Skream says: "I’m extremely proud/excited/over the moon to be able to say I'm hosting a tent at Bestival this year! I’ve been playing at Bestival for the last 4/5 years (I think), and to be able to say I took Skreamizm there, I'll die a happy man!"
Taking it back to the source, Skreamizm is all about ace tunes on fat soundsystems, like it should be. Bringing the unmistakably ecstatic vibes of funky little sweatboxes where the real action is, we’re over the moon that Skreamizm is coming to blow away Bollywood at Bestival on Friday 5th September. Blazing his own trail, Skream, AKA Oliver Jones’, recent Rollercoaster joint smashed disco into the future, so it’s more than fitting that he will be adding his own inimitable style to our Desert Island Disco.
Also adding his not inconsiderable presence to Skreamizm at Bestival is Chicago house leviathan Derrick Carter! Quite simply one of the greats, Derrick Carter’s sets are as edifying as they are electrifying, taking in underground house, soul, jazz and, of course, disco. His own ‘Derrick Carter Does Disco’ sessions have had dancefloor aficionados and those in the know begging for more, so this rare treat, as Derrick joins Skreamizm to dig deep into his crate of disco classics, makes it a total honour for us to welcome him back to Bestival.
Completing the Skreamizm line-up at Bestival will be current UK singles chart number 1, Route94 who has long enjoyed support from Skream, and knows his way around a massive banger or two and long-time Bestival party favourites Horse Meat Disco who will pump pure joy out of the soundsystem and into your bones.
With the Desert Island Disco in full swing for this years Bestival having previously announced Chic feat Nile Rodgers, Outkast, Beck, Foals and many more, we can now reveal more additions!
Joining the disco will be house legends Basement Jaxx, Paloma Faith and Candi Station.
A stunning chanteuse and no mistake, Paloma Faith is the very definition of unique, so we are delighted that she will be joining us on Sunday night in the Big Top to close this year’s Bestival. With a brand new album, A Perfect Contradiction, due for release imminently, Paloma’s disco credentials are just about as good as they come and with her well know penchant for dressing up, she’s the perfect fit for a sassy climax to our Desert Island Disco.
Commenting on her Bestival appearance, Paloma Faith said: “Bestival is the best festival because everyone gets dressed up and I will be too, dressing my band up… It’s so perfect that I should be invited to play at this festival this year because my new album, which is called A Perfect Contradiction, was all influenced by the history of soul music, particularly disco. So, I was listening to artists like Candi Staton, Prince, Chaka Khan, Gloria Gaynor, all of those types of artists, Parliament, Funkadelic, the lot… It is my favourite festival without a doubt, I’m so excited, see you there!”
No strangers to spanking a dancefloor, the Bestival crew are very pleased indeed to welcome back Basement Jaxx to Robin Hill. Headliners at the very first Bestival, we know for a fact that Basement Jaxx have got a truck load of tunes that will keep you reaching for the lasers long into the night. A full on live extravaganza, Felix, Simon and co always fail to disappoint with their hip swaying, booty shaking business, so don’t miss them!
Basement Jaxx’s Felix Buxton said “It was an honour and a pleasure to headline the very first Bestival – and we are very pleased to be back!"
Finally for now, it is a true honour to announce that one of the legends of gospel, disco and dance music, Candi Staton will be gracing our Desert Island Disco with her presence. With super-soulful tracks like Young Hearts Run Free, her amazing version of Stand By Your Man and, of course, You Got The Love, Candi’s voice has sound-tracked two generations of joyful good times and we can’t wait to bust our moves to her grooves.
One of the most imaginative stages ever built, The Port returns to Bestival 2014 to host some of the biggest DJ's!
Heading up the first of three full-on days of big sounds is Cocoon kingpin and techno protagonist Sven Väth, who, for over 30 years, has been transporting dancefloors to rapturous new lands and will no doubt baptise 2014’s Port crew with his boundary pushing brilliance. Friday will also see sets from uncompromising genius Damian Lazarus, bass heavy groove merchant Eats Everything, rave detonator Boys Noize, driving techno type Bella Sarris, sine-woven tech head South London Ordnance, and our very own chief castaway Rob da Bank.
