News

La Roux To Judge Bestival Fancy Dress

• 31st Mar 2010

Now that British Summer Time is truly upon us and the festival season is dawning, we're getting giddy here at Bestival HQ with a host of even more amazing names to add to our current line-up that already includes The Prodigy, Dizzee Rascal, Flaming Lips,Roxy Music & Hot Chip and an extra special guest to judge the army of 'Fantasy' fancy dress indulgers.

Firstly however, the existing Bestival family are extremely proud to announce a new element to the ever-expanding Besti crew: the devilishly diverse Bestival Residents.

Rob da Bank explains:”Now that both our festivals have settled into the calendar I realized that there were quite a few acts that ended up playing both shows – Camp Bestival and Bestival – and thought hmm… why not shout about these people as I obviously love them and want the world to know them too!

“So to join our main stage hosts, The Cuban Brothers, I'm delighted to introduce such a mixed bag to kick off our first year residency – from indie to folk to disco, beatboxing and hands in the air techno it's all in here – just like it is at our festies. We had fun doing the photo shoot, swapping musical tips and wigs … and if you don't know any of these musical impresarios check 'em out now!”

Covering all bases from the super fresh to the proper legendary, The Bestival Residents are the distilled essence of Bestival's musical wanderlust. Playing at both Camp Bestival and Bestival they are sure to be a big part of your festival soundtrack. As we'll all be spending a lot of time in our Bestival Residents' company this summer, we thought you'd like to get to know them a bit better. So here, for your pleasure, is the low-down on each and every one of them:

CALLUM NEGUS FANCEY (LET'S GO CRAZY PROMOTER)
Age: 20
From: West London
Sounds like: The banging dance sounds coming through your younger brother or sister's bedroom walls, as the youth of today get their revenge on X-Factor.
Critics Say: “Let's Go Crazy is dominating the under-18s clubbing market with one flick of its glowstick.” – TIME OUT

BETH JEANS HOUGHTON
Age: 20
From: Transylvania
Sounds like: Beautiful melodies and folky pop of the highest order for fans of Joanna Newsom, Vashti Bunyan, PJ Harveys more open minded followers and Bon Iver's hordes of fans
Critics say: “rising star” Jim Powell (the Guardian)

GREG WILSON
Age: 50
From: Liverpool
Sounds like: All the 21st century cosmic disco new bods transported back to the Hacienda, sprinkled in angel dust and dressed in disco hot pants
Critics Say: 'Greg Wilson played a huge part in bringing about the 80s northern house explosion, so show some flippin' respec'' JOCKEY SLUT

JAMIE WOON
Age: 27
From: New Malden, near London
Sounds like: With a voice to tear your heart out, Mr Woon mashes poetry, chanting and voodoo soul into a magic potion.
Critics say: “the 21-year-old talent splices rootsy styles and DIY sample culture, enriching that musical mix with his soulful vocals and poetic observations” – The Metro

JACK BEATS
Age: Classified
From: London
Sounds like: One of the leaders of the bass driven electro rave crew have made monster tunes themselves plus check their mixes of Fake Blood and Passion Pit to take the roof off!
Critics Say: “insanely funky beats, shiny happy melodies and hook…” Elbow Music Blog.

JOY ORBISON
Age: 23
From: Croydon, London
Sounds like: Brooding Burial like synth pads overlaid with skittering Detroitian techno which make dancefloors go radio rental!
Critics say: “Somehow euphoric yet mournful, banging yet sad, drenched in keyboards, and rhythmically straddling the previously uncharted terrain between dubstep, garage and house.” Paul Lester The Guardian

UNICORN KID
Age: 18
From: Edinburgh, Scotland
Sounds like: Inspired electro and chip music rave stylings with real depth that have had him warm up everyone from Calvin Harris to Owl City. The Pet Shop Boys squabbling with Mylo and Richie Hawtin in a drum factory.
Critics say: 'Unicorn Kid is on the verge of going stratospheric by this time next year.' Live review – Edinburgh, Cabaret Voltaire

