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Cleverly crafted sci-fi Bestival remains a star attraction
REVIEW: BESTIVAL
Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight
IT'S testament to the winning formula of Bestival that a weekend curated by a dance DJ with a sci-fi fancy dress theme can accommodate such incongruous acts as Seasick Steve and Mika.
Rob da Bank’s guests made for three days of extreme eclecticism with the spirit of bouncing effervescence that pervades at the Isle Of Wight gathering providing the glue for crowd camaraderie.
MGMT hippie chic and Massive Attack’s sinister beats struggled against a firmly non-futuristic sound system during a stuttering start. Cultural chameleon Lilly Allen was tokenistically spacey while Kentish Town’s majestic Kitty, Daisy and Lewis brought their vintage swing for a genuine festival highlight.
The charming Fleet Foxes were at times lost in the murmurs of audience chatter. Pausing between songs is always a risk, especially at a festival aimed largely at the beats-per-minute crowd. Mykonos was the Foxes’ fleetiest moment, and there were enough checked-shirted bearded males in the crowd to pull them through.
Doves were slightly broodier. Pounding, Black and White Town and Kingdom of Rust were thankfully largely untouched by those main stage audio gremlins, as the trio signed off with There Goes The Fear.
Located behind the main stage, the bouncier Fire Field was just a hop away. Home to the Bollywood tent, the heady Rizla stage and a sultry, sofa-lounging palm-reader among other attractions. Drag-queen aliens clambered over a fence to be “where it’s at”.
2009 Bestival’s truly stellar attraction, Kraftwerk, absolutely apposite for an audience of space cadets, Star Wars characters and Smash advert aliens, lit up Saturday night with their mellifluous electro beats and enhanced vocals.
Assisted by a strong Underworld warm-up set, the Dusseldorf pioneers produced an immaculate set including classics The Robots, Trans-Europe Express, The Model and Tour De France backed throughout by spectacular graphics and videos featuring retro computer world imagery.
With more than enough songs to get most crowds punching the air in anger, joy, or love, Elbow were as safe a bet as any for a rousing festival finale.
Somehow, the Bury band manage to navigate audiences through love for their mums to anger at free world leaders, all with a smile as wide as the Solent.
Frontman Guy-is-everybody-still-okay-Garvey was keen to hammer home the fact that this was the last live act of the last festival of the summer. Garvey kept up a constant dialogue with both audience and sound crew. Cue trumpets, confetti, giant inflatable red apples, and elation.
RUSSELL HANDY
ALLAN LEDWARD
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