Saturday action comes courtesy of the amazing Annie Mac Presents, with sets from Annie Mac, the incomparable Green Velvet, 1-800-DINOSAUR (ft James Blake / Dan Foat / Airhead / Mr Assister), stripped back beats architect Route94, underground house duo Bicep, Hot Natured resident Richy Ahmed, mutant house purveyorKrystal Klear and BBC Radio 1’s Monki.
Wrapping things up at The Port for 2014 is an almighty beats blitzkrieg featuring a DJ set from soul-stirring bass lords Chase & Status, plus drum n bass legend Andy Cwill present Ram, with firing sets from Wilkinson and Loadstar and MCs 2shy, Adapt and Jakes. We’ll also have dancefloor action from beat ninja Jaguar Skills, Foamo and RackNRuin in their Gorgon City guise, soul infused pair Dusky, wildly experimental riddim wizard Kaytranada, divinely deep duo Âme and techno twosome Dense & Pika.
Closing out this years Bestival will be the king of funk himself, Mr Nile Rodgers who comes fresh off a massive year releasing Daft Punk's hit Get Lucky and picking up three Grammy Awards and a Brit Award.
Rob da Bank says: “Ever since I first booked Chic and Nile for Bestival a few years back they have hands down been the best live band we've ever had at Bestival and Camp Bestival. And once people start realising how many hits Nile has written and produced for artists ranging from Madonna and David Bowie through to Daft Punk's Get Lucky you realise this is just one huge disco jukebox that is gonna keep firing out the hits all night! I’m over the moon that Nile and the crew are going to wrap up our Desert Island Disco Finale with a damn funky, glittery bang. Everybody Dance!”
We’re chomping at the bit to get on our Desert Island dancefloor as super producer and the world’s coolest man, Nile Rodgers is bringing the ultimate cosmic party band, Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers back to Robin Hill, this time as glorious Sunday night headliners!
Speaking about his headline set Nile Rodgers said: “I’m so excited to be back at Bestival, this time in the prestigious Sunday night headliner slot following legends Stevie Wonder and Elton John. Expect an extra special Desert Island Disco set from myself and Chic! Looking forward to seeing you all in September”
The undisputed heavyweight King of Disco and hailed “a legend” by none other than Pharrell following their crowd-slaying collaboration at the BRITs, Mr Nile Rodgers is the world’s most in-demand producer right now, racking up studio time with the likes of Chase & Status, Felix da Housecat, Disclosure, David Guetta, Tensnake, and Avicii. Additionally, Nile is also the man behind the biggest career hits from David Bowie, Dianna Ross, Duran Duran, and Madonna, to name but a few. In recent years at Bestival, we’ve seen Nile and his Chic organisation re-emerge as a globally respected and truly mighty musical force and can’t wait to see them bringing the house down like only they can, headlining Sunday evening.
Rob da Bank says: “Woo hah people! Yes it’s true, Busta Rhymes has got you all in check and he’s coming to Bestival for his first ever UK festi appearance! I’m such a Busta fan and it’s amazing not just to see him back in the charts with another banger with Thank You but also to know he's getting on the ferry and bringing it to Bestival!”
Yes, you might have noticed that we like a bit of hip-hop at our Desert Island Disco, so we are extremely pleased to say that rap superstar Busta Rhymes is coming to Bestival to flex his next level skills in what will be his first ever UK festival appearance. A bona fide hip-hop colossus whose intricate technique has brought him a sack full of plaudits, Busta is gearing up to release the much anticipated Extinction Level Event 2 this year and we can’t wait to witness his dopeness on our main stage!
Commenting on their headline set Foals said: “We couldn't be more excited & honoured to be part of Bestival this year; it's the perfect end to our touring for Holy Fire. We promise a night of madness, mayhem & good times!”
Topping the bill on Thursday 4th September is the exalted Beck! With Morning Phase, his first album in six years, just about to drop and another one rumoured to be already done and dusted, Beck has a wealth of fantastic new material, as well as a treasure trove of favourites spanning R&B, hip-hop and folk at his command but no matter what he unleashes on us, you know it’s going to be a perfect start to our Desert Island Disco. A mercurial talent with an uncanny knack of pulling at the heartstrings, Beck is guaranteed to get Bestival 2014 off to a flyer!
