Bestival 2008

“3 days of boutique festival fun for happy campers, 8 stages of live music, cabaret, DJ’s and strange happenings”

As the proud winner of the 'Best Medium-To-Large Festival' gong at the UK Festival Awards for the third year running, the Island’s very own Bestival returns to Robin Hill Countryside Adventure Park for a fifth year this September.

The event, which is officially recognised as being the last UK festival of the season, takes place during the weekend of Friday 5th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th September.

A music mix of bands and DJ’s from the sixties through to the 21st century

For those who are as yet unfamiliar with the Bestival, its admirable reputation as the second largest music festival to be held on the Island (following the Isle of Wight Festival in June) defines the event as a "3 day boutique music festival" set in the heart of the Island at Robin Hill near Downend and Newport. The event is is the innovative creation of Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank, wife and Creative Director Josie, plus co-founders John and Ziggy from PR company Get Involved. The event itself derived from ten years of pioneering fun musical events and record releases from Rob da Bank's Sunday Best empire.

Often referred to as one of the friendliest festivals you could ever hope to attend, happiness and enjoyment is without any doubt, the name of the game at the Bestival. It is probably fair to say that the down-to-earth, highly original yet wondrously eccentric experience generated carries equal significance to the wealth and variety of musical marvels on offer during the course of the three-day phenomenon.

A potted history of the Bestival so far...

The first Bestival, in September 2004, was headlined by Basement Jaxx, Fatboy Slim, Zero 7, The Bees, Mylo and Lee 'Scratch' Perry and was a ground-breaking success. Bestival 2005 meanwhile saw Royksopp, The Magic Numbers, Super Furry Animals, 2manydjs, The Go! Team and Soulwax take to the stage (amongst many others!). It also set the Guinness World Record for the Biggest Fancy Dress Party (10,000 people dressed as Cowboys & Indians).

In 2006 over 350 different acts played to a packed audience. Gogol Bordello, the Pet Shop Boys and the hugely popular Scissor Sisters headlined the event with recent chart-topper Lily Allen and Caribbean/Latin American band Kid Creole and the Coconuts also delighting the crowd throughout the weekend, which once again broke the world record for the most people to be wearing fancy-dress in one place in the whole world… ever!

Last year more than 30,000 music fans flocked to Robin Hill Country Park to be blown away by the larger than life Chemical Brothers, Hip Hop legends the Beastie Boys and Scottish rock group Primal Scream. Also appearing in the main arena throughout the course of the weekend were The Levellers, Gregory Isaacs, Billy Bragg, Kate Nash, Soul II Soul Soundsystem, the Maccabees, Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe and Bestival favourites the Cuban Brothers, to name but a few. English Pop/ska band Madness appeared as 'Surprise Guests' - an exciting new highlight to the weekend which is due to feature again in 2008.

Some superb new additions to Bestival 2007 included the 'Restival' - an area set aside purely for relaxation purposes and fending off any festival fatigue, the 'Jestival' which featured a whole host of top name comedians such as Phil Jupitas and Ed Byrne plus many rising stars as well as Club Dada, the House of Bamboo, Pink Flamingo, Time for Tease and the BBC Introducing tent amongst others.

2008 Line-up Information

Also Hot Chip, The Sugarhill Gang (UK Festival Exclusive), Paul Heaton, Will Young, Chromeo, Santogold, The Coral (Acoustic Set), Stereo MCs, Get Cape.Wear Cape.Fly, Roni Size/Reprazent, Late Of The Pier, Does It Offend You Yeah?, DJ Yoda Vs Shlomo (live AV show), Lethal Bizzle, Dub Pistols, Hadouken, Black Kids, Laura Marling, Ida Maria, Slam, The Hat, Akron Family, Baker Boys, Blank Beats, Burning Leaves, thecocknbullkid, Cooly Haste, Cut A Shine, Chrome Hoof, Cazals, Dollskabeat, Django Spears, Eugene McGuinness, Fatal, Flipron, Fresh Legs, Golden Silvers, Goodbye Stereo, Hey Negrita, Hugo Frusslinky, It Hugs Back, Jacob Golden, JC & Angelina, Kahindha, Lucid, Lucky Elephant, Magnetic Man feat Skream, Benga & Artwork, Maths Class, Matt Sage, Micachu, Midnight Juggernauts, Misty’s Big Adventure, Natty, Officer Kicks, Paul Marshall, Pinkertones, Prince Of Wales, Rosie Oddie & The Odd Squad, Rosie & The Goldbug, Royworld, Sam Hare & Friends, Simon Dobbs, SixNationState, Slagmalsklubben, Sophie Barker, Sub Focus, Thee Earls, The Glamsters, The Guillotines, The Kurves, The Melodica The Melody & Me, The RGBs, The Shortwave Set, The Skints, Think, Thomas Tantrum, Unforscene, Widescreen, Wight Light Orchestra, Yacht, Yellow Dog, plus more to come...

Plus More DJs:

NB:
These are all the NEW announcements. Please refer to the official Bestival website for further details and the full list of artists confirmed to perform at this year’s Bestival... over 200 acts and counting!

Plus the world’s biggest fancy dress party, Bollywood cocktail bar, Laughter Clubs, Farmers market, Kids area, Morris dancing, magical moments and much more …

Tickets

Bestival 2008 is a sell out! With an incredible line-up that includes indie giants My Bloody Valentine, queen of soulful pop Amy Winehouse and techno titans Underworld (pictured) in the headline slots, plus a cast of 100s more live acts and DJs, 30,000 tickets have sold out earlier than ever before!

Practical Information

New for Bestival 2008: the car park and campsites will open at midday on Thursday 4th September!

Gates close midday Monday 8th September.

No entry into the site after midnight on any night.

Main arena will open at approx midday each day & shut at 3am on Friday & Saturday night and 1am on Sunday night. The rest of site will be open 24 hours.

The car park is next to the Bestival site just beyond the Hare & Hounds Pub. Please follow directions. Car Parking Tickets are payable when you arrive and will cost £10 until 6pm on Saturday and £5 thereafter.

For more detailed information about the Bestival including how to get there, when to get there, when to leave, how to book yourself a Tipi, a Yurt, a Boutique Camping option or a ready pitched tent, plus for useful information about the campsites, campervan areas and disabled facilities, please visit the official Bestival website.

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