This year’s Bestival has once again proven itself to be right up there amongst the top festivals on offer in England for 2012.
There really was something for everyone, from the wacky and weird to the serious and scholarly, with the whole spectrum in between in its various rainbow hues.
The site itself was a marvel to behold; the first thing that struck me was just how vast it was. Tents stretched as far as the eye could see. Even the tents are diverse, some more pragmatic one man tents, are dwarfed by huge tents in all different shapes and sizes, my particular favourite was the VW campervan tent.
The music was obviously the primary draw for most of the Bestival goers, whether it was for the headlining acts on the Main Stage and in the Big Top, the up and coming bands on the Band Stand, or the music in the various club tents, it was impossible not to find something you loved.
Spectacular performances
I particularly enjoyed Florence and the Machine and The XX on the Main Stage on Friday night, as well as the amazing reggae music in ‘Knees Up’ tent. However, the biggest draw had to be the stupendous Stevie Wonder on the Sunday night.
The 62 year old musician delivered a spectacular performance to a massive audience of people, delivering all his hits – my favourite being ‘Superstition’ – with such energy and soul that the whole crowd were just completely enamoured with him.
Music abounded, whereever you looked there was a stage with some kind of musical goings on, so much so that there is no way to list as many as deserve recognition in this review.
Not just about the music
I found myself gravitating towards the comedy tent throughout each day as it was an amazing place to sit, catch your breath, and recuperate from any ailments you may have sustained in the Bestival madness.
Saturday afternoon saw Paul Sweeney amuse crowds with his acoustic guitar accompanied songs, my favourite line being: “because a panda bear is just a polar bear in an abusive relationship”.
My favourite act of possibly the whole weekend was ‘Late Night Gimp Fight’, a four man band that do various sketches and songs, each more hilarious than the previous.
Sunday was equally impressive with brilliant comedic performances from Jarred Christmas and Phil Nichol.
Flexing the grey cells
In the Tomorrow’s World area, we found a science tent with all sorts of interesting gadgets, including ‘Dragon Wash’ an ancient Chinese conception that consists of a brass basin filled with water, and when the handles were rubbed in the correct manner the vibration caused the water to jump about in a way that really needs to be seen to be believed.
A big area was set aside just for kids that contained all manner of things, including circus paraphernalia for them to use like uni cycles. There was an art tent where you could paint a spoon and plant it in the spoon army, a crazy golf course and even a cinema.
Listening to lectures
If you were feeling in an intellectual mood you could pop by the ‘Bestiversity’ to catch a lecture.
One that was particularly good was about renewable resources and how we can use the economic crisis to bring these renewable energy resources to the forefront.
In all, whether you go to the Bestival for the kooky and kitsch, the fun and frolics, or just for really great music, you will always leave wanting more, and with weather as sunny as it was this year, I’m sure there will be no shortage of return revellers next year.
Take a look at more Bestival photos.