Dynamic sibling duo, Disclosure, have gone about this conquering the world malarkey in breathtakingly swift fashion and their return to Bestival is a reflection of their meteoric rise. Playing our Main Stage on Friday night before OutKast, the brothers will, no doubt, take the crowd to fever pitch and beyond with their already overflowing armouring of big hitters and dancefloor detonators, lifted from their number one album, Settle. One of the biggest attractions aboard HMS Bestival last year, you can bet that Disclosure are going to get our Desert Island Disco bouncing. Don’t miss them.
Also guaranteed to send the Main Stage crowd into total frenzy, but this time on Sunday evening, will be the incomparable Major Lazer! Playing before our as yet to be revealed Sunday night headliner, Diplo, Jillionaire and Walshy Fire will be bringing the big cannons, firing off lashings of dutty dancehall and bountiful booty shaking bass. With their Apocalypse Soon EP due to drop later this month, you can expect plenty of super fresh and upfront behaviour to get you Pon De Floor from one of dance music’s most adventurous live acts.
We’re not stopping there though; this Desert Island Disco is just getting started! Joining in the throng of cool castaways will be the perfectly transfixing London Grammar, whose life-affirming brilliance really needs to be seen by absolutely everyone; Cumbrian four-piece Wild Beasts, whose imminent fourth album is already getting those in the know very hot under the collar; BBC Sound of 2014 winner Sam Smith, who will be returning to Bestival following a sensational set aboard HMS Bestival last year; genre-dodging sonic adventurers Caribou, whose main man Dan Snaith is in the form of his life; chart toppers Clean Bandit, whose electro-classical fusion is making them one of the most talked about bands around; synthpop trio Chvrches, whose beguiling pop hooks will captivate all our island’s tribes and delectable chanteuse Laura Mvula, whose psychedelic tinged soul has already made her one of the UK’s brightest new stars.
icking off with a frankly magnificent headliner, and our very best theme yet, believe us when we say Bestival is gonna go off big time this September 4th-7th, and you’re gonna want to be with us!
Rob da Bank says: “Hey ya! By the power invested in me as chief Bestival booker, I'm pretty darn excited to announce that OutKast are headlining Bestival this year! We've fought hard to get the recently reunited legendary hip-hop duo onto the ferry… and it's no ordinary ferry this year as Bestival goes Desert Island Disco for 2014… Palm trees, grass skirts and mirrorballs are the order of the day. It truly is gonna be the Bestival yet!”
Levels of excitement are beyond stratospheric in the Bestival bunker because one of our all-time favourite duos,OutKast, have not only reformed but they’re also coming to headline Bestival, laying down the sickest flows they know in one of only two UK Festival appearances! From Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik to Idlewild, Andre 3000 andBig Boi have consistently delivered booty shaking brilliance; their live shows are the stuff of legend and their comeback is undoubtedly one of the most feverishly anticipated this century, making Bestival a golden opportunity to catch the most popular, innovative and downright amazing hip-hop force on the planet! As you can probably tell, we’re just about as pleased as we’ve ever been that the Gs have returned and part of their 20th anniversary celebrations are going to be with us! BRING. IT. ON!
Already worrying the plimsoll line with unutterably brilliant acts, there’s still room for more good shipmates aboard the trusty HMS Bestival including recent UK singles chart Number One holder, John Newman. No stranger to topping the charts having already hit the summit with fellow Bestival billed pop behemoth Rudimental, John’s soulful sounds are set to make him a truly big hitter. There’s also live action from dancefloor geniuses Simian Mobile Disco, genre hopping glitch chief Pretty Lights, rock n roll torch bearers and Bestival stalwarts, Kitty Daisy & Lewis, skank masters the Dub Pistols, another Rudimental collaborating Number One type Ella Eyre, barnstorming party starters Skinny Lister, uplifting rock and electronica-clash collaborators Mixhell, chap-hop don Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, Stockholm based quartet Kate Boy, dreamwave electro from Dream Koala, Southampton thrashers Polio, cosmic-pop chanteuse Zhala, Kent’s melancholic indie tunesmith’s Story Books and the impossibly young and talented Will Joseph Smith.
