriers, before popping out from his bubble and delivering a breathtaking show.

Visually the performance was faultless, as Coyne was joined with an array of dancers, kazoo players and the Dorset town crier. They performed crowd pleasers such as 'Race For The Prize and 'The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song'. But it was 'Yoshmi Battles The Pink Robots' that particularly caught the mood and gave a peaceful serenity under the full moon.

It was bed time for the kids following Wayne Coyne’s epic set, as alcohol fuelled adults flocked to the Bollywood tent where DJ Yoda played, doing what he does best by mixing up tunes from all genres and all generations to deliver a great set to finish the day.  

Earlier in the day, King Creosote warmed up the main stage with his soft and placid folk songs in the Dorset sunshine as the crowds gathered. However, they seemed to be gathering for folk legend Billy Bragg. He entertained the older crowd into a big sing-a-long, which indicated the type of audience Camp Bestival drew in.

Next on the main stage strolled up Florida five-piece The Black Kids, playing in a blistering heat that would have made the band feel as if they were at home. The indie-pop band played a mixture of songs from their latest album but failed to really catch the atmosphere Billy Bragg had set up before, until their final track, Im Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance.   
      
It wasn’t just the music that was so impressive at Camp Bestival. The organisers did a fantastic job setting up countless events and activities, from live jousting competitions, Punch and Judy shows, animal petting farms and endless comedy acts. Andrew Maxwell proved one of the audience favourites in the comedy tent.

Sunday’s afternoon performances were all outshone by the unique Beardyman. A crowd fairly unfamiliar with the UK beatboxing champion lapped up his exceptional and hilarious show, gaining one of the biggest ovations of the day. Sampling the crowd’s cheers into songs and doing incredible and ridiculous impressions of tunes, like old school kid’s favourite, Sesame Street.

As the sun begun to set over Lulworth Castle, The Cuban Brothers bought their usual spice, crazy antics and dance routines on stage. The larger than life characters entertained the crowd with break dancing and upbeat hip hop and weren’t afraid to strip down to a skimpy black thong either.

By the end of Sunday, many weary children and parents with work looming on Monday morning called it a day before Kate Nash took to the main stage. A young crowd still gathered, but the oldies weren’t finished yet as Billy Bragg appeared for a duet. But the final shout of the night went to the main man himself, Rob Da Bank. Playing in the Bollywood tent everyone turned out in force for one more dance and mainly in appreciation for an awesome weekend.

They will all be hoping that after such a successful weekend the festival will be back next year bigger and better. To put it simply Camp Bestival has now set the standard for family festivals all over the country.

by Marty Watson