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Posted on 07/09/08 at 09:35:56 pm
Day three, the final day of Bestival 2008. The weather is looking positive, the mud's drying up and the crowds are out for King Creosote and Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. But I’m still recovering from a very hectic Saturday day and night.
Unwittingly I programmed four acts from the ‘70s and ‘80s back to back. It began with Gary Numan’s rock take on his pioneering back catalogue, followed by a very special moment when Terry Hall and Friends performed some of their classic moments from yesteryear.
The fancy dress theme 30,000 Freaks Under The Sea worked a treat and despite the mud thousands turned out in full underwater regalia, although Terry said from the stage “I’ve waited 27 years to play again to a field full of pink prawns!”
Then Grace Jones did as many costume changes as she did songs. 'Pull Up To The Bumper' was one of my moments of Bestival 2008 with her crazy hat, wind machines and huge heels. We bumped into comedian Alan Carr and all he could say was, "When Grace came on singing 'Nightclubbing' I thought I was gonna come!” Nice one, Alan!
Terry and co and Grace were both secret performances which we’d been working on for ages so I’m glad they both went down so well. Then Human League did their second performance of the day, before Hot Chip delivered their best Bestival set to date, even covering Sinead O’Connor’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ in a mellow encore style. Strange but seductive and the biggest crowd of the weekend!
I then DJed with my Sunday Best tag team in front of 20,000 people before Amy Winehouse arrived. No pressure! She left us hanging by turning up 30 minutes late. Our talent co-ordinator Keith gave it the personal touch by driving her around for two days, but still we ran a little late.
The crowd couldn’t work out if she was coming or not and by the time she arrived, one of the biggest spectacles in our five year history began. Amy was on good form in her underwater regalia with a band all dressed as sailors.
Right, I’m off to join the Pants For Poverty charity underpants walk up at the Bandstand, thanks for reading and see you on the other side!
Pics: Colin Friend
Permalink
David Moynihan [Member] //September 8 2008 at 10:36
LOVED IT! it'll take more than a bit of rain to stop Bestival. it really is the best festival. awesome.
Timmy-woo [Visitor] //September 8 2008 at 11:42
Mmmm maybe a little biased. Bestival was great but lets face it, Amy was 45 mins late then did a really poor set, she is a waste of time.
There were some wicked costumes but a lot more people would have been dressed up if the weather was better.
Time to get a ticket for next year and hope for some sunshine.
hill billy [Visitor] //September 8 2008 at 13:32
I thought Amy was alright.
Reading all the horror stories you wouldn't have been surprised if she started mainlining mud, but she was up there and seemed to really warm to the task - sadly just as she had to get off. Her own fault really, turning up so late - do you think she'll only get paid half her wages?
rhi pea [Visitor] //September 8 2008 at 13:35
hmm would have to say the battering rain did put a damper on it. am sure that as bestival always be a sunny parade this year will have been a learning curve on how2 in the mud..... was still many a shiny happy time had!
NigeD [Visitor] //September 8 2008 at 13:52
just got back, tough going, my mates almost bailed when their tent became a swiming pool. But we all endured and got into the spirt of it all, highlights for me were Hot Chip and also Underworld putting in a stomping main stage finish. Good work too all who made it to the end, and appreciation to the organisers for dealing with the situation. Sure more gangway's etc would of helped. But I think most people's tents just couldn't deal with the crappy conditions. Sunshine next year please... or maybe some snow?
Ellie Carter [Visitor] //September 8 2008 at 14:27
Just got back from Bestival, I'm already forgetting the mud and focussing on the good times. Highlights: Neon Neon, CSS, Rob Da Bank, dancing as an electro eel, the Big Top, Rizla Bar and a GREAT crowd of sea creatures and smiles.
Ralph [Visitor] //September 8 2008 at 15:18
Great festival, i forgot my wellies so i stood in a line for an hour only to find they did up to size 11 (im size 14) spent tha entire weekend with broken toes in small wellies and loved it, the rain and mud were nothing with all the amazing acts on show, the only execption being amy winehouse. Total waste of time, tha main stage would have benefitted with the likes of Roots Manuva etc. Great festival, just remember wellies next year!! just in case.lol
liam [Visitor] //September 8 2008 at 16:35
amy winehouse,wat a joke,if she hadn't been on site since night before you could maybe excuse the lateness!you wanna remember who put you where you are!yes us!the people left standin in rain!only to be disappointed by your poor performance!
Charlie Sussex [Visitor] //September 8 2008 at 16:58
I was so surprised how much the rain and mud did NOT spoil the fun and silliness at Bestival. I was so worried it would be horrendous, but it was GREAT. Fancy dress and music - what more could a person possibly ask for? It was excellent. Thank you Rob Da Bank and crew.
Matt [Visitor] //September 8 2008 at 17:40
What a cracking weekend. spent most time on the hidden disco!
highlights: chas & status, tayo, the shoes, freestylers and whoever was on last in the hidden disco sunday night. blew me away!
lowlights: winehouse. rain.
defo back next year.
