News

Janelle Monae and Mr Motivator Added To Bestival Line Up

• 19th Aug 2010

With Bestival 2010: The Year of the Fantastic on the horizon, the Bestival crew are a busy bunch adding last minute touches to this year's show, sprinkling their Bestival magic far and wide. So, we thought we'd give you the heads up on some ace new additions to the line-up, plus we have news on our fancy dress competition with a truly amazing prize and some brand new attractions that will make your weekend go with a bang!

In the rarest of quiet moments away from the Bestival Bunker Rob da Bank said: 'I'm down on the Isle of Wight at the mo' supposedly having a breather before Bestival but actually just getting very excited about all the latest fun and games we have to announce. Janelle Monáe is without a doubt a superstar, fame and glory aside she just writes the best songs since Prince…technicolour funk mayhem coming to Bestival only this year! The Jolly Boys were so brilliant at Camp Bestival we had to get them back for Besti and they'll be gracing the main stage – undoubtedly a Bestival moment waiting to happen.

Mrs da Bank has been very busy beavering away on a brand new field, The Wishing Tree, roughly running 24 hours and really a place to wind down after the main stage finishes and also somewhere to get horizontal during the day and check out some brilliant cabaret, comedy and our two new micro venues Chai Wallahs and The Bimble Inn, two staples of the alternative festi circuit. Make sure you discover the actual The Wishing Tree (you can't miss it) and get inside later on for ambient sets from the likes of Phil Mison, Chris Coco and Moonboots. Yoga, meditation and chanting is not compulsory but is encouraged. Phew …I cant wait!'

We are beyond excited to announce that Janelle Monáe, possibly the hottest pop property in the world right now will be joining us at Robin Hill Country Park on Thursday 9th September for a super-exciting festival exclusive set. Her universally acclaimed debut album 'ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)', that has been getting the likes of his purpleness Prince all hot and bothered, is a bold, futuristic fantasy-funk odyssey that moves effortlessly between styles as diverse as R&B, disco and psychedelic rock all beautifully topped off with Janelle's jaw-dropping vocals. This is a one-off for this festival season and a total coup, making it simply unmissable. We just can't wait!

Fresh from wowing the Camp Bestival crowd with a high-octane bandstand appearance, mento messiahs and bona-fide legends, The Jolly Boys will be getting on the ferry across the Solent to deliver their incredibly infectious grooves to the Bestival brethren. Giving their Jamaican folk perspective to classics like 'Rehab', 'Perfect Day' and 'The Passenger' – all taken from their forthcoming 'Great Expectation' album – The Jolly Boys are just about the perfect party band, so make sure you catch them.

Keep your eyes peeled all weekend for early-morning fitness legend Mr Motivator. One of the country's best loved exercise gurus, Mr Motivator will be popping up across the site making sure you're on your toes with some energising workouts that will help you keep your stamina up for an epic four days of partying. Leotards are optional.

Amidst all the preparations we've been having a bit of a chin-wag with Chase & Status, who are celebrating the release of their latest single 'Let You Go' this week and we can confirm that they're all steamed up and raring to go for their third Bestival appearance in as many years. This year's will be super-special though, as it's the first time they have brought their mind-blowing live band along to hype the crowd before The Prodigy on Sunday night. They told us: 'We're really looking forward to this one as we've always had such a great time there in the past. Bestival has one of the best crowds of the festival season and if we have the time we'll be spending the whole weekend there'.

With three weeks to go until Bestival 2010: The Year Of The Fantastic is upon us, we thought we'd ask for a sneaky peak at all the Magickal costumes you inventive lot have been busy knocking up over the last few months for this year's Fantasy theme. Simply send us a photo of you dressed up in your Fantasy fancy dress to mail and we'll post them up on our Facebook page link in a Fantasy photo album. This year's fancy dress judge and Fantasy fashionista La Roux will then choose the most fantastically dressed of all the Bestival goers on Friday 3rd September who'll get their hands on a much coveted prize ofa lifetime's supply of tickets to Bestival! We'll also be giving 2 runner-up prizes of a Bestival hoodie so make sure you email your pics in now for your chance to win!

