The Bestival and Camp Bestival boss in the thick of it again
Welcome back to DMCWORLD Magazine Rob, not long to go now sir. There are some 700 festivals taking place in the UK this year, how hard has the weather hit our magical musical fields so far…?
“Well I’m sat in a rock hard sunny field at the moment, but yes it’s been the perfect storm in UK festi land this year. I know what it’s like to have a rainy or muddy show so i don’t envy a lot of the ones that have already happened. Hopefully we’re through the worst now!”
Has the Olympics had any effect on Bestival at all this year?
“I cant tell. Maybe a bit on Camp Bestival as we start at exactly the same time as the Olympics but it’s tricky to tell. We’ve wholeheartedly embraced the Olympics at Camp though and we’re showing the opening ceremony on Friday on big LED screens and our theme is Silly Olympics so should be fun!”
You have said that 70% of the people who go to your festival go for the vibe. So is booking the mighty Stevie Wonder this year purely for value for money or have you been trying to book him for a while?
“A bit of both – he’s a musical icon and hero of many of ours so the chance came up and we had to take it. It’s not a cheap option and we didn’t do it to sell tickets – but it’s a chance in a lifetime. i cant wait to see him.”
What’s his rider like? Anything that surprised you on it?
“Haha! No it’s pretty standard. Less than a big DJ probably. There are 40 musicians and crew travelling with him so its probably more quantity than anything. No massive diva demands at all though.”
You claimed last year that you “have never been ripped off by any headliner at Bestival” – is that still the case?
“Absolutely. I don’t feel that any artist I’ve paid has delivered anything less than a great show. It’s quite surprising really when I book 300-400 acts a year that we haven’t had any problems.”
Many people out there assume (wrongly) that Bestival is another corporate owned festival, that’s not the case though is it…?
“i don’t understand why anyone would think that. We’re about as independent as you can get. The original founders own the whole show outright and no-one can tell us what to do. There are many shows out there that look indie but are actually just driven by money makers so it’s ironic anyone would think that about us!”
A couple are getting married at Bestival in September, you proposed to Josie at a festival. Did you pick a really romantic spot and time of night?
“Not really! I was a little tipsy and popped the question at Glastonbury in a muddy field surrounded by litter. Luckily she said yes! We partied for the next 48 hours!”
Josie packs a hip flask of sherry in her festival survival kit. What’s in yours?
“At Camp Bestival some real ale in a silver tankard with my name etched on the bottom. At Bestival a bottle of Black Sambucca for when the sun goes down…”
Bestival and Glastonbury are still in the hat for a Dolly Parton show, do you think there’ll ever be a winner?
“Yes I believe Glasto have won that battle but watch this space!”
Grace Jones, Beth Ditto and The Cure spring to mind as personal Bestival favourites from years gone by, who have been your 3 biggest thrills?
“The Cure for sure – to see Robert Smith and the gang walk on to our stage was a great moment..and when Robert pulled out his Josie da Bank designed guitar we were very happy campers! Kraftwerk were also a dream come true.”
What DJs are always absolute value for money at Bestival, who really ‘get it’?
“Justin Robertson, DJ Derek, David Rodigan, Johnno from Bugged Out and Justice who played for £500 and about 200 people about 6 years ago!”
What has the magical Nomad pop up cinema crew got in store for us this year in dem der woods?
“So many great movies and a classic David Lynch night and a Quentin Tarantino double bill.”
What genre of dance music is a definite no go area at Bestival?
“Trance hasn’t had much of a presence…no reason , it just hasn’t seemed right!”
PR geezer Toni Tamborine once famously swam from the English mainland to the Isle of Wight to get to Bestival. What other mad or long treks to Bestival have you heard about?
“Well this year there’s a big cycle ride from London to Bestival with all the crazy cyclists stopping off en route in various pubs and playing some busking gigs. I may hang glide over there myself this year.”
Your father in law dressed as Sid Vicious last year, what do you think he is going to wear at this year’s Wildlife theme?
“I’m envisaging himself dressed as Oliver Reed swigging whisky from a bottle…”
What costume are you expecting hundreds of this year?
“Squirrels.”
There are rumours abound that Bestival may have a foreign festival within two years. Where are you going – Croatia, Australia, America…?
“All of the above if possible!”
Have you ever had to politely ask a DJ or live band to please stop playing?
“Not yet…it won’t be Stevie Wonder for musical reasons but I might have to ask him to stop playing after 3 or 4 hours!”
Bestival will always be your little baby, but Camp Bestival is getting better and better every year…
“Camp is our baby, Bestival is our mutant mad teenage son…”
Josie’s favourite ever Bestival moment was seeing you spin Elton John’s ‘Rocket Man’ next to a 30 foot bonfire one year – what has been your proudest moment?
“Getting down from the bonfire before they set it alight…!”
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