Stepping up to the decks on a mission to keep you dancing all weekend long are BBC Radio 1’s original dance music champion Pete Tong who returns to our Wight isle to host Bestival’s All Gone Pete Tong, Fabric resident and Scrutton Street shaker Daniel Avery, Wall of Sound top boy Mark Jones and deep sea bass warrior Mumdance. Plus there will be sets from Lovesick, ComfyPorn DJs, Dan Hayes, Propaganda DJs and Across The Tracks DJs.
For the fifth year running, we are opening our doors to you lovely Bestivalites on Thursday and for our 10th birthday, we’ve got even more top drawer behaviour than ever before, with a jam-packed line-up in the Big Top that includes the amazing M.I.A., Justin Robertson, The Correspondents, Mark Jones, Sunday Best Forum Allstars, Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Bike To Bestival, Courtney Pine, and our Druids Opening Ceremony all hosted by Peter Tautz The Right Toastmaster.
The Replay with Rob da Bank stage, will kick off on Thursday night, with upfront sounds from the aforementioned Mixhell, Tythe, Man Without Country, East India Youth, Dog Is Dead and Feeling Gloomy. But that’s not all as there will be plenty of seafaring shenanigans across the site with a host of stages open including The Knees-Up Tent, Grand Palace Of Entertainment, Tomorrow's World, The Bandstand, Temple Island, Club Dadaand the Polka Tent.
In keeping with our 10th birthday spectacular celebrations at Robin Hill on the Isle of Wight from September 5th to 8th, the amazing gifts keep coming as Bestival HQ is buzzing with news of another brand new arena for 2013 –Temple Island. Taking its place among more than 20 stages in 10 fields of wonderment with mega soundsystems, non-stop parties and 24 hour escapism, you’ve got to explore it before it burns to the ground! Plus we have line-up news for two of Bestival’s most off the wall destinations, Club DaDa and the Polka Tent.
Rob da Bank says: “Bestival has almost 30 stages of live music, DJs, poetry, cinema, drag acts, ultraviolet ping pong and general mayhem going off in 2013. Club Dada and the Polka Tent programmed by the insanely creative and madcap Chris Tofu is always ahead of the curve and we've been proud to host the first festival stages of gypsy punk, electro swing and many other underground genres. As ever, Señor Tofu has pulled it out the bag with his line ups for 2013.
“Never looking backwards and always embracing the future I'm so proud to unveil Temple Island – a brand new totally ace fusion of styles from festivals like Burning Man and Portugal's Monegros festi with a cutting edge global electronic DJ collective… half hippy, half techno warrior. Roll on September”.
Chris Tofu says: “Bestival is so amazing for us, it’s been the first festival in the UK with a venue dedicated to the 1000 year old festival music Polka, wall to wall, crazy Gypsy Music and Hoedown, makes this the natural festival music hangout. Club Dada has always been like a mad feast of Brass and Vintage Remix and this year’s no exception with killer Electro Blues and Electro Swing, crazy remixing Carnival bands and so much more, the perfect music for a tent where 70 years ago Marlene Dietrich performed in. Bestival stands unique with more killer and closely curetted music per square inch than anywhere else, big up to Rob and Josie and the team“.
New for 2013, Temple Island is a lucid dreamland of beguiling saturnalia where acts like London Grammar, DJ Falcon and Karma Kid come to play. Around them, fantasy and reality fuse in a haze of bio-sculptures and an eclectic collection of some of the tastiest foods in the country. It’s a beautiful place. But nothing is what it seems…
If it looks like a sculpture, it may really be a chilling cocoon that sings to you when you step inside. You’ll find them hidden in a sparkly part of Temple Island, away from the stage. Creatures here may be actors in disguise who lead you to a mystery trail of street art by fast-rising artist My Dog Sighs . 21 pieces are yours to keep, if you find them. The first person to complete the entire My Dog Sighs Treasure Hunt will take home a £2,500 masterpiece! Feeling inspired by all that artistry? Try your hardest to create your very own twisted structure with amazing Willowtwister artist Sara Holmes and crew.
