And so the festival
season unhitches it's tent pegs for another year, but before we bundle
our camping accessories back in the loft until next May it's time for
Bestival. The most relaxing and the most colorful weekend in the festival
calendar.
Located at Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle Of Wight Bestival is different
to other festivals as the live music isn't the most important aspect.
OK, so Pet Shop Boys gave us a greatest hits set which was superb Hot
Chip returned to the site after two years only this time bringing a recognize
song ('Over & OVER). Scissor Sisters wrapped up the weekend by a splendid
camp performance (Ana Matronic dressed as a clown because it was a circus
theme fancy dress day - despite clowns being banned because some freaks
find them scary!) Even relative unknown Gogol Bordello walked away on
Friday evening with a fied-full of new won over fans. But this was only
the very tip of this glorious weekend.
What normally happens at weekends? That's right, weddings. Those pointless
affairs which invoke other kind of affairs after you have committed your
life away to somebody you presently love. The inflatable church situated
on top of the hill carried out weddings every ten minutes. The bride and
groom or the bride and bride/ groom & groom could wed, have a quick
photo and then were invited to the party on the Sunday evening . The priest
who always had a cigarette in his face helped the proceedings run smoothly
and the happy couple would leave the ceremony through a hula hoop!
Next door the outside tent had comedy, a circus display and a blind date
show where the winners could handily meander around the corner and be
married in the church.
Of course the marriage wasn't for life, you could easily marry a rich
guy and dump him minutes afterwards - although there was no sign of Heather
Mills at the festival!
In some European cities you can't walk a few yards without being hassled
by a painter wishing to give you a shabby portrait. One tent at Bestival
took things a step creativity further. Visitors were invited to model
themselves with a chunk of clay and add their masterpiece to the hundred
or so more people who have participated at other European festivals. Opposite
this bizarre tent was a group of lambs being rounded up by a wolf into
tiny pens. Before you start calling the RSPCA you can be rest assured
by knowing that all the creatures were in fact human.
The Lost Horizon area situated in the campsite allowed guests to go natural
in a sauna and hot tub to avoid the long queues at the showers and even
nibble on a Pizza afterwards.
The 24 hour field gave budding 'Come Dancing' lovers the chance to try
out steps in the salon, whilst the solar powered cinema screened scary
films. More haunting going ons could be found over in the Voodoo Big Top
where an assortment of live music entertained those in the long queue.
What were the queuing for? The Hidden Disco of course, which was secretly
positioned inside.
The main arena comprised of the Bollywood Bar, Jack Daniel's live music
tent, rows of great food stands and the toboggan run which the park kindly
kept open this year for guests to try out. We actually experimented what
would occur if you ignore the brake signs. The conclusion was that you
fall off! Backstage the pub kept our food and drinks needs at bay and
on Saturday night Topman teamed up with Dazed & Confused for the annual
lock-in.
Disabled camping wasn't bad and a loo was closed to the public from the
Friday evening just for people with disabilities. Although with just a
flat area catering for wheelchair users we feel a proper disabled platform
wouldn't go a miss. Especially as the site itself isn't wheelchair friendly
with its extremely steep hills.
Despite that small niggle, a large percentage of the staff are extremely
helpful Bestival is a weekend to unwind and be happy. For goodness sake,
go and buy a ticket for 2007 now. Who knows, one of our family members
is knocking on a bit now and if the inflatable church introduces funerals
next year it could save us a great deal of time and money!