Bestival roll call

[ozzie]

The infrastructure of the whole festival absolutely atrocious - the lack of bogs was a disgrace and I was amazed that there were no water points in the one set of loos in the main arena. The lack of staff in both the main bars was really surprising too. From people we got chatting to it seems that although the capacity of the festival increased from 10k to 15k none of the infrastructure was.

I'd go a bit further than that and say that the infrastructure was worse than it was last year (with smaller numbers). For example, the main stage toilets were moved for this year - and in a stroke of rare genius located at the worst bottleneck on the site.

Facilities in the campiing areas were also poor. We went in a camper van, and effectively paid £35 for the privilege of parking in a field. There were so few toilets, shared between so many punters, that they were effectively useless.

The site infrastructure was clearly unable to cope with the increased numbers, and the state the place was in yesterday morning was pretty bad - if I was the owners of the site, I'd be pretty pissed off to find quite so much shit in the bushes etc.

But some of the music was good. The Fall were massive. King Creosote were good and Son of Dave is a minor deity.

 

[cyberfairy]

Agree with the site problems-miles to walk to loos in middle of night and got can of sprite confiscated on way into main arena Pricy food too.
My review is up here...http://www.virtualfestivals.com/festivals/article.cfm?articleid=3000

 

[Skim]

Why would anyone want to confiscate a can of Sprite?

 

[cyberfairy]

Why would anyone want to confiscate a can of Sprite?

They didn't even know it was full of vodka
Oh-was told to only write about main bands-think another write up will appear featuring all the other wonderful randomness that occured

 

[Skim]

Even if it was filled full of vodka, I'd hate having my drink confiscated.

 

[cyberfairy]

Even if it was filled full of vodka, I'd hate having my drink confiscated.

Did piss me off-security were randomly sniffing peoples water as others walked in with crates of beer-to q for bar in main arena often took up to an hour meaning missing an act or not drinking

 

[Lazy Llama]

Totally agree about the dreadful facilities. Having so few food places (especially in the mornings when the main arena was closed) meant enormous queues for any food, I waited getting on for an hour for a drink at the main bar on Sunday afternoon, and several of the toilet blocks had no running water nearby.

We did find the "Best-Of-All" toilets up by the cafe above the bandstand field, which were kept clean and working, though the queues there were almost as bad as the other places.

Enjoyed The Fall, Kid Creole, Pet Shop Boys, Scissor Sisters, The Long Blondes, Carl Cox's Sunday night set and a few others that escape me right now.

Did anyone else hear reports of injuries from the frankly ridiculously steep path down from the car park?

There'll need to be re-think if they're going to go for another year, the camping was overcrowded (worse than I've seen at Glasto) and it just isn't sustainable.

 

[cyberfairy]

Totally agree about the dreadful facilities. Having so few food places (especially in the mornings when the main arena was closed) meant enormous queues for any food, I waited getting on for an hour for a drink at the main bar on Sunday afternoon, and several of the toilet blocks had no running water nearby.

We did find the "Best-Of-All" toilets up by the cafe above the bandstand field, which were kept clean and working, though the queues there were almost as bad as the other places.

Enjoyed The Fall, Kid Creole, Pet Shop Boys, Scissor Sisters, The Long Blondes, Carl Cox's Sunday night set and a few others that escape me right now.

Did anyone else hear reports of injuries from the frankly ridiculously steep path down from the car park?

There'll need to be re-think if they're going to go for another year, the camping was overcrowded (worse than I've seen at Glasto) and it just isn't sustainable.

I heard of at least two people breaking their legs on the way down the slope-I did find it an absolutely lovely festie-great decorations, great friendly people. loads of fantastic entertainment and lovely setting but yes, loos etc were a nightmare-I kept nipping backstage but when at campsite had long walk in middle of night

 

[moonsi til]

I went to the Bestival last year and that hill is a killer !!! I was walking into the arena part with a carton of cranberry juice, a cup and a bottle of vodka in a water bottle. I was stopped and asked what was in my cup, I managed to get through Ok but it did annoy me ...Im not fond of festivals that you can't just bible around free n easy. I did love the toboggan ride though and the lil houses.

 

[cyberfairy]

should be some wicked photos coming upon virtual festivals of it soon courtesy of lisa rocket

 

[bingiman]

We went in a camper van, and effectively paid £35 for the privilege of parking in a field. There were so few toilets, shared between so many punters, that they were effectively useless

Yeh but you drove up to your pitch and parked. Didn't have to carry a
tent and probably were having a cup of tea a couple of minutes after arriving. I would invest in a chemical toilet.