That’s not all though, Bestival’s darkest secrets are gathered on Temple Island’s confession wall. It’s hungry for yours. Confess… if you dare. Party until the small hours in The Doghouse, the secret part of Temple Island you’ll stumble upon, find exactly what you’ve always been looking for, and never, ever, want to leave. But beauty dies fast. So, late on Sunday, Temple Island will go up in flames. Before that, there’s dancing to be done, coconuts to be drunk, gourmet banquets to be eaten and art to explore.
Temple Island will play host to sets from some of the most havin’ it acts currently spanking dancefloors worldwide. Opening on Thursday night there will be music from south Florida future music mogul Henry Krinkle, heads down house purveyor T.Williams and uncategorisable bass merchant Karma Kid. Cranking it up on Friday, there will be Gallic grooves from Daft Punk collaborator DJ Falcon, ethereal digital dance moves from Chrome Sparks, the previously announced siren-fronted trio London Grammar, bass-led bombs from Shadow Child, genre-swerving threesome Dark Sky and future garage manoeuvres from Maribou State.
Saturday will tickle your guilty pleasures with the previously announced Cyril Hahn, plus there will be sets from Bristol based collective Eton Messy, drum n bass wonder Wilkinson, woofer worrying beat tycoon Run Riot andKashii who will be smashing-up house, techno, garage and bouncing UK bass into something glorious. And finally Sunday will see the Eton Messy crew return as hosts for the entire day. Catch it while you can because when the rest of Bestival has you shipwrecked, Temple Island will have you back on your feet; in ways you never thought possible!
From the makers of Shangri Las Glastonbury and long term residents of festival fields Continental Drifts, Club DaDa always offers a warm welcome with music that floats in your ears like honey. Expect crazy Vintage Remix and brass brass brass! Thursday night shenanigans kick off with Robby’s Choice Cuts featuring captain of our ship Rob da Bank going head to head with Tayo & Nerm reprising their Prince tribute, plus Bestival favourite Beans On Toast, laughter, dancing and head-nodding good vibes from Too Many T’s, DJ Moneyshot & Rackabeat’s brand new sampled funk, psych, hip-hop and rock outfit The Allergies and the man himself, DJ Chris Tofu. Friday sees the The Dawn Of Electro Blues a night dedicated to the new sound of electro blues – from The Delta to dance, with an array of electro blues masters Cyborgs, Heymoonshaker, DJ Nick Hollywood, The Future Shape Of Sound and King Lagoon’s Flying Swordfish Band.
Saturday is all about White Mink’s French Electro Swing Special. After hosting the world’s first 1920s to 1950s remixed electro swing night at a festival, Club DaDa had to bring it back. Curated by White Mink, it’s boasts a quality line-up including Shore Leave, Le KKC Orchestra, Smokey Joe and The Kid, Dutty Moonshine, Max Pashm Electro Swing Ensemble and DJ Dodgy Style.
Keeping it fully on the boil for Sunday, Club Dada had to make their amazing Brass Special happen again, as a fitting end to what is destined to be a legendary weekend. Highlights of the night will include Joe Driscol and Sekou Kouyate, Old Dirty Brasstards and, wrapping things up, the annual DJ Chris Tofu Closing Party squeezing the last of your energy into a mash-up maelstrom of madness, with special guests.
The Polka Tent is the most fun and unusual musical set up in any festival. There’s only one place you can find this rare and wonderful thing. Get ready for some Gypsy Punk and Hoedown mayhem. From Global Local – the maddest thing the arts council ever funded.
Opening night action in this musical world like no other includes King Lagoon’s Flying Sword Fish Band, Tankus The Henge and king of the gypsy remix DJ Kobayashi. Friday night is the Polka Party with Hallouminati, Gypsy Hill, Discount Orchestra, Gypsy Fever, Penny Metal, Karauke, Cut A Shine and Gypsy Disco.
