Anyone else off to Bestival, then?

[WiteWulf]

Me and the GF are making the trek southwards on Thursday morning. Weather's not looking too clever at the moment (although I never trust more than 3 day foecasts) but the line up is shaping up to be bloody brilliant. Stuff I'm particularly looking forward to:

The Breeders
Human League
Gary Numan
Aphex Twin
Fuck Buttons
Underworld
Pendulum - live
808 State - live
Paul Heaton
Neon Neon
DJ Yoda
The Wedding Present
The Shortwave Set
George Clinton Funkadelic
Hot Chip
CSS
Roni Size Reprazent

I know I'll probably actually get to see less then half that lot but Aphex Twin will be a definite

[goldfish]

Aye... Friday morning for me. Watch out for a sea monster at the front for Late of the Pier...

Simon

[Gorecki]

Wish I were going I loved Bestival, even if the fancy dress aspect made me want to punch people.

[anon76235]

looks mental where is it?

[wanye]

make sure you go see misty's big adventure!

[goldfish]

Wish I were going I loved Bestival, even if the fancy dress aspect made me want to punch people.

Why?

Simon

[Gorecki]

Why do I wish I were going or why did I want to punch people in fancy dress?

Assuming it's the latter: I hate fancy dress. I can tolerate it in small doses but being in a field with several thousand people all dressed as cowboys in a 'see who can be the most extroverted' competition made me feel like I was in the Big Brother house. That and the fact that I'm a miserable, misanthropic bugger of course.

I did laugh a few year back when the fancy dress theme of 'Clowns' was cancelled at the last minute when the organisers suddenly realised that a festival with five thousand people looking like the poster for Stephen King's It might be slightly fucking freaky.

[goldfish]

Assuming it's the latter: I hate fancy dress. I can tolerate it in small doses but being in a field with several thousand people all dressed as cowboys in a 'see who can be the most extroverted' competition made me feel like I was in the Big Brother house. That and the fact that I'm a miserable, misanthropic bugger of course.

I went in the (non) clowns year, and got the opposite impression... the fancy dress was good because it got rid of the wanky bits around who was wearing what...

I just thought it made people share the experience a bit better; instead of just minding their own business and watching the gigs, everyone was looking around and making eye contact and smiling at all everyone's outfits. It felt as though it brought some barriers down...

I did laugh a few year back when the fancy dress theme of 'Clowns' was cancelled at the last minute when the organisers suddenly realised that a festival with five thousand people looking like the poster for Stephen King's It might be slightly fucking freaky.

The entertaining bit being the Scissor Sisters rocking up in full scary clown costumes...

Simon

[Al Machine]

Funkadelic? Sweet, didnt know Clinton was still rubbing that lamp.

If you can, try and check out:

Jamie Lidell
The Sugarhill Gang (UK Festival Exclusive)
Lee 'Scratch' Perry
The Count & Sinden
Erol Alkan
Roots Manuva & MK
Red Snapper
Stanton Warriors
Buraka Som Sistema
Chrome Hoof

Oh and

James Baillie

It's actually a fuckin' great line up. Why aren't i going?

[WiteWulf]

It's actually a fuckin' great line up. Why aren't i going?

Because you're a miserable bastard and when I told you we were going 6 months ago you trotted out the usual line about how there are no decent festivals in England

Full schedule for the main stages got published this morning, read it and weep guys:

(The smart money for the Saturday afternoon 'Surprise Act' on the main stage is The Specials, apparently!)

MAIN STAGE
Friday
2130 - 2300: My Bloody Valentine
1945 - 2045: Pendulum
1830 - 1915: Foals
1715 - 1800: Jamie Lidell
1630 - 1715: Barry Peters
1545 - 1630: The Wedding Present
1430 - 1515: Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong
1315 - 1400: Bastila
1200 - 1245: The Shanklin Freakshow

Saturday
2230 - 2345: Amy Winehouse
2055 - 2155: Hot Chip
2025 - 2055: DJ Yoda Vs Shlomo (AV Show)
1940 - 2025: The Human League
1830 - 1910: Surprise Act
1715 - 1800: The Cuban Brothers
1600 - 1645: Gary Numan
1450 - 1530: dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip
1345 - 1425: Kitty Daisy & Lewis
1240 - 1320: Jeffrey Lewis
1130 - 1215: Laura Marling

Sunday
2115 - 2245: Underworld
1830 - 2030: George Clinton & Funkadelic / Parliament
1715 - 1800: Roni Size / Reprazent
1600 - 1645: Baaba Maal
1445 - 1530: Sebastian Tellier
1330 - 1415: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
1215 - 1300: King Creosote
1115 - 1200: The Fairey Band (Acid Brass)

BIG TOP
Friday
0300 - 0400: Dub Pistols
0130 - 0230: Slam
0010 - 0100: CSS
2250 - 2340: Chromeo
2130 - 2220: The Breeders
2015 - 2100: Santogold
1900 - 1945: Ladyhawke
1745 - 1830: Ebony Bones
1630 - 1715: Transglobal Underground
1515 - 1600: The Hat
1400 - 1445: Cazals

Saturday
0300 - 0400: 808 State
0100 - 0300: Aphex Twin
2330 - 0030: Hercules & Love Affair
2220 - 2310: Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
2125 - 2220: Subfocus
2030 - 2125: Bailey
1945 - 2030: The Count & Sinden
1830 - 1915: Slagmalsklubben
1715 - 1800: Red Snapper
1600 - 1645: Chas & Dave
1430 - 1530: The Human League presents‘Dare’
1315 - 1400: I Am Kloot
1200 - 1245: The Chemists

