It’s almost time to set sail upon the HMS Camp Bestival, a sprawling weekend of entertainment in the estates of Dorset’s Lulworth Castle. This year, Camp Bestival partners with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, with a £1 charity donation from every ticket purchase going towards their work to rebuild young people’s confidence after a cancer diagnosis.
Their charitable support of young people only echoes the youthfulness of their target audience. Bestival’s little sister, this ‘festi-holiday’ is more family-friendly, having won Best Family Festival twice at the Family Traveller Awards and five times at the UK Festival Awards. A large section of its grounds is dedicated to the Upper Kids’ Garden, while childhood TV favourites, such as Dick & Dom and Mr Tumble, will be taking the Castle Stage throughout the weekend.
However, Camp Bestival aims to provide for the whole family. Television and radio presenters, Katie Thistleton and Gemma Cairney, lead the Teen Talks & Opinions, and Common People‘s Rob da Bank curates the main line-up, which sees the likes of Rick Astley, Clean Bandit, and Simple Minds take to the main stages. The Kids’ Garden is also host to Robby & Josie’s Gin Festival, to take care of all the struggling parents over the weekend.
As HMS Bestival sets sail, Astley is joined by rising star Rae Morris, as well as a double batch of YouTube musicians in HRVY and dodie. BBC Radio 2’s Sara Cox ‘Just Can’t Get Enough 80s’ is joined by fellow BBC DJ Fearne Cotton, while Dick and Dom go head to head across the turntables of the Silent Disco. The Cuban Brothers (who we recently saw take the stage on our very own Common) also make an appearance as part of the ’90s Action at Camp Bestival’, presenting their new album La Familia, which is sure to be anything but family-friendly.
Following from this eclectic opener, Saturday sees a more modern electronic vibe, as Basement Jaxx takes a DJ set beneath Clean Bandit’s headlining act. Britain’s Got Talent‘s Tokio Myers, who has in the past remixed Clean Bandit, continues the eclectic feel with his fusion of the classical and the synthetic, and Declan McKenna represents the indie scene. The ’90s Action’ is also continued by Elvana, the Elvis fronted Nirvana cover band who opened the Common Stage last month.
The day of departure will surely not be forgotten, as Simple Minds headline Sunday, with The Undertones sure to provide us with the classics all through the night. Sean Lock, Dave Johns, and Andrew Maxwell are also set to close the voyage on a high note, while the Fireworks Spectacular ensures it ends with a bang.
Camp Bestival 2018 takes place from 26th-29th July. Tickets are available here at £185 for students. Take a look at last year’s ‘Pop Stars and Rock Stars’ themed festival below:
