With just four months to go until Bestival opens its gates for our Year of the Fantastic, the countdown is on and it's all go for the Bestival who are crew putting the final touches to plans for what is destined to be another legendary weekend of music, madness and mayhem featuring, The Prodigy, Dizzee Rascal, Flaming Lips, Roxy Music, Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem and Fever Ray. We have lots of exciting news including the last of the bands and DJs to be announced, our amazing Thursday night entertainment, an extra-special London launch party and news on coach deals that will take you direct to Robin Hill Country Park, so you can save your strength for an epic weekend of partying.
Rob da Bank took time out from mission control to say: “Bestival is really gonna get off to a flyer on the Thursday night with our new partnership with Back To The Phuture, one of the most forward looking backwards respecting nights out there! From the 80s to the 21st century its gonna go off.. As ever Bestival is the festival with the most new bands playing from every genre and im delighted that we've got a whole raft of new music from Uffie and Washed Out to Toro y Moi, Philip Selway and The Very Best. Tickets about to sell out so jump on quick”
For the third year running we will be rocking for four days, with a stupendous line up of musical treats to move your feet lined up to open Bestival on Thursday night. As we've previously announced, the Big Top will be the place to be as Back To The Phuture take residence with a sublime electro extravaganza. The brainchild of Wall of Sound head honcho Mark Jones and inspired by his BBC 6 Music show, Back To The Phuture is all about joining the dots between legendary synth-pop pioneers and today's cutting edge electronic upstarts. Headlined by Sheffield's sharp suited electro-soulsters Heaven 17, whose return to the live arena has been making all the right sort of waves, Back To The Phuture's residency will also feature Bestival forum favourite Howard Jones, a very rare DJ set from LaRoux and Dead Guy, glacial pop from Nordic new wave synth-poppers Villa Nah, dirty filthy electro from the hotly tipped Kids On Bridges and a welcome peek into the record collection of the man himself, Mark Jones.
As well as opening the festival in some considerable style, Back To the Phuture also has an extra-special Back To The Phuture At Bestival launch party lined up for Tuesday May 25th. Reclaiming legendary early 80s venue La Beatroute for one night only, Back To The Phuture will be taking over the basement of 17 Greek St in London (currently the site of Moonlighting) for a future-retro shindig featuring Heaven 17's Martin Ware (DJ Set), Kids On Bridges (Live), Mark Jones (DJ Set), Howard Jones (Live) and a DJ set from 80s scene stalwart and New Romantic authority Rusty Egan. It all kicks off at 7.30pm and runs until late, entry is free and tickets are available if you're lucky, on the door. Make sure you get down there early and don't forget you can also catch an electro special on Mark's BBC 6 Music show on May 31st.
Kicking off the final wave of acts for the Year of the Fantastic is banging electro-crunk chanteuse Uffie whose lyrical twists are not to be missed, we are also extremely pleased to announce Radiohead sticksman Philip Selway will be making his way to the Isle of Wight for a rare solo appearance in support of his forthcoming solo album and there will be sun-kissed electronic pop fro Caribou. The cream of the chillwave scene including Toro Y Moi, Washed Out, Visions Of Trees andFrisky And Mannish will be present and correct, Cajun Dance Party offshoot Yuck will be demonstrating their dream pop tendencies and Kassidy will showcase their incredible indie-rock harmonies. Plus there will be live appearances from Belles Of London City, Bikini Beach Band, Black Mountain, Council Estate Supermodels, Dengue Fever, Dulwich Ukulele Club, Lulu And The Lampshades, Naive New Beaters, O Children, South Central, Sunday Girl, Think About Life and Wax Tailor.
There's also a host of new DJs stepping up to the platters that matter including the inimitableJustin Robertson who will be dropping some techy vibes, the peerless Jon Carter who will be smashing the bass, Mathew Hawtin (Richie Hawtin's younger brother) who will be supplying ambient goodness, the Trojan Sound System whose dub love knows no bounds and Secousse will present The Very Best Soundsystem featuring Radioclit, Hackney Empire (live) and live dancers. There will also be sets from AGT Rave Cru, Benji Boko, Bobby Friction, Caius Pawson, Chrome Kids, Dave Beer, Deano Ferrino, Firas, Gideon Gold, Issac Ferry, Justine Alderman, Kicks Like A Mule, Krywolf, Loose Cannons, Lord Anthony, Midfield General, Pete Gooding, Phat Phil Cooper, Phil Mison, Rachel Barton, Shepdog, Sink The Pink, Stick It On DJ's The Heatwav DJs,and Yasmin.
There's going to be plenty of action in the Tomorrow's World field with Babybird, Jo Worricker, The Fonatanas, Lucid, Dawn Kinnard, The Rebs, The Family, Martin Harle, Mathew P, King Size Slim, The Half Sisters, Jay Carter, Charley Macaulay, The Moon Music Orchestra, Wight Light Orchestra, The Monitors, Guy Page Trio, Hugo Fruslinky, The Shutes, Born In A Barn, Blank Beats, Cooly Haste, The Chancers, Sun Down City and Jamie Moody, Revenge Of The Lawn all playing on the bandstand. Plus the Gazebo in the Woods will be playing host to Cheviot Hill, Dance Preachers, Me And My Sister, Holly Kirby, Strange Days, Edric Man, Platform One Presents, The Adventurists, Big Hairy Band, Matthew Pearson, JC & Angelina, Santa Spirita, The Gramophone, Tankus The Henge, Miss Cecily and Simon Shelley.
Finally we have some important ticket news: Great value for money Bestival Ticket and door-to-door Coach Travel packages are now available from Southern Vectis. Their coaches will pick you up from 25 towns and cities in the UK and take you direct to the Bestival site (& back), including ferry travel – so no changes and no extra travel costs. What's more, their coaches will drop you off at the new Bestival coach station, which is much closer to the campsites than in previous years.