Brand new to Bestival this year will be the stunning Wishing Tree area, a round-the-clock laidback lure, where you'll find a wealth of wonders. A spectacular sight to behold, the actual Wishing Tree itself is an eight metre tall sparkling vision of beauty where you will be bathed in Balearic beats as blissfully chilled tunes spun by the likes of Chris Coco, Phil Mison, Pete Gooding, Pathaan, Moonboots and many more fulfil your late night desires. Also making its inaugural trip to Bestival as part of the Wishing Tree area is the Bimble Inn. A solar powered stage and bar that serves cider and organic ales, all situated within a striking giant bespoke tipi, the Bimble Inn is bedecked in bewitching fairy lights that will draw you in to a world of nocturnal fun that will include performances from David Harks, Shadow Orchestra, Philip Henry, The Amgios, Nately, Baraka, Domino State, Movits, Ta Mere, Papa Dez (DJ), Lulu And The Lampshades, Bellaruche, Countryside Alliance Crew, The Egg, Andy Barlow (Lamb), Skinny Lister, Midnight Expresso, Sound Of Rum, Django Django, Brassroots and Cindy Pink (DJ Set).

Another newbie coming for the Wishing Tree is Chai Wallahs who will provide a sensually indulgent experience, hosting performances from a selection of the UK's finest underground talent and established artists including Selectah Si Chai, DJ Moneyshot, DJ Parker, DJ Featurecast, Rodney P, Skitz, DJ Die, The Nextmen, DJ Yoshi, Channel One Soundsystem, Reggae Roast, Evergreen & Landlord, Jstar & Shepdog, David Rodigan, Skuff & Inja, Asbo Disco, Heatwave DJ's, Mr Benn and Diplomats Of Sound. Chai Wallahs also boasts aroma DJs who blend scents to fit the musical vibes, a bar & café, herbal shot bar, Crazy Shaman Herbal Emporium and a Shisha Lounge. The Wishing Tree area will also host the Cabaret Tent and silent disco, 24hour (dub) café, The Big Love Inflatable Church, Lost and Found, Prangsta, Bramble FM, Dukebox and Mr Whippy & the Conettes, making it an essential destination.

Returning to Bestival for more deliciosuly deranged fun, Club Dadais going to swing, ding and ultimately explode. Taking over the Spiegel Tent every night after Come Dancing and spinning it into the 23rd Century with Electro Swing, jumping brassed up Ska and deep Blues mixed up with performance and lots of weirdness, Club Dada's line up includes Le Bal Swing, DJ `s Bart and Baker, Dj Romain Bno – G – Swing, Kormac and His Orchestra, Movits, DJ Nick Hollywood, Dj Tofu Ska Remix, Top Cats, C.W. Stoneking and the Primitive Horn Orchestra, Dj Gaz Mayall, Last Man Standing, Correspondents Curete, DJ Switch, Dutty Moonshine, Lazy Habits meet Correspondents, Mr B The Gentleman, DJ Mr Chuckles, Movits,Dj Dirty Retro and Wagon Tails.

Bestival is the only festival in the UK to boast aPolka Tent dedicated to gypsy remix, jumping Polkas and hoedown folk . A firm favourite for the faithful this year's action includes fruit that sings, 1000 mile an hour Gypsy Punk, Burlesque Morris and tonnes of Eastern polka . Brought to you by the Global Local project of Continental Drifts and the Arts Council the line up features Manouche's Django Rheinhardt style Gypsy Swing with jumping horns, The UKs original Gypsy Remixer Max Pashm, the truely insane Gogol Bordello meets a live techno band meets a Gypsy wedding styles of Tako Lako,hoedown madness from Cut a shine and Sunday's MAGPIES NEST. Plus there's Sam and The Womp, Drunken Balordi, Penny Metal Besti Guestee, Dodo, Kidnap Alice, The Sonic power of Fruit and Vegtables, Dj Chris Van Tofu, Drunken Balordi, Lazy Habits, Billy Vincent, The Sonic power of Fruit and Vegtables, Loose Moose Stringband, The Trailer Trash Orchestra, Folkoke, Wagon Tales, Goodnight Lenin, Dj Peeping Tallulah and DJ Tony Lambada.

The Shellac Collective will also be on hand once again to supply jumping jive and swinging beats in the Black Dhalia Tent with live sets from Lonnie Donegan Jr, Jack, The Henry Brothers and The Siren Sisters plus Greg's Greats, DJ78, Count Sizzle, Natty Bo, DJ SisaMo, DJs Flutter & Wow and DJ GG will be spinning their gramophone selections.

With more magic, mayhem and madness on offer than ever before for our Year of the Fantastic, make sure you sign up to Rob da Bank's twitter page for up to the second artist updates, last minute changes and surprise slot info… there's two surprise guests so far! Head to link and click the follow button.

And, as ever, there's a wealth of info at link so check it out.