Sunday
2230 - 0130: Laurent Garnier
2030 - 2230: Carl Craig
1930 - 2030: Coldcut presents Journeys By VJ
1815 - 1900: Midnight Juggernauts
1700 - 1745: The Coral
1545 - 1630: Filthy Dukes
1430 - 1515: Ulrich Schnauss
1320 - 1400: Grand National
1215 - 1250: Emma J Mac

BOLLYWOOD BAR
Friday
0130 - 0300: Justin Robertson
0000 - 0130: Erol Alkan
2230 - 0000: Layo & Bushwacka!
2100 - 2230: Ross Allen
1930 - 2100: The Black Ghosts
1800 - 1930: Mark Moore
1630 - 1800: Idjut Boys
1500 - 1630: Maurice Fulton
1330 - 1500: Shepdog
1200 - 1330: Tim Boogaloo

Saturday
0130 - 0300: Annie Mac
2330 - 0130: The Nextmen
2200 - 2330: Sinden
2030 - 2200: A-Trak
1900 - 2030: South Rakkas Crew
1700 - 1900: DJ Derek
1530 - 1700: Gilles Peterson
1400 - 1530: Nigel Godrich
1200 - 1400: The Shellac Collective

Sunday
2330 - 0100: Rob da Bank
2200 - 2330: Sombrero Sound System
2030 - 2200: Frank Tope
1900 - 2030: DJ Hype
1730 - 1900: Freestylers
1600 - 1730: Todd Terje
1430 - 1600: Yousef
1300 - 1430: Me & You
1130 - 1300: Benji B

RED BULL 54 SPEAKEASY
Friday
0200 - 0300: Eclectic Method
0120 - 0200: The Pinker Tones
0030 - 0100: Stereo MCs
2300 - 2345: Christopher D Ashley
2200 - 2245: Subway
2100 - 2140: Alphabeat
1945 - 2100: Mary Anne Hobbs
1815 - 1915: Magnetic Man Feat Skream, Benga & Artwork
1700 - 1745: Subgiant
1530 - 1700: Fear Of Theydon
1300 - 1530: Mitsubishop & Dubstar

Saturday
0200 - 0300: The Sugarhill Gang
0030 - 0200: Joey Negro
2345 - 0030: Lethal Bizzle
2230 - 2315: Imperial Leisure
2100 - 2200: Yuksek
1945 - 2045: Roots Manuva & MK
1845 - 1930: Max Sedgley & The Shoots
1715 - 1845: Tayo
1635 - 1715: Kid Carpet
1530 - 1610: Grovesnor
1430 - 1500: The Ghost
1330 - 1410: Dollskabeat

Sunday
0000 - 0130: DJ Yoda
2300 - 0000: Buraka Som Sistema
2130 - 2300: Digital Mystikz With Sgt Pokes
2000 - 2130: Kode 9 & Space Ape
1900 - 2000: Loefah
1815 - 1900: Cagedbaby
1715 - 1815: Appleblim
1630 - 1715: The RGBs
1330 - 1630: Soul Of Man (10 Years Of Finger Lickin)
1245 - 1330: Yoav

[Gorecki]

2100 - 2140: Alphabeat
1945 - 2100: Mary Anne Hobbs

I expect there'll be a massive 'changing of the crowd' at twenty one hundred hours then. That's got to be the biggest gear change I've ever seen on a festival bill.

[handcircus]

I'll be there, first time for me. Slightly over excited

[anon76235]

mary ann hob nobs

[WiteWulf]

We just got on the ferry in Soton and the weather looks like it's gonna be fucking vile. Meh, we've survived the wettest ever Glasto so this should be a breeze but we were hoping for some sun

[WiteWulf]

Quick summary, then...

The Good: I got to see the first Specials performance in 27 years. Utterly, utterly amazing and the highlight of the weekend for me. Also saw: Gary Numan, The Wedding Present, Grace Jones, Pendulum, Foals, My Bloody Valentine, Dan le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip, Jamie Liddel, The Duke Spirit and Hot Chip. Comfy Crappers are the way forward! The festival site is a beautiful place, I can imagine it being amazing in good weather, shame we didn't get any.

The Bad: Weather was fucking evil, site badly mismanaged as they appeared to have been banking on perfect weather and paid no heed whatsoever to the weather warnings. The GF wanted to see Amy Winehouse so we waited around for her to arrive on stage 40 minutes late with a predictable car crash performance. Toilets were absolutely vile and didn't get cleaned out regularly once the weather turned really bad. The BBC Introducing stage sank into the mud and was closed most of the weekend. The Comedy Tent was closed all weekend and the Bandstand venue saw very little of the advertised acts.

The Ugly: I missed Aphex Twin I have to admit that I'm too old for this festival lark these days, by midnight on the Saturday I'd hardly had any sleep since Wednesday night and had to walk the GF back to the campsite as she didn't fancy staying up for Aphex Twin. By the time we got over the big hill (that had turned into a giant mudslide) between the venues and the campsite I couldn't face going back again. Also, all indoors venues were absolutely rammed whenever it was raining and the Aphex Twin show wasn't too appealing, consequently. We camped in what was allegedly a 'Quiet Camping' field but the stewards didn't do a damn thing to enforce it and a very annoying tent near us had music playing all night on the Saturday and where very abusive to the 5 or 6 people who asked them to turn it off. We gave in on Sunday morning and packed up and headed home, being lucky enough to change our ferry sailing. Getting out of the car park was, ahm, interesting....it's a good job I've been on a rally driving course! Apparently more than a third of the punters had left by lunchtime on Sunday, almost 10,000 people.