Saturday in the Polka Tent goes from Gypsy Punk to Stomping Kleizmer with Buffo’s Wake, Tantz Klezmer Band, The Turbans, Maniere Des Bohemiens, and more from Gypsy Disco and Karauke. Finally the Sunday Hoedown – With Two For Joy celebrates the Polka Tent’s fifth anniversary with a whole day dedicated to jumping nu folk and demented old hoedown! Helping the celebrations go down in style will be City Shanty Band, Ramshackle Union Band, Katy Carr and Gorgeous George, plus there will be special surprise guests and DJs all weekend long.
With the recent news that Bestival's Friday headliner will be party starter extraordinaire Fatboy Slim playing a very special Bestival Birthday Bash set, the triumvirate of amazing must-see headliners is complete as he joins the previously announced Elton John and Snoop Dogg. And now, Bestival HQ’s attention turn to adding yet more incredible new live music and DJs to the mammoth line-up. Scooping the Best Major Festival award last year yet retaining our boutique sensibilities, Bestival’s spectacular 10th birthday this September 5th-8th is going to be the greatest show on earth with more fun per square metre than you’ll find anywhere else; it’s absolutely unmissable!
Rob da Bank says: “HMS Bestival is well and truly under way, steaming across the high seas picking up even more musical passengers. Crystal fighters are Bestival stalwarts and about to go stratospheric, Jon Hopkins has made one of the electronic albums of the year and no party is a Bestival party without Hudson Mohawke and The Correspondents…all aboard you crazy landlubbers!
Crystal Fighters are among the latest litany of vital new acts that are getting us all hot under the collar. With one of the most incredible and visceral live shows around they’re a truly mind-blowing experience that you'd be mad to miss. With their second album Cave Rave out this week, the band are fully charged and ready to rain down their unique brand of mayhem on the Bestival crowd, making our 10th birthday bash that bit more special.
But that’s not all as we’ll also have live sets from sometime King Creosote cohort and purveyor of epic, widescreen bliss Jon Hopkins, everybody’s favourite raconteur, Howard Marks, bass driven swingers The Correspondents, Memphis soulstress Valerie June (whose debut album, ‘Pushin’ Against a Stone’ is out now on our sister label Sunday Best), much fancied aural architect East India Youth, Sunday Best’s secret weapon Tythe, Phil Kieran showcasing his psychedelic song-craft with new project Le Carousel, new voice of the people Sean McGowan, driving post-harcore force Signals, spectral acoustic electronic types Golden Fable, the Isle of Wight's own Cherishport, acoustic soloist Sarah Close, Essex songsmiths New City Kings, alt-folk Mancunians The Slow Show, hotly tipped B-Towners Troumaca, alt-pop rockers Velvet Stream, Bestival’s Island choral competition winners Wight Harmony and indie-banger-pop from Mr Tom.
Keeping your feet moving long into the night will be an array of on-point selectors including Hudson Mohawke whose production prowess is so in demand he’s currently rubbing shoulders with the likes of Kayne West. An undoubted wonky genius who channels a seemingly endless array of goodtime grooves from hip-hop, dub, future RnB, downright dirty funk and beyond into a seamless dancefloor decimating spectacle, Hudson is working on the follow up to his acclaimed Butter long-player and we can't wait to see what wild new alloy of sounds he has in store for us.
We’ll also have sets from Hacienda legend Greg Wilson, Jungle don Micky Finn, glitchy eletrofunk wunderkind Bobby Tank and the incredible JFBScratch who recently mixed up a decade of Bestival goodness for us which you can watch here. Plus we’ll have Continental Drifts’ Chris Tofu, party destroyer Handsome Dave Rocker, beatbox champion Reeps One, Heavenly records' sublime Heavenly Jukebox, the previously mentioned Tythe rocking his Intros/Outros look, rave historian Jerome Hill, deep and warm techno fiend Ben Hoo, Bestival Island DJ competition winner Long Jack, old skool electro disco chameleon Mojo Filter, Portsmouth’s Pete Callard, the genre-defying Rev Milo Speedwagon, house maestro Tom Williams, London DJ collective Warm, radio supremo Olli Dutton and eclectic mix warriors The Dudes.
Finally, we’re very sorry to say that The Child Of Lov has cancelled all of his summer dates, so he won’t be joining us at Bestival as previously announced. Never fear, however, there’s still a truckload of ace stuff happening across the weekend, so hopefully no one will be too put out!