BESTIVAL LINE UP SO FAR…

LIVE MUSIC FROM THE PRODIGY, DIZZEE RASCAL, THE FLAMING LIPS, ROXY MUSIC, HOT CHIP, THE XX, LCD SOUNDSYSTEM, FEVER RAY, RICHIE HAWTIN presents PLASTIKMAN, JÓNSI, CHASE & STATUS, MUMFORD & SONS, SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO, GIL SCOTT-HERON, TRICKY, THE WAILERS, DELPHIC, CHIC featuring NILE RODGERS, ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, THE TEMPER TRAP, ELLIE GOULDING, ROLF HARRIS, FOUR TET, KITTY DAISY & LEWIS, TINIE TEMPAH, EXAMPLE, CORNERSHOP, FAT FREDDY'S DROP, BEARDYMAN, DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP, HEAVEN 17, THE CUBAN BROTHERS, ALEX METRIC, HURTS, TUNNG, STORNOWAY, VITALIC, CHILLY GONZALES, GASLAMP KILLER, ULRICH SCHNAUSS, NATHAN FAKE, GIRL TALK, EVERYTHING EVERYTHING, WILD BEASTS, HOWARD JONES, DUB PISTOLS, THE VEGETABLE ORCHESTRA, CHARLIE XCX, SUMMER CAMP, ERRORS, OU EST LE SWIMMING POOL, THE TWINKLE BROTHERS, HIGH LLAMAS, THE ANTLERS, ARCHIE BRONSON OUTFIT, BETH JEANS HOUGHTON, I BLAME COCO, MIXHELL, GENTLEMAN'S DUB CLUB, GLEN MATLOCK, SAMUEL AND THE DRAGON, THE CORRESPONDENTS, THE JAPANESE POPSTARS, THE LOST BROTHERS, THE JIM JONES REVUE, MEMORY TAPES, ERLAND AND THE CARNIVAL, GAGGLE, DEER TICK, SPARROW AND THE WORKSHOP, CRYSTAL FIGHTERS, EGYPTIAN HIP HOP, HEAR WE GO MAGIC, GOLDHAWKS , COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE CREW, LAURA J MARTIN, A GENUINE FREAKSHOW, BOOKHOUSE BOYS, KING CHARLES, THREE TRAPPED TIGERS, WORSHIP, FRENCH HORN REBELLION, SISTERS OF TRANSISTORS, SPINDLE AND WIT, STARLESS & BIBLE BLACK, THE BOY WHO TRAPPED THE SUN, TELEGRAPHS, TIM AND SAM BAND, UNICORN KID, PHOSPHORESCENT, PORTICO QUARTET, RACE HORSES, NEON INDIAN, NORTH ATLANTIC OSCILLATION, MADEMOISELLE CARO & FRANCK GARCIA, JAMIE WOON, THE BIKINI BEACH BAND, LISSIE, OUR FOLD, HOLLY KIRBY, DERWYDDON DR GONZO, THE KURVES

DJ SETS FROM ROB DA BANK PLUS MYLO, ZANE LOWE, ANNIE MAC PRESENTS, AEROPLANE, DAVE CLARKE, EROL ALKAN, LA ROUX & DEAD GUY, MAGDA, SKREAM, AUDIO BULLYS, GILLES PETERSON, DAVID RODIGAN, DJ YODA, JACK BEATS, JOY ORBISON, FLYING LOTUS, HORSEMEAT DISCO, CASPA & MC ROD AZLAN, JOKER, MARY-ANNE HOBBS, HUW STEPHENS, DON LETTS, ARTHUR BAKER, EWAN PEARSON, TOM MIDDLETON, GREG WILSON, TODD EDWARDS, DJ ZINC, DJ DEREK, JOKER, JACK BEATS, BARRY PETERS, SHY FX, SETH TROXLER, JAGUAR SKILLS, SBRTKT, JAKWOB, DIXON, ADRIAN SHERWOOD, CHRIS COCO, VILLA, RAMADANMAN, ADRIAN SHERWOOD, MC DYNAMITE, GREG'S GREATS, UNTOLD, THE BROKEN HEARTS, BACK TO THE PHUTURE, SERGE SANTIAGO, REGGAE ROAST, AUTONOMIC SHOWCASE FEAT. DBRIDGE, INSTRA:MENTAL & SP:MC, BREAKAGE, FEELING GLOOMY, FEAR OF THEYDON, SOMBRERO SOUND SYSTEM, PADDY FREEFORM

PLUS 4 DAYS OF BESTIVAL FUN, 14 STAGES OF LIVE MUSIC & DJS, OVER 200 ARTISTS, THE BIGGEST FANTASY FANCY DRESS PARTY EVER, NEW ARENAS INCLUDING THE WISHING TREE & TOMORROW'S WORLD, NEW MAIN STAGE POSITION, AFTERBURNER RAVE UP, THE CASTLE IN THE SKY BONFIRE EXTRAVAGANZA & MUCH MORE