Rob Da Bank - Braving the storm

Organiser denounces the event 'better than ever'

United Kingdom | by Ross Purdie | 09 September 2008

After a hat trick of UK Festival Awards, the weather tried to put a dampener on the UK's Best Medium Festival. We caught up with organiser Rob Da Bank to see if he'd weathered the storm...

Following a series of sunshine soirees, Bestival had to have a wet one and it only seemed apt that it fell on the year that '30,000 freaks under the sea' was chosen for the fancy-dress theme. Cue severe weather warnings, three-hour welly queues and thousands of determined and muddy nautically themed punters.

So with our wet suit and snorkels on, VF chatted to a soggy Rob da Bank about braving the elements, surprise guests and why he thinks the festival is better than ever…

Virtual Festivals: How's the first ever muddy Bestival?
Rob Da Bank: "Its alright actually. I'm not feeling worried about it, I feel very upbeat about the whole thing. Everybody is cracking on with it and no one seems to be noticing it. We've had three years of amazing weather and another year where it was slightly iffy, but you just deal with these things. The site crew and everyone have made an amazing effort to put the plastic carpeting down for the main stage and you don’t see that happening at many muddy festivals. We ordered it in the last 48 hours and they've spent the last 24 hours putting it in. So I think that was a really good move because it means that whole main stage field is totally mud free and safe and people can get to the bar."

VF: Do you think you've cursed the festival slightly with the underwater theme?
RDB: "Everyone keeps saying that [laughs]. I mean it could be my fault that '30,000 freaks under the sea' is coming to life before our very eyes. But I think that we've had the worst of the weather and we've got a little bit more to go, then it's on its way out after that. Then I think, touch wood, we're going to have a good Saturday and Sunday. It hasn't dampened any spirits and in the background you can hear Foals. Then there are some amazing acts tonight. We've got The Breeders and Pendulum and My Bloody Valentine and I think there is going to be a good vibe with everybody up for it."

VF: Do you think it’s a rite of passage that you have to have a year like this to deal with those elements?
RDB: "I'd love to think not but I think if we can deal with this we can deal with anything. Obviously it was going to happen sooner or later and one out of five isn't bad. I mean look at Glastonbury or Green Man - these are festivals that are consistently unlucky with the weather. I think September is a good year to do a festival, so we won't be moving it or anything. I really don't want to make a big thing out the weather because people ultimately won't care, they'll go home from the festival with really amazing memories of all the great things they've seen. Then there are two surprise acts that we've got on tomorrow."

VF: There are two surprise acts?
RDB: "Yeah, which no one really knows about yet."

VF: Can you give anything away?
RDB: "No [laughs]. They are two world-renowned live acts that are very different and they're both going to smash the main stage up tomorrow. I'm really chuffed. We were wondering if we needed to give people two because it's a bit greedy."

VF: Are they both on the same slot?
RDB: "No they are different slots, but almost back to back."

VF: What do you think makes Bestival? What do you think makes it stand out from other festivals?
RDB: "I think the people really. You see the people coming through the gates and they're in their fancy dress already. Everyone's all ready for it whether its sunny or rainy and they're still getting on with it. It's beautifully eccentric with people up for the different atmosphere; it's not just a stage in a field. Like you see now everyone's wandering around looking at the new site and the new things they haven't seen before - it's just a brilliant atmosphere."

VF: Is Bestival now how you envisaged it when you first started out? Did you expect to see scenes like this?
RDB: "No we just started off as a little party and it just grew year on year. It's hard when you're running it to actually look at it and think that's really good fun. It’s quite difficult to relax during the festival, but it's better than ever."

VF: Do you find it more challenging to give people the next step of the festival each year?
RDB: "I suppose so. There are a lot of musical acts to get through for starters. There are always other headliners and I've got my eyes set on other people next year already. Some people come for the headliners and some people come for the vibe and I think as long as there are other acts to be booked it will stay varied."

Click HERE for our rated review of this year's Bestival.