Why
did you start Bestival?
It was another one of those
happy accidents that seem to happen to me now and again (like getting
a show on Radio 1 or my toast landing with the Marmite side up for a
change!). My wife Josie and I had all these amazing ideas of our ideal
festival and we met some people John and Ziggy who had the dough to
make it happen so it did! After going to festivals and putting on our
own parties for 15 years it was the dream ending!
What is
it that makes Bestival different or ‘special’ compared to
other festivals?
Well I'm biased
and not everyone might agree but I think it’s the funnest festival
out there for sure. Glastonbury is easily the best festival in the world
– even now with so much business involved it still is pure escapism
and that’s what we wanted to create. A fun escape from normal
life..with ace bands and DJs to boot.
What is
the ethos behind the festival?
Good music and culture
but most importantly a safe place for people to have a laugh and relax.
It’s a very family friendly festival while still being a bit edgy.
Theres no fixed plan or ethos – we’re only in our third
year and we’re just letting it create itself with the people who
come – sounds a but hippyish but it’s the truth! If 15,000
idiots turned up it’d be a rubbish festival so we’re relying
on our crowd to an extent!
Tell me
about this year’s line-up – how’s it shaping up and
what are you looking forward too?
Well the fact that Ive booked
the Pet Shop Boys and Scissor Sisters has kind of overshadowed what
I think is a brave, forward thinking, extremely eclectic line up. I’m
really pleased with the headliners but really Bestival is about searching
out bands and acts you’ve never seen or even heard of.
I’d recommend the amazing
African highlife sound of Kanda Bongo Man, the folk and rock of John
Martyn, the eccentricity of the Mystery Jets, the downright genius of
Kelley Polar’s electronic wibblings, Alfredo’s original
Balearic set, Kid Creole, future star Get Cape Wear Cape Fly and Jim
Noir and that’s just a few of the many things I wanna try and
see!
Bestival
is not just about the music is it? What other weird and wonderful happenings
are part of this years event?
Well we’ve got our
beautiful Spiegel tent with Come Dancing classes all day and a chance
to try our your footwork in the evening! Theres a new 24 Hour Ambient
Tent with the worlds best horizontal DJs and live acts, the Inflatable
Church will be back for weddings and funerals!, Morris Dancing competitions,
the Womens Institute tea and cakes and the worlds biggest fancy dress
party with a circus theme on the Saturday night! And a shedload more…
What’s
you best Bestival memory to date?
Standing on the
stage as Basement Jaxx came on at the first one and looking out and
seeing a sea of people who'd come to our festival. Amazing feeling.
