Bestival
Bestival | |
---|---|
Genre | Independent, dance |
Dates | Late summer, September (4 days) |
Location(s) | Dorset, England |
Years active | 2004–2018 |
Attendance | 50,000 |
Website | bestival |
Bestival was a four-day music festival held in the south of
Origins
The festival had been held annually in the late summer since 2004, in a small country park called '
In 2004, the festival was attended by 10,000 people, a figure which subsequently increased to 43,000 in 2009[1] and 50,000 in 2018.[2]
A family-friendly sister festival "Camp Bestival" launched in 2008.
In December 2016, the organisers announced a move to The Lulworth Estate in Dorset.[5]
In 2018 Bestival moved from its usual September date to the first week in August, a week after its sister festival, Camp Bestival, took place on the same, Lulworth Estate site.
In 2018 The Bestival organisation went into administration, leaving many workers unpaid. Bestival as a result ceased, however Camp Bestival continued on the same Lulworth Estate site and equivalent weekend in 2019. The event was again curated by Rob da Bank and his wife Josie. All remaining Bestival brands were bought out of administration in late 2018 by the US/Irish entertainments group Live Nation/Gaiety along with SJM concerts. As such they are now brand owners for Camp Bestival and, the currently inactive, Bestival.
Festival ethos
Bestival was well known for its fancy dress themed days (usually the Saturday of the festival). In 2005, an attempt was made to set the
The festival was also heavily involved in supporting social and environmental causes. Rob da Bank and Bestival supported several Isle of Wight-based charities and youth organisations; for example Rob da Bank's Music Club, Isle of Wight Toy Appeal, Isle of Wight Youth Trust, St Catherines School and Barter For Bestival. On site at the festival, Bestival supported Oxfam, RSPB, Amnesty International, Water Aid and the Legacy Project. Bestival actively reduced its
Bestival was a founding member of the Greener Festival Alliance.[citation needed]
Bestival was often described as a "boutique festival" due to its non-corporate feel. It was also known for piloting odd and innovative ideas, including an inflatable church where people can get married. Other features included the "Breastival", a quiet Yurt designated for mothers and their breast-feeding children. The local Women's Institute had also been involved by providing refreshments for a minimal price.[citation needed]
Performance venues
The main venues in 2014 were:
- Main Stage – an open-air main stage
- Big Top – the second venue, a large capacity tent
- Invaders of the Future
- The Bandstand (hosted by compere Scott Anderson)
- The Port – an outdoor DJ stage made from a boat (2013–2015)
- The Spaceport – Updated version of The Port (As of 2016)
- Bollywood
- Temple Island
- Reggae Roots
- Red Bull Music Academy Stage
- BBC Introducing
Awards
Bestival has received the following awards:
- UK Festival Awards 2005: Best Medium-Sized Festival
- UK Festival Awards 2005: Best innovation
- UK Festival Awards 2006: Best Medium-Sized Festival
- UK Festival Awards 2007: Best Medium-Sized Festival
- UK Festival Awards 2009: Best Medium-Sized Festival
- UK Festival Awards 2010: Best Major Festival
- UK Festival Awards 2011: Fans Favourite
- UK Festival Awards 2012: Best Major Festival
- UK Festival Awards 2015: Best Major Festival
- DJ Mag's Best of British Awards 2012: Best Festival
- Artrocker Awards 2012: Festival of the Year
- AIF Festival Congress Awards 2014: Smart Marketing Campaign of the Year – Bestival Disco Ball
- Live Music Business Awards 2014: Best Festival (cap 40,000+)
Bestival 2004
Bestival 2005
Attendance – 15,000
.- Voted the Best (Medium-sized) Festival and the Most Innovative Festival at the 2005 UK Festival Awards.
Bestival 2006
Attendance – 17,000
- Voted the Best (Medium-sized) Festival at the 2006 UK Festival Awards.
Bestival 2007
Attendance – 29,000
7 – 9 September
.- Voted the Best (Medium-sized) Festival at the 2007 UK Festival Awards.
Bestival 2008
Attendance – 30,000
5 – 7 September
- Shortlisted for the Best (Medium-sized) Festival at the 2008 UK Festival Awards.
Bestival 2009
Attendance – 43,000
11 – 13 September
- Voted the Best (Medium-sized) Festival at the 2009 UK Festival Awards.
Bestival 2010
Attendance: 50,000
9–12 September
.2010 also saw Bestival win 'best major festival' beating Glastonbury and Reading in a public vote; sister festival Camp Bestival picked up 'best family festival' as well.
Bestival 2011
Attendance: 45,000
8–11 September
.Ben Howard and Benjamin Francis Leftwich both performed on The Bandstand which is hosted every year by Isle of Wight Comedian Scott Anderson.
2011 saw Bestival win "Fans' favourite festival award" in the UK Festival Awards.
