Bestival 2011: Random Recollections

Fantastic weekend on Isle of Wight – my only complaint is there’s too much to fit into three days. First impression is that it’s huge – finding a pitch near impossible but luckily hear there is a newly opened overspill field where there is more than a few millimetres between tents! Once up into the music and what a welcome from beardyman – seen a few times but always more impressive and this time massively so. One man, a mic and boxes of tricks holding whole of main stage crowd captive. And he’s quick on the improvisation too so even though the sun’s making it hard to see many displays on boxes of tricks he still keeps everyone entertained. Plus the ad libs are a reminder this is a one off set not some rehashing of same old tracks.

On a wander find the whole site is well laid out and most stages / tents big enough to hold the crowd so even though a huge event with thousands not overwhelming like Glastonbury’s gotton. Caught breakage who was entertaining although more traditional play tracks from album with a MC working the crowd. SBTRKT were interesting with real drums for some. Back to the main stage for Public Enemy; grand daddies of hip hop and with the live band set up the music probably wouldn’t offend the old folks these days either. Enough karaoke hip hop moments to bring waves of nostalgia but too much chat about twitter and new book plugging for me.

Then into the night – Pendulum put on an impressive show, helped by a massive computer screen and pyrotechnics a go-go! Great to bounce around to d&b outside it the summer. Same with Asian dub foundation. But the real high light of the day were the jungle brothers – outside on red bull stage at 1am with a small crowd. They can still pull off an impressive show with old classics but mixing in new formats. The same set up of two mc’s and one dj but with far more oomph than public enemy could muster.  Off to tent via jaguar skills who playing the afterburner stage – it’s like a scene from mad max with a massive flame thrower on top of the stage and surrounded by iron tress also spouting fire. What with the hula performers and acrobatics the music almost took second stage (almost).

Saturday started with gentleman’s dub club. Hi energy ska from a live band and a lead singer who acts like he’s just consumed all the red bull on site. Couldn’t get into Dan Le Sac v Scroobius Pip so wandered over to roller disco for the nextmen. Unfortunately they couldn’t get the sound levels right which was a real let down especially as they mashed up stevie wonder with tipper – dream come true for me there. Still the sound for A Skillz was on form and he rocked it with a proper bouncy set. More old skool hip hop with grandmaster flash – or not as the case may be – very entertaining keeping the crowd going with much banter but more like a radio dj than a turntablist I thought, playing a whole variety of stuff from nirvana to David Bowie. Then to the weekend highlight, Primal Scream playing the whole of screamadelica.  An amazing uplifting vibe – that album means so much to so many people and they did it justice – as did the lighting guys with full on lazers. One of those gigs of a lifetime :-)

Sunday started with bands, the drums feature a whole load of other instruments too and a singer – not much variety in the songs and not that unique a sound really. Junip on the other hand have a fantastic sound and the ability to envelope their audience in a magical atmosphere that’s quite unique. Back to crazy mad max land for foreign beggars – djing not live but still got to hear the pyramid refix of heaven on a huge soundsystem (so looking forward to seeing them on 30^th!) Random wandering lead to finding a great dj rocking the big top – turned out to be JFB – not on the bill but man can he keep me dancing while doing jaw droppin tricks too – turntablist for sure.  Stuck around for James Blake – like the sounds but not down with the singing so much, respect for doing something new and interesting though. More JFB junglist before global communication; but this had to be the scheduling fail of the weekend. Would have worked in the ambient forest or last at night somewhere else but 7pm for the most chilled blissed album I know? Shame as sounded good but caused too much cognitive dissonance in my mind to stick around.

Bjork was odd – as expected. The choir worked well and videos of new songs show a great deal of thought gone into the production of new material but it didn’t translate onto the main stage. Not helped by the fact that they didn’t (couldn’t?) film her of the big screen.  So even though she was wearing a big hat and wig still just a mini blip. Sounds like the new stuff would be fantatic in a small intimate setting. Still bestival redeemed itself with an awesome firework display set to a feel good soundtrack of super sharp shooter and queen to name a couple. Then for another surprise highlight – dj shadow has upped his game since I last saw him. Mad reworkings of old classics – new drum and bass dubstep stuff and always on the live element cutting and scratching. Add to all that the mad vj visuals and his sphere set up and that was truly fantastic. No surprise everyone wanted in on it (especially as other stages closing and it starting to rain – went on all night with gales – made pack up and journey out next morning a mission!). A terrific ending to fantastic weekend – next time I go I’m gonna have to clone myself to get even more fun done if they have another fantastic line up. Good Stuff, especially for an event of that size to stay friendly and easy to get about :-)