Photo Gallery: Bestival 2009

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The sixth annual Bestival took place last weekend (Sept 11 – 13) as over 17,000 punters headed to the Isle Of Wight for the summer’s last festival bash. Keep clicking for all the pics from the weird and wonderful weekend. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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This year’s fancy dress theme was ‘A Space Oddity’ and the Saturday saw half the site dress as a variety of intergalactic creations. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Like these three, who took it to the max. This year’s weekend saw three days of sunshine, a marked contrast to last year’s event when the them ‘30,000 Freaks Under The Sea’ was nearly a self-fulfilling prophecy. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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More wacky punters at Bestival 2009. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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This year’s Bestival saw Massive Attack, Kraftwerk and Elbow headline a more eclectic line-up than ever. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Mercury Prize-winner Speech Debelle shortly before her (apparently) quite undersubscribed set. Grab this week’s NME to see her go head to head with the magazine’s Peter Robinson. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Bestival is held at Robin Park, a beautiful wooded vallery on the Isle Of Wight and each year Rob Da Bank’s wife Josie helps with making the place look surreal. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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A Storm Trooper takes a well earned break while Seasick Steve runs through his tired homeless folk schtick again. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Bestival was started back in 2004 by Radio 1 DJ Rob Da Bank. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Bestival is full of hidden nooks and crannies including an area dubbed ‘Breastival’, which is a yurt for breastfeeding mothers. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Klaxons played just before Kraftwerk on Saturday (12th) and showcased several new songs, including ‘Moonhead’, ‘In Silver Forest’ and ‘Valley Of The Calm Trees’. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Punters at Bestival 2009. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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A huge fish and why not? Anything goes at Bestival. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Face paint and pink wigs are de rigeur at Bestival. In fact, they’re the bare minimum. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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This guy’s space age shades couldn’t protect him from what’s become known as the ‘Kasabian tan’ this summer. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Bestival is a chance for punters to go wild one last time, and stretch their imaginations to the limit. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Bestival’s homage to the Glasto LOVE sign is a popular pranging out place late at night. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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An acrobat regrets that vat of hummus he’s just wolfed down. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Fans laze in the afternoon sun at Bestival. For the full low down on the weekend check out our news report from the site. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Elbow’s triumphant closing set on Sunday night (13th) saw them sing the Star Trek theme tune to an ecstatic crowd. They opened their set with ‘Starlings’ and finished on ‘One Day Like This’. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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A few rather more soberly-attired fans in the dance tent on Saturday (12th). Ravers were kept on their feet by Diplo, Skream, DJ Yoda and Carl Cox across the three days. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Of all the summer’s festivals, Bestival is one of the most welcoming and friendly. Once you’re past the scumbag touts and sniffer dogs that populate the entrance, that is. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Bestival crowds on Sunday, 13th September. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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There’s no need to stuff your gills with swine burgers all weekend, Bestival offers a range of artisanal goods and interesting lagers. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Loads of locals get involved with Bestival, including the Isle Of Wight chapter of the Womens Institute. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Little Boots based her stage set around a Thunderbirds theme and treated the crowds to some huge-sounding renditions of 
Pic: Tim Cochrane

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The fancy dress tent provides some last-minute ideas for anyone that forget their threads. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Post grunge noiseniks Dinosaur Pile Up bring the guitar crunch to Bestival 2009.
Pic: Tim Cochrane

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Kraftwerk opened their Saturday night set (12th) with ‘Man Machine’ before treating the crowd to a set packed with spectacular visuals and costume changes. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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The Horrors – also Mercury Prize runners-up – brought a brilliant cloud of post-goth kraut-rock to Robin Hill park at the weekend. Pic: Tim Cochrane

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The picturesque Bestival site in full. That’s it for the 2009 festival season now. Grab this week’s NME for the full results of our Festival Survey 2009. Pic: Zoe Capstick

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Bestival 2009 is all over now, but if you want to guarantee your next fix of Rob Da Bank’s weekend madness, tickets for next year’s Camp Bestival are on sale now. Pic: Zoe Capstick

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