Bestival 2008

United Kingdom | | 09 September 2008

But with four consecutive years of blissful early September sunshine on the Isle of Wight having sealed Bestival’s reputation as the perfect end-of-season party, we set out in hope rather than expectation.

Arriving at the Robin Hill Country Park on Thursday afternoon, however, our worst fears are confirmed as we aquaplane across the fields saturated with two days of solid rain. On go the wellies immediately.

This is the first year the Bestival site has been open to campers for an extra day and plenty have made the effort to take advantage. Initially, the rain holds off to allow everyone to set up camp but later arrivals are greeted with the start of a 10-hour deluge that leaves all paths overtaken by mud.

By the next morning, it’s even worse but the show must go on. We head towards the Big Top to see The Hat kick things off in their own unique style. The awful conditions means that the Main Stage and Bollywood tents have delayed starts but that allows us to check out some of the new talent on the BBC Introducing Stage, including south Londoners Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man.

Back to the Big Top and Trans-Global Underground step things up for the afternoon with their mixture of hip hop, dub and drum and bass, including classic track ‘Temple Head’. A quick squelch later and we’re just in time to catch The Foals on the Main Stage, as strains of ‘Cassius’ welcome us to the madness. That old friend known as torrential rain soon joins us again just for good measure, but it’s not enough to tear us away from a hypnotic set that sees the Oxford lads tear out ‘Gold, Gold, Gold’ and new single ‘Olympic Airways’.

Soaked to the skin, socks and all, it’s time to retreat to the Bollywood Bar for some recuperation and drying time. The Hidden Disco had been the next intended port of call but that goes out of the window – mainly because we can’t find it! Eventually we do but it’s too late to catch Chase and Status so we have to make do with Pendulum on The Main Stage instead.

Then it’s a choice between Greg Wilson’s blend of house and funk classics at The Rizla Stage or indie favourites My Bloody Valentine. The latter wins and it’s a pleasure to see the comeback is progressing well as the crowd are serenaded with classics like ‘Feed Me With Your Kiss’ and ‘ Only Shallow’.

Exhausted after a day spent buying more waterproof supplies and traipsing through the mud, after a quick check on Layo and Bushwacka and CSS we eventually find our wind and rain ravaged tent just about standing firm against the elements.

Saturday thankfully brings drier skies to proceedings, aside from one outburst during Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip on the Main Stage. They put on a real show for the early-risers, performing ‘Angles’, ‘Thou Shalt Always Kill’ and ‘A Letter From God to Man’, before Scroobius takes to the front of the stage for an impromptu spoken word session.

A quick change into the outfit back at the tent (one of about 10,000 admirals if you’re asking) and it’s off to join the fancy dress parade, an annual event Bestival has become famous for. The weather seems to have given people even more ingenious costumes ideas and everyone from the life-size scorpions to the crab-sticks are ready to welcome Gary Numan and then ‘The Special Guests’.

As revealed by VF first, this turns out to be a very poor pun on Terry Hall’s ska legends The Specials, who celebrate their long-awaited comeback with all the classics from ‘Monkey Man’ to ‘Too Much Too Young’. ‘A Message to You Rudy’ is the culmination of a brilliant return to the limelight after more than 20 years away that leaves the crowd soaked by the rain but glad to have witnessed history.

As if that wasn’t enough, Grace Jones then pitches up on stage in her indomitable style and steals the show. ‘La Vie en Rose’, ‘Pull Up to my Bumper’ and ‘Do or Die’ are among the tracks she performs to perfection – I still can’t believe she was 60 this year with a body like that!  

The rest of the night passes in a blur of amazing acts – The Human League, Sub Focus, Hot Chip, The Nextmen and Lee Scratch Perry – Rob Da Bank really has excelled himself this year! A late-show from Amy Winehouse leaves many revellers standing in the rain and when she does finally emerge, many of them have departed for new pastures. With the wet conditions, it’s impossible to get in to see Aphex Twin in the Big Top so we get in position early for Sugarhill Gang, curiously scheduled in the mid-sized Red Bull Speakeasy. The hip hop pioneers put on an excellent show, the highlights are obviously the timeless ‘Rapper’s Delight’ and the interlude where the band invited members of the crowd up onstage to show off their MCing talent – I don’t think any of them should be giving up the day job!

After a much-needed kip, Sunday is all about chilling out and the sun makes a brief and very welcome appearance. The Coral’s set in the Big Top sets the tone but Reprazent supply more energy to proceedings, closing their set with the wonderful ‘Heroes’. Funk legend George Clinton then takes the stage with his massive collective of musicians and singers and the 70s legend leaves the crowd mesmerised with two hours of his unique sound and wacky dress sense. I just hope the guy in the nappy didn’t catch a cold!

Underworld close the Main Stage with ‘Born Slippy’ in a flurry of fireworks and strobe lights, but the grand finale is left to Rob Da Bank himself with the return of his final set in the Bollywood Tent – strangely absent last year. A musical journey through the ages, he mixes everything from jungle to house to country, culminating with Bugsy Malone, Phil Oakley’s 80s classic ‘Together in Electric Dreams’ and John Paul Young’s ‘Love is in the Air’.

A bit of bad weather was never going to stop the Bestival vibe now was it?

by Ed Aarons