There’s just five weeks to go until we welcome you all to Lulworth’s fairytale castle on Dorset’s beautiful Jurassic Coast. So, with the countdown clock a-ticking, our ringmaster in chief Rob da Bank and his trusty roustabouts are pulling out all the stops to bring you even more runaways, who will be joining the likes of Basement Jaxx, De La Soul, James, Johnny Marr, The Cuban Brothers, Mr Tumble, Horrible Histories, Ben & Holly Live, Milton Jones and myriad, attractions, activities, spectacles and splendour, at our very own Camp Bestival Circus Maximus!
Rob da Bank says: “I hope you’re loving these new additions as much as I am! Pip & Dan and Kitty, Daisy & Lewis are back at the Castle and I can’t wait for everyone to see the amazing Kate Tempest, Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer and Wild Smiles. We all love a choir, so we’ve got plenty of that going on, and, with some Ram Jam action, electro swingers and the ace John Kennedy, it’ll be non-stop dancing, and that’s before you even get to the Travelling Barn and have a right ole hoe-down and a lovely ale! I can’t wait!”
Ramping up the live action, we have something of a homecoming for Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip on what could be their final tour, and Kentish Town’s hottest musical, sibling trio, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis making a very welcome return to Lulworth Castle. Plus there will be must-see sets from Catfish And The Bottlemen, Kate Tempest, Wild Smiles, Sean McGowan, Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, The Lovely Eggs, Reeps One, Oliver Thompson, No Limit Street Band and Rogue Elements. And we’ll also have some mellifluous choral delights from Lips, Funky Little Choir and Ladies of the Lawn.
DJ action comes courtesy of Venum Sound and Shepdog plus a very special guest who will be joining the mighty David Rodigan MBE and his fantastic Ram Jam line-up. Big Swing Soundsystem, will also be on hand, dropping the electro swing monsters for your delectation, and Xfm new music wizard and sublime selector, John Kennedy, will play some records you’ve never heard before but will want to buy immediately.
We haven’t finished there though, as we have pant-swinging jollies galore, revealing the line-up to our amazing, brand new arena, the Travelling Barn. Rolling into Lulworth for its first appearance at Camp Bestival, the Travelling Barn will have live music from virtuoso three-piece, The Nightcaps, hard folk fromConcrete Mountain, vintage remixes from DJ Chris Tofu, Bluegrass super-group, Stompin’ Dave and his Bluegrass Band, finger pickin’ good up-and-comers, Flats and Sharps and anarcho-jock DJ Penny Metal. There will also be penguin songs, jungle climbing, magical toyshops and more with the Toucan Uke Singing & Ukulele Workshops, racks of local real ale to sup and raucous, toe-tappin' hoe-downs in the evening hosted by the anarchic hillbilly barn dancing squad, Cut A Shine.
Finally for now, we have the beautiful and bewhiskered Camp Bestival Beard and Moustache Competition! Captivate the audiences with your flocculent facial sculpture! Bedazzle with your bushiness! Let them fondly hurrah at your hirsute and fleecy face! But mostly be there on Saturday 11.30am on the Catwalk in the Lower Kids Garden and impress the special celebrity judge before the fantastic and fabulous annual Pimp My Trolley Competition at 12 noon!