Set in the rolling hills surrounding the majestic Lulworth Castle. Camp Bestival really does live up to its family friendly credentials providing a great deal of entertainment and activities for the kids between the music stages.
Similar to Reading & Leeds Festival, Camp Bestival for the first time now plays out across two locations in Dorset and Shropshire but unlike R&L they run a few weeks apart with Dorset at the end of July and Shropshire late August, and they share a few acts who play both sites.
The festival is curated by former Radio One DJ Rob da Bank with his wife Josie who originally set up Bestival on the Isle of Wight and Camp Bestival in Dorset before merging the two festivals into one.
The main Castle Stage faces Lulworth Castle, while down the hill is the Big Top second stage and numerous other entertainment spots and chill out zones including Bollywood DJ tent, Caravanserai village, Stargazy lounge and the Literature tent.
The musical genres are eclectic ranging from disco to post-punk, with hip-hop, Britpop. folk and dance anthems weaving through the mix. The Castle Stage was adorned with flower boxes across the full front of the stage so at times through the lens it seemed that the performers were running through a field of wild flowers. These are the acts I saw across three hot days at the end of July.
Headlining Friday was Rag ‘N’ Bone Man (staple of many festivals, what a voice), supported by Jo Whiley’s 90’s Anthems (unfortunately hidden behind a large video screen for the set), Razorlight (great energy as always), The Cuban Brothers (singing, comedy and manic body pop dance), Orla Gartland (catchy folk pop), Elvana (imagine “The King” singing the grunge anthems of Nirvana?) and Lola Young (21 year old singer/songwriter who incidentally covered ‘Together in Electric Dreams’ for the John Lewis advert with the alien in it last Christmas).
Saturday began for me in the Big Top with the sensitive ballads of Eve Owen (daughter of actor Clive Owen) then onto the Castle Stage for the ‘Bogies’ fuelled DJ battle of Dick and Dom (of In Da Bungalow). Rhoda Dakar followed with her 2 Tone melodies (former lead singer of The Bodysnatchers and collaborator with The Specials). Shadowhawk Duo reinterpreted cover songs as classical guitar riffs while Reminders provided some stirring punk energy in the Big Top. The Proclaimers then followed with a solid set of their sing-alongs in the very bright late afternoon sunlight.
Saturday was disco day and many in the crowd were glammed up in sequins and feathers to take part in a World Record attempt at the largest Disco Dance (they smashed it by the way with nearly 600 taking part). The record attempt was presided over by Sophie Ellis-Bextor who later in the afternoon took to the Castle Stage with her Kitchen Disco surrounded by her band in animal costume.
Strangeness ensued with Oh My God It’s The Church, a curious and entertaining blend of evangelism, sin and comedy (think of the church scene in Blues Brothers). Earth Wind and Fire Experience featuring original band member and guitarist Al McKay (big hat and moustache) filled the stage and pumped out their crowd-pleasing string of hits. Closing the night for me was a standout set by post-punk woodland inspired performance art band Snapped Ankles (in ghillie suit and balaclava disguises) whose bass riff and drum propelled rhythms overlaid with keyboard and vocoder were mesmerising.
Sunday started with New Daze a folk/hip-hop mashup combo in the Big Top followed by Thrill Collins, a three-piece acoustic trio on the main stage. Tamzene delivered some heartfelt solo ballads on keyboard and her blue guitar.
The Big Top schedule had been re-arranged to cater for showing the Lionesses’s UEFA Championship final win against Germany on the big screen by bringing forward the comedy with Tiernan McDoueb, Sally-Anne Hayward and headliner Ed Byrne. Next on the Castle Stage was the 1970’s formed group Sister Sledge who entertained with their glittering back catalogue.
Shed Seven kicked up the gears in the glorious afternoon sunshine with frontman Rick Witter also pausing between songs to reminisce about the band missing out on their appearance at the 2018 year of the festival due to the horrendous weather conditions so they moved to the local pub and put on an impromptu performance there instead.
Example gave the crowd a serious workout in arm waving and jumping by pumping out great tunes in rapid succession, engaging with his audience (particularly the large contingent of kids) he seemed genuinely pleased to be there. The evening closed with Rudimental who took the stage like a force of nature handing over lead singing duties between them interspersed with instrumental solos, big jumps and blinding lights.
Altogether a fun three days.
Words and Photos by Vernon Nash
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