Music Story

08 January 2009 06:15 BST

Bestival - the inthenews.co.uk preview

Now in its fifth year, Rob da Bank's baby goes from strength to strength, with labels like "the new Glastonbury" bandied about as regularly as the Portsmouth-Isle of Wight ferry.

And while the English Riviera romp might not quite deserve to topple Michael Eavis' Somerset shindig from the festival summit, its superb lineup this year certainly gives it a fighting chance at a spot on the podium.

inthenews.co.uk's Lewis Bazley gives you a rundown of the last major festival of the summer.

Friday September 5th

There's a dance-flavoured start to the event with Danish popsters Alphabeat in the Red Bull 54 Speakeasy tent while you can pretend you're in the Carphone Warehouse with Stereo MCs later that day.

While I'm cringing as I write this, it's girl power all the way in the Big Top tent, as Kiwi fox Ladyhawke, Brooklyn innovator Santogold and Lovefoxxx and her CSS amigos grace the stage but if you wanted to plant yourself in front of the main stage for the whole day, few could blame you.

Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong get things off to an energetic, hand-clapping opening while there's Northern indie from the Wedding Present, Jamie Lidell trying out his Prince thang and smart-arsed art rock from Foals.

Aussie drum 'n' bass pioneers Pendulum will get the Isle of Wight skanking but for sheer wall-of-noise, jawdropping sonic beauty, My Bloody Valentine can not be missed.



Saturday September 6th

Spurs fans rejoice as Chas & Dave open the Big Top on day two before bonkers electro-pop from Slagsmalsklubben and influential dub from the even less sane Lee Scratch Perry.

There'll be several festivalgoers hoping for an Antony Hegarty cameo during Hercules & Love Affair's appearance and expect an utterly-rammed tent for the only UK festival appearance of 2008 from Aphex Twin but, yet again, centre stage is the place to stay, with Berkshire folk ingenue Laura Marling welcoming you to the show.

Prepare to have thought provoked by the amazing spoken word hip-hop of Dan le Sac VS Scroobius Pip while the Noel Fielding fans among the Bestival attendees can throw shapes to the electro might of crown prince Gary Numan and 80s legends the Human League.

Amy Winehouse pulled out of a Paris festival last weekend so who knows if she'll turn up for her headline slot. Then again, it's not the be all and end all as Hot Chip are ready for the floor and could be the grin-inducing kings of the weekend.



Sunday September 7th

You can get day three off to a relaxing start if you so wish, with earnest social commentary from Get Cape.Wear Cape.Fly, an acoustic set from the Coral and masterly word-spinning from Roots Manuva.

That said, things won't stay sedate for long with France's Eurovision entrant Sebastian Tellier and D 'n' B legend Roni Size taking to the main stage.

There's antipodean electro pop from Midnight Juggernauts and glossy French techno from Laurent Garnier in the Big Top tent while there's chart-friendly grime from Lethal Bizzle, historic hip-hop from the Sugarhill Gang in the Red Bull 54 Speakeasy tent and a closing set from festival curator Rob da Bank in the Bollywood Bar & Disco.

But for a funky, foot-stamping close to the weekend, the legendary George Clinton followed by the chance to scream "Lager! Lager! Lager" to Underworld is too good to miss.

Have a look at Lethal Bizzle reminding you off his name below:



Lewis Bazley

Even if you're missing out on this year's event, the A-Z: Bestival 2008 CD, compiled by Rob da Bank and out now on Sunday Best Recordings can provide you with the best from the lineup.

"This new Bestival compilation is just the mental jukebox that exists in my head - some of my favourite ever records from Carl Craig, Human League and Aphex Twin balanced out with people I've been supporting like Micachu, Black Kids and Zombie Zombie," the DJ explains.

"And the best bit is they're all playing at our big crazy party!"

The double album kicks off with a stone cold classic; Analogue Bubblebath, which was the debut release from the ever innovative electronic enigma Aphex Twin, who will be headlining The Big Top on Saturday at this year's Bestival. Indie dons du jour Black Kids' breakthrough single I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You, Carl Craig's cascading At Les, the title track from Dan Le Sac VS Scroobius Pip's stunning debut album Angles and Acid House legends 808 State's sublime Pacific 202 all follow as Mr da Bank crams in boundless quality cuts. Appearances from Oxford's Foals, enigmatic genius Gideon Conn, synth pop doyens Human League, one-man-riot anti-hero pop star Kid Carpet, soul-tronica trailblazer Jamie Lidell, raucous rock n rollers Kitty Daisy & Lewis and the blissful folk of Lucky Elephant lead on to the leftfield pop brilliance of Micachu who rounds off the first part of the A-Z in some style.

Danger Mouse-produced ones to watch the Shortwave Set open up the action for disc two on the letter N with 'Now Til 69. The 8 Bit grooves of thecocknbullkid's On My Own, the punky pop of Pete & the Pirates' Come On Feet and Christopher D Ashley's ‘sluttish warehouse electro’ on Sugar Coated Lies keep the pressure on before Roots Manuva's timeless Witness (1 Hope) makes its presence felt. The unhinged bleep-pop of Slagsmalsklubben's Sponsored By Destiny, Transglobal Underground's majestic Temple Head, Underworld's immortal Cowgirl and Pendulum's colossal Visions bring things into the home straight that sees Little Dragon, Sunday Best new boys the Ghost and the throbbing Yacht providing a superlative closeout that leaves Zombie Zombie's epic psychedelic wig-out Driving This Road Until Death Sets You Free to bring the A-Z of Bestival to an emphatic end, well and truly whetting the appetite for Bestival's fifth birthday at Robin Hill Country Park this September.