Bestival 2012
- 6–9 September 2012
The main stage headliners were
- Main Stage: Two Door Cinema Club, Emeli Sandé, Rizzle Kicks, Warpaint, Sister Sledge, De La Soul, Adam Ant, Flux Pavilion, First Aid Kit, Gallows
- Big Top: SBTRKT
- Elsewhere: Grimes, Clock Opera, Pauline Henry
Bestival 2012 was awarded "Best Major Festival" at the UK Festival Awards,[6] "Best Festival" at DJ Mag's Best of British Awards,[7] and "Festival of the Year" at the Artrocker Awards.
Three people were killed while returning from Bestival when the old and worn tyres of their coach caused it to crash.
Bestival 2013
- 5–8 September 2013
Headline acts were the Bestival Birthday Bash with
For 2013, Bestival introduced a weekly payment plan for tickets, the first music festival to offer this.[14]
Bestival 2014
- 4–7 September 2014
Bestival 2014's theme was Desert Island Disco. The headline acts were Outkast, Foals, Beck and Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers; Nile Rodgers also challenged Bestival to create the world's largest disco ball for Bestival 2014, in which they succeeded with a disco ball of 10.33m. The previous record was 9.98 metres.
The following acts also appeared at Bestival 2014 (Not a complete list):
and SkindredBestival 2014 was awarded 'Best Festival' at the Live Music Business Awards[15] and 'Smart Marketing Campaign of the Year' at the AIF Festival Congress Awards for the record breaking Disco Ball.[16]
Bestival 2015
- 10–13 September 2015
The 2015 theme was 'Summer of Love' and the headline acts were
Bestival 2016
- 8–11 September 2016
The 2016 theme was 'The Future' and the headline acts were
and Carly Wilford of SISTER Collective.This edition of the festival featured Bestival curator and organiser Rob da Bank DJing a history of drum & bass with Aled Jones on the microphone.[17]
Bestival 2017
- 7–10 September 2017
The 2017 theme was 'Colour' and the headline acts were
.Louella Fletcher-Michie - the daughter of actor John Michie - died after taking the recreational drug 2C-P at the festival. Her boyfriend, Ceon Broughton, was convicted of her manslaughter by gross negligence on 28 February 2019, having videoed her over a period of six hours hallucinating and then begging for help, rather than taking her to the festival hospital tent only 400 metres away. He was also convicted to supplying a Class A drug, and sentenced to eight and a half years in prison. In August 2020 the manslaughter conviction was quashed on appeal, but the conviction for supplying a Class A drug stands.[18]
Bestival Toronto 2015
- 12–13 June 2015
It was announced in February 2015 that for the first time, Bestival would be heading to North America.
Bestival Toronto 2016
- 11–12 June 2016
On 29 February 2016 the dates for the second Bestival Toronto were confirmed to be 11 and 12 June and the new location announced was
.On 4 May 2017 the organizers announced that there will be no Bestival Toronto in 2017, and they are "aiming to return in the future".[21]
Bestival Bali 2017
- 30 September–1 October 2017
It was announced that the inaugural edition of Bestival Bali would be held on 30 September and 1 October 2017 at
References
- ^ a b c "What is Bestival?". Bestival.net. Archived from the original on 10 June 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ^ a b "Bestival music festival 2019 axed amid huge spiralling debts". ITV News. 6 March 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "Festival Awards". Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ^ "Isle of Wight Carnival 2006". Archived from the original on 5 August 2010.
- ^ Crothers, Jennifer (15 December 2016). "Bestival is moving from the Isle of Wight – and already has a new location". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- ^ "2012's winners unravelled". UK Festival Awards. 11 December 2012. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ^ "Best of British". Archived from the original on 23 April 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ^ Sanders, Mark (11 September 2012). "Bestival coach crash near Hindhead Tunnel kills three". BBC News. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ^ "News: Liverpool and Merseyside news". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ^ "tyred.org.uk". www.tyred.org.uk.
- ^ "Login • Instagram". Archived from the original on 24 December 2021.
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: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ "St. Julie's Catholic High School - Jodie Comer".
- ^ "Michael Molloy memorial bench unveiled in Woolton". 22 September 2013.
- ^ Virtual Festivals. "Bestival 2013 Early Bird tickets onsale now". Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ^ "Winners 2014". livemusicawards.co.uk. 17 October 2014.
- ^ "The Festival Congress". Storify.
- ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
- ^ "Bestival death: Ceon Broughton manslaughter conviction overturned". BBC News. 18 August 2020.
- ^ "We're International! Bestival Going to Toronto". Bestival. 18 February 2015. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ^ "Save the Date! Bestival Returns to Toronto in 2016". Bestival. 29 February 2016. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "Bestival Will Not Return to Toronto in 2017". Exclaim!. 4 May 2017.
- ^ Mustafa, Ardita (8 September 2017). "Pesta Musik Elektronik dari Inggris Bakal Digelar di GWK Bali". CNN Indonesia. Retrieved 9 July 2018.