Live Review

Camp Bestival – Lulworth Castle, Dorset

• 11th Aug 2010

Positive vibes, crowds of parading festivalers, overpriced food, fields full of tents, muddy wellies, smelly people, colossal flags, showers of rain, grim toilets, highs and lows and not so silent discos; everything needed for a successful festival, and Camp Bestival sure did not disappoint. So, here’s what we were came across from the fields of sunny old Devon.

The weekend began well with a fabulous set from Ellie Goulding on Saturday afternoon. Standing there amongst a vast, starry-eyed audience I watched her play an alluring 45 minute set, performing most of her new number one album. Her note perfect, squeaky vocaled crowd favourite ‘Starry Eyed’ was a highlight of her set and a dignified way to end her Camp Bestival experience of 2010.

At ten on Saturday night, it was time to go watch headliners, Madness. A screaming crowd eagerly awaited the arrival of a stage filled with the men in smart suits and occasional bowler hat. For their whole set they kept the crowd in a fixated trance, enjoying a lengthy set with encore. The Camden boys played a number of tracks including singing Happy Birthday to a band member and warmly inviting the crowd to join in; which, all kindly accepted. After an hour of consecutive, some may say, less-known tracks, Madness played the classics. Baggy Trousers, House of Fun, It Must Be Love and Our House ended their magnificent set, generating a ripple of excitement through a spellbound audience. Madness were unequivocally the highlight of this years festival.

Calvin Harris and his techno beats stormed the Castle Stage as one of Camp Bestival’s last acts on Sunday evening. The energetic, slim figure took to the stage to perform his various synthesized hits whilst excitedly springing up and down on the spot. Harris managed to entertain and engage such a diverse audience with ages ranging from 4 to 40 and a great difference in music taste. His repeated line ‘Are you ready?!’ which he used to introduce every song, got the audience going and left them seeking more songs. Calvin Harris, you certainly were not alone at Camp Bestival 2010.

One disappointing act was the Countryside Alliance Crew who played on Sunday night as one of the last acts closing the Bollywood tent. The Countryside Alliance Crew are a bunch of toneless farmers who seek entertainment by making spoof covers of modern-day songs. The lack-lustre farmer group played songs such as Conkers, Arable boy and Wearin’ My Thermals. It was far from amusing, far from perfect, and most certainly did not stay as a highlight of my Camp Bestival. On the flip side however, the tent was filled to an adequate standard and I suppose some people did enjoy it, but only to a certain extent.

Often people are stuck for things to do in the day at a festival, but not here. During the day, there were various workshops for parents to take their children along or even join in themselves.
There was puppet making, sculpting, skateboarding and five a side football. One spectacular area was the House of Fairytales which consisted of a giants kitchen, a magical puppet show and loads of dressing-up, middle aged adults; it was like something out of a Tim Burton film, just not in black and white of course. At night, there was a range of DJ’s including Annie Mac and the infamous silent disco.

Overall, Camp Bestival was a magnificent, family-based festival, jam-packed with a spectrum of entertainment, live music and a great atmosphere.

It can definitely be said that Camp Bestival was certainly the place to be this year, and of course it’ll be back next year even bigger and better!