Festival excitement is beginning to bubble in an attempt to distract ourselves from the bog of assignment and exam performance and results. Although not until the end of the summer, Rob Da Bank’s Bestival with the theme of ‘Summer of Love’ gives us a lot to look forward to. Here is what I am, personally, most excited about at this year’s Bestival.
Bestival is one of the festivals that promotes as much non-music fun as it does its ever-enticing line-up, but there will be some gems taking to the stage throughout the weekend. What initially sparked me about the line-up (aside from the amazing idea of seeing Duran Duran perform ‘Hungry Like The Wolf’) is the presence of this year’s Mercury Prize nominees and winners. The vibrant soul of nominees Jungle, FKA Twigs’ trip hop and the poetic raps of Kate Tempest are sprinkled over the weekend. Winners, Young Fathers, will be there too, following the success of White Men Are Black Men Too that won them the Mercury title earlier this year.
Tame Impala are impossible not to look forward to either. Their new album, Currents, will be in full swing by the time Bestival takes place, and I can only imagine the festival to be the perfect setting for their intricate psychedelic sound. The lovely Rae Morris, who features on The Edge’s List of 2015, also sends sparks of excitement flying. The line-up is swelling with some of the biggest DJs, many of whom have recently staged events here in Southampton, and who additionally shone at the first ever Common People Festival. With such an eclectic line-up, also transcending to a packed weekend of dance acts in the mysterious Temple of Love.
Music aside, there are not many places that promise the opportunity to get your haircut for free at 4am, with Bestival’s 24 hour free haircutting service. I might not need to get a haircut, but it definitely feels like an opportunity that should be snapped up. I cannot knit, but there is something alluring about the idea of rave knitting, which is among the myriad of strange activities to be enjoyed at Bestival, including: euphoric fitness, musical bingo and wild music runs.
Bestival is renowned for being big on fancy dress, and with 2015 theme of ‘Summer of Love’ I am very much looking forward to seeing the outfits that come along with it, especially after seeing the glitz and glamour that went with last year’s ‘Desert Island Disco’ theme. I also really like that you can’t be a part-timer at Bestival, with only full weekend tickets on offer – it is all or nothing for this one.
The festival’s promotion promises psychedelic woodland adventures on a magical island location, so really what I am most looking forward to is a total escape from reality! I think that 2015’s Bestival is the festival to give me just that.
Bestival will be held at Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight, between 10th and 13th September. For ticket details visit their website, here.
