The competition only closed on Friday, but Rob Da Bank has been busy all weekend, selecting his favourite Island bands and DJs from the thousands (that might be a slight exaggeration) of entries for this year’s Bestival Band and DJ competition.
Once again, Bestival HQ have been kind enough to give us the exclusive, so here they are.
First up in the battle to christen the main stage on the Friday afternoon is VentnorBlog favourite HUGO FRUSSLINKY, they are guaranteed to rock your socks off. Next up, THE OPERATORS (pictured), seen them live a couple of times and have been very impressed with the music and stage presence. EMILY-JANE made it through, have yet to hear her stuff (no MySpace) but apparently she sounds very similar to Kate Nash.
Representing the huge hip hop scene on the Island will be THE WHITE ROOM (all 10 of them) and finally SHADOW FLY – who I have to admit I know nothing about, and couldn’t find a MySpace, so will just have to wait until next week to find out.
On the DJ front, Rob was suitably impressed with PHAT FUNK MAC, who will be “playing an infusion of rare grooves and great tunes that will soothe your soul and move your feet!”
RENEGADE is back again (our favourite for last year), proving you can deliver the goods with a laptop and not just vinyl (he’s given in to the Vinyl pressure!). Well known across the Island, DJ SPARROW is a discoteer who loves the mornings and the funk! Apparently he admires Frankie Detorri and his girlfriend but, is wary of other humans, and cats. Meow.
DJ MIKEE LAZY will work the crowd into a frenzy with his eclectic sound and turntable skillsMandy Sugar Hill will be spinning her stuff and Radio Soma resident DJ TS, will be bringing some dubstep, reggae and drum and bass to the night.
Well done to you all for showing enough talent and enthusiasm to get you through to the shortlist …. you just need to work your magic next Thursday now.
So now you know who’s going to be playing, make sure you get yourselves and all your mates down to Ryde Theatre next Thursday from 7pm. The lovely Joni Rhodes (Solent TV’s biggest loss) will be compering and as well as the usual suspects on the judging panel, main man Rob Da Bank, Ross Finden (County Press), Tom Stroud (IW Radio) expect a very special surprise celebrity guest!
Message for the lucky bands and DJs
The bands who made it through must be able to sound check during the day of the 19th and should contact kate at production(at)bestival(dot)net for more details.
DJ’s, you need to be at the theatre by 6pm and let Kate know if you have any unusual requests for equipment (CD and vinyl decks will be provided).