Jon :-( [Visitor] //September 8 2008 at 18:57
Rain stops play. Too much money for what we got with no real preparation for rain. If it were performance related we would get a refund. we put a brave face on things but it sucked a bit too much.
Animal [Visitor] //September 8 2008 at 19:48
Dear Mr and Mrs Da Bank
Thank-you very much for having me, Colin and Haydn to stay at the weekend, we had a lovely time.
We can't wait to come back next year to see what Bestival looks like in the sunshine. Shame Amy Winehouse was so keech, but everything else was completely worth it.
Well done on coping so well with the rain and rivers of mud, considering you've always had dry weather you did really well on a steep learning curve. Reading Festival could learn a thing or two from you guys.
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.
Sophie Powell [Visitor] //September 8 2008 at 21:13
Best three days of the year, every year. Yes Rob da Bank and Josie da Bank!!
Embo [Visitor] //September 8 2008 at 23:12
Got back from my first Bestival earlier, had an amazing time, I'd even go as far as to say I enjoyed it more than glasto. Ace ace atmosphere, loads of effort gone into it and nice touches everywhere, I'd love to go back when it's sunny. My only complaints (sorree!) are: there could have been more bins, more signposts and more walkways. Also, the soundsystem in the big top was a bit muted and muddy, other people commented on this too.
Mike [Visitor] //September 9 2008 at 12:17
Me and my girlfriend had our drinks spiked friday night and i woke up in the medical tent not remembering a thing, so we went home sat morning because we had never felt so sick in our lives...really disappointed as we were looking forward to the Bestival experience soooo much. the short time we were there though was pretty much ruined by the rain and mud anyway!
NikB100 [Visitor] //September 9 2008 at 13:09
To all involved in organising Bestival I want to say a big thank you. It's the best festival I have been to hands down. I can't imagine how much better it would be without the mud! Everyone was so friendly and all so well organised. I was particularly impressed with the effort put into non-musical related activities and little sideshows (woods lit up at night, cabaret, dance lessons). It really made it special. So many highlights - Lost and found Saturday afternoon, Sombreros in the Bollywood tent, free tea and cake in the cafe at the top of the hill (a reward for making it up there). Thanks so much and can't wait for next year already.
Cava [Visitor] //September 9 2008 at 17:40
Bestival sucked! How did no one prepare for the rain? Even after a few showers the place was a mudbath with no walkways and unfriendly staff especially the ones who held us in pens when we tried to leave on Monday afternoon - not a patch on any of the others I've been to, sorry!
[Visitor] //September 9 2008 at 18:26
Luke, no offence but you weren't really dj-ing before Amy came on. That involves mixing records together, which you did not. However, you played some blinding tunes, which made Amy seems even more of an anti-climax! I had an amazing time. I think being at Glastonbury 2007 definitely 'prepped' me for a muddy experience. And there is one key to doing a wet and muddy festival: get more wasted. Eventually, you notice it much less. x
Vegas -mouse [Visitor] //September 10 2008 at 12:37
From Thursday to Monday: an Indiana Jones endurance test. So many adventures, so many rad randoms and true Besti spirit. Ring-side to a vastly surrounded mud wrestling match, an Isle of Wight reunion at the campsite, and searching for naked Christmas... My 4th and the best Bestival yet. The mud made it special. When is the afterparty? Bring on the revival of Vegas-mouse for a 24 hr rave!!!
slideshowbob [Visitor] //September 10 2008 at 16:33
wots all this mincing about the weather - you pays yer money and you takes your chance!!! top w/e, irrespective of the weather - well organised, top atmos and quality debauchary allround - coral/beardyman/coldcut/neon neon and that rizla tent went right off every day - gos bless the men robertson and the god like greg wilson !!!! c u nxt year )
slideshowbob [Visitor] //September 10 2008 at 16:40
christ - stop fookin moaning!!! you pays your money, you takes your chacne - good job the line up, the atmos and generally the all around shenanigans took my mind off intermittent wind/rain............top w/e and fair play to the nocturnal staff sorting out paths and walkways for the next day.......god bless you..........pick of the w/e MBV undoubtably, with the coral, neon neon, beardyman and get cape all quality - lost and found and rizla players had it going right off all w/e - word up and c u nxt year
Laura xx [Visitor] //September 10 2008 at 19:07
As an island girl, I was thrilled to have the luxury of being able to go home and shower off all the mud...thoses showers were the best of my life after mud-sliding in dinghys most of the weekend! Hot chip absolutley rocked my world...Was gutted Amy was so shocking!...Had a wicked Bestival as always, can't wait til next year...we are soooo lucky to have two of the best festivals in the country on our doorstep, Isle of Wight Festival and Bestival!...Bestival wins evrytime though, even in the rain! xxx
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