JAGUAR SKILLS
Age: Unknown
From: Unknown
Sounds like: Every hip hop record ever from Big Daddy Kane and Ice T to Eminem and Kanye smacked down onto one mothersucking gold plated twelve inch then remixed by Snoop and De La Soul. Funky!
Critics say: “Shout out to a real superman DJ, with the heaviest production skills to match. One of The next homegrown producers to go global with his sound. Probably.” Ras Kwame-BBC Radio 1 & 1xtra.

BEARDYMAN
Age: 28
From: London
Sounds like: Possibly the finest beatboxer in the world . ever! From imitating Michael Jackson or a Hassidic Jew to making some of the most innovative mind bending music out there .. all with his mouth, Beardyman is one of the most inspiring perfomers we've seen for eons.
Critics say: Darren Foreman, is the two-times winner and current beatboxing champion of the UK. His vocal skills at this year's champs made one of the judges turn to the other and say, “But that's impossible?” humanbeatbox.com

CHARLI XCX
Age: 17
From: London
Sounds like: MIA, Kate Nash, Lily Allen, Kim Wilde, Prince and Human League for starters. Amazing live, gonna be a killer album!
Critics say: 'gold star for her efforts and a recommendation to check Charli XCX out if you're not quite sure where the scene is at right now; Charli XCX will provide all the answers.' The Neon Hub blog.

As well as our lovely residents we are very pleased to announce that erstwhile Beta Band member, King Biscuit Time kingpin and Black Affair main man Steve Mason will be playing a selection of his Richard X produced solo material which will be released in May. New Young Pony Club, fresh from unleashing their acclaimed album 'The Optimist', will also be adding a touch of Chaos to proceedings, the insanely hooky Darwin Deez will bring the lo-fi New York scuzz-pop and Mount Kimbie will supply genre-defying steppiness. Errors' dreamy illustrious grooves will add to the fantasy feel, Chrome Hoof's jaw-dropping metal masked mayhem will be roaring the soundtrack to a live experience that truly has to be seen to believed, electronic duo Silver Columns who've caused a stir recently thanks to their anonymous drip feed of enigmatic tracks will be unveiling their sublime sounds, hotly tipped soul chanteuse Rox will be showcasing her delicious vocals and Muchuu's ethereal melodic, FX laden vocal pop will fill the gorgeous surroundings of Robin Hill Country Park.

Turntable action comes courtesy of the incomparable Zero 7 who will be rooting through their extensively eclectic record collection, Tensnake who will be demonstrate his unique twist on the current explosion in nu-disco whilst fellow retro dancefloor dominators Disco Bloodbath will be picking up the East-London vibe from their infamous parties and dropping it on the Isle of Wight. DJ Hojo Hits has probably the most bizarre route into playing at Bestival where a joke email sent to Rob da Bank has led to playing alongside The Sunday Best Forum Allstars or as he explains on his MySpace page “DJ Hojo Hits was created for the single purpose of bringing the music of 80s parrot spiked hair pop star Howard Jones to the Bestival Festival.” Remember, it's all about people power! Rounding up the latest DJ line up is the top rated producer behind a host of electronic names King Roc who is sure to rock the house with his pioneering tech-house sound.

Finally we are super-excited to be able to let you know that following her show-stopping performance in the Big Top last year, La Roux will be making her way across the Solent and back to the Isle yet again not only to play a rare DJ set with Deadman but also to judge our fancy dress competition! Here's what she had to say on the prospect of rewarding the most fantastically dressed of all the fantasy Bestival goers:

“I'm honoured to be asked to judge this year, especially as I'm the worst person at fancy dress in the world. I'm looking forward to seeing what elements of “fantasy” can be brought out in clothing, Bestival goers are extremely inventive! No gimps please!”