News

Countdown To Bestival

• 1st Sep 2010

With Bestival just around the corner we're counting down to the 2010 Year of the Fantastic. This week's been nuts – we've launched our new registered charity The Bestival Foundation with our 'Adopt A Bottle' scheme which will see every Isle of Wight schoolchild aged Under 16 presented with a free Josie da Bank designed fully recycled water bottle. This is part of a 3 year programme run in conjunction with the Footprint Trust that will teach local Isle of Wight schoolchildren about saving water with a series of fun workshops and help move local schools towards their eco-school goal.
Rob da Bank commented about the launch of The Bestival Foundation; “We're chuffed and proud to announce the creation of The Bestival Foundation as a way of giving something back to worthwhile causes. To kick off we're focusing on a 3 year plan to support schools across the Isle of Wight giving young 'uns a free recycled bottle to get them thinking about water saving and water usage, which is an important issue for the local Island community and beyond.”

As well as good deeds aplenty we are also very pleased to announce the comedy line up for Bestival's Year of the Fantastic as programmed by GetComedy.com will include a veritable smorgasbord of side-splitters including Rufus Hound, Andrew Maxwell , Craig Campbell, Andre Vincent, Tiffany Stevenson, Chris Cox, Benny Boot, Eric Lampaert, Joel Dommett, Rob Beckett, Luke Benson, Pete Walsh, Lewis Costello, Barry Castgnola, Wayne Deakin, Colin Owens, Matt Kirshen, Tiernan Douieb and Paul McCaffrey. As well as all the comedy you'll be able to prod your brain with the Fashionable Pub Quiz or the Sound Familiar Music Quiz. Delight in the fabulous cabaret stars Frisky and Mannish, Agent Lynch and the one-man theatrics of Bane. Get messy with Underground Rebel Bingo, jive to the Correspondents on Saturday and don your headphones at the witching hour for the DJ battles of the epic Silent Disco.

Continuing our people power vibes at Bestival 2010 we're giving you the chance to shine like the star you are at the Cabaret tent with Whose Talent Is It Anyway? For the first time we are opening our sparkly curtains to the ultimate talent show where you, yes you, are the stars of the show. Whether you can warble like Whitney, shake it like Shakira or pull a disco bunny out of the hat, we need you. If you have the sexy-factor bring yourself, your talent and your friends and put it to the test. All talents are welcome! We will be signing up starlets from Midday on Friday 10th September and early arrival is advised as we expect gargantuan X-Factor style queues. Shows will take place at 1.15pm and 2.45pm. Your hosts will be the fabulous ladies The White One and The Brown One. Fairy Tash will be keeping score and the delectable Delilah will be on the decks. The winner of Whose Talent Is It Anyway will get a coveted slot to perform on the Plugged In Solar-Powered Bestival Bandstand in the Tomorrow's World Field later in the weekend!

We can also let you know that anyone who needs a place to take a breather from the festival mayhem is very welcome to chill at SingStar's Cocktails & Dreams tent where you'll be able to grab a cocktail created by one of their specialist mixologists, then sit back and chill with your mates under the open sky – Cocktails & Dreams has a retractable roof – or, if the mood takes you, release your inner legend with some vocal action on stage or, if you're a bit shy in one of the private SingStar booths. After the sun sets the party SingStar party really kicks off, with resident DJ's, MC's and surprise special guests keeping things going well into the night with appearance from super-special guests Vanilla Ice, Limahl from Kajagoogoo, Katrina from Katrina and the Waves and The Cuban Brothers, Peter Frank Raooowsht and Halifax Hospital radio legend Barry Peters – make sure you don't miss out.

We have some very important practical info about this year's Bestival for you, starting with a word from Rob da Bank: 'I don't wanna sound like Constable da Bank but entrance is gonna be v. strict on under 18s travelling solo and in groups… the rules are below just so we don't get anyone saying we didn't spell it out. Evenin' all'.

And here are those rules: All persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied at the festival by a parent or guardian over the age of 21. Plus, no more than four under 18s are allowed per parent or guardian. If you are lucky enough to look under 21 you might be asked for ID at the entrance and at bars as part of the Challenge 21 initiative – so please bring photo ID with you.

As we've had a bit of a site move around, we have some very important new Bestival travel info that you need to be aware of so please read this. We have moved the main camping car parks this year so please look out for and follow the 'CAMPING CAR PARK' signs as you approach the festival.
Campervans will be in the same place as 2009. Please follow sign for 'CAMPERVANS'. All Tipi Field / Boutique campers – please look out for 'BOUTIQUE CAMPING' signs so you know where to park for easiest access. We are working closely with both Red Funnel and Wightlink ferry companies to reduce congestion at the ports on Monday. You must help to play your part by turning up for your scheduled ferry on time, but NO EARLIER THAN 1 HOUR BEFORE YOUR FERRY TIME – THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! There will be NO SHUTTLE BUSES AT THE ROBIN HILL ENTRANCE this year, this area will be for TAXIS AND DROP OFFS / PICK UPS, BESTIVAL DIRECT COACHES and BIG LEMON COACHES only.SHUTTLE BUSES (from the ferry ports and island towns) will now be dropping off and picking up very near to the main entrance to the campsites. We have moved this to give us lots more space to hold more buses on Monday.

When you are arriving and, more importantly, when you are leaving Bestival, please stay tuned in to BESTIVAL FM on 87.7FM to get the latest traffic and travel info.

Lastly, we are very pleased to announce that Bestival will be on TV, so if you missed out on tickets or, are coming along and want to relieve your Year of the Fantastic you'll be able to catch all the action as Channel 4 will be showing a 60 minute Music on 4 special and a half hour T4 special both on Sunday 19th September plus there will be four 15-minute artist specials to keep an eye out for!

Lots more info at link