 

[kerplunk]

should be some wicked photos coming upon virtual festivals of it soon courtesy of lisa rocket

won't be any on efests - I had an equipment failure

Had a great weekend though

 

[Lisarocket]

won't be any on efests - I had an equipment failure

Had a great weekend though

Oooh. Were you in the main stage pit? Which one were you? I have red hair and was wearing a belly dancing outfit and a big grin on Saturday.

Shame you had failure problems though...It's a right pisser when it happens. Has happened to me before too.

I agree with everything everyone else said about the infrastructure. The toilets were all in the wrong place and ther weren't enough of them. I hardly ate all weekend because the queues were too long and i didn't have time because i had to get to various stages to take pics. Same with the bars...

The lineup was the best of all the festies i've been to this year. I liked loads of bands. Some really surprised me by being better than i'd thought...

Faves were: The Fall(a), Gogol Bordello, Lily Allen (yes, really she was great ), The Cuban Brothers, Son of Dave, Joe Driscoll, The Pipettes, Mistys big Adventure, IDC, Ulrich Schnauss, Tilly and The Wall, Scissor Sisters (loved the fact they did the evil clown thing), Future Sound of London (a lucky find- last minute addition), Hot Chip (yes Cyber i did!), Congo Faith Healers, Young Blood Brass Band. Missed Kid Carped. Was into seeing him.

I even liked Scritti Politti, well i knew all the words to Wood Beez , also Jim Noir and The boy least likely to- but i was a bit pissed by then.

The Filthy Dukes dropped some great tunes in the JD bar. When the played Let's dance the place went mad! Same for Guilty Pleasures on the main stage. I never realised i knew all the words to Flashdance

Despite being in some sort of holding pen backstage for the entire Pet Shop Boys set due to some weird anti-photographer management decision , i enjoyed their encore. I don't even like the PSBs, but they did a very polished greatest hits set and i was jumping about to Go West probably due to the relief of finally being released


All in all i'd definitely go back next year. If they sort the lack of/misplacing of the toilets and the enormous queues it will be a contender for one of the best festies around.

I've got a streaming cold now though and i'm feeling a bit sorry for self today

Read Cyberfairy's review. It's great. I LOL'd loads.

 

[William of Walworth]

My review is up here...http://www.virtualfestivals.com/festivals/article.cfm?articleid=3000

Just seen this, it's a great review, but I could NEVER write one like that ..... would require more knowledge of current music and bands than I've got

Gogol Bordello had BETTER get to a festie that I manage to make next year!
Sort it out Mr Eavis ...

Lisa's review also excellent

 

[kerplunk]

Oooh. Were you in the main stage pit? Which one were you? I have red hair and was wearing a belly dancing outfit and a big grin on Saturday.

Shame you had failure problems though...It's a right pisser when it happens. Has happened to me before too.

I was batteryless (due to kaput charger) by Friday afternoon so didn't even make it into the pit - got a couple of pics of Terry Hall dj-ing in the Bollywood bar and a big chrome elephant and that's it

 

[cyberfairy]

Just seen this, it's a great review, but I could NEVER write one like that ..... would require more knowledge of current music and bands than I've got

Gogol Bordello had BETTER get to a festie that I manage to make next year!
Sort it out Mr Eavis ...

Lisa's review also excellent

Cheers-in a way would have prefered to bimle around weirdy tents and write about that sort of thing as not into many big name bands on main stages but still had wicked time where be lisa's revew? Should come next year William-think i prefer it to Glastonbury even

 

[Lisarocket]

I've put my Bestival piccies up if anyone fancies a look.

http://tinyurl.co.uk/ix1k

The link will take you to a page, where you can get to all the sets of pics.

If there's anyone about who can put names to faces, there's a couple of blokes on the Saturday page, one is dressed like a nun with big shades and a fag. I'm sure they are in a band as they were wearing AAA passes. Can someone tell me who they are. I'll love you forever if you can

Anyway. Hope you like them. There's some fab fancy dress outfits. I like the Steve Irwin best

 

[Lazy Llama]

I've put my Bestival piccies up if anyone fancies a look.

http://tinyurl.co.uk/ix1k

The link will take you to a page, where you can get to all the sets of pics.

Nice piccies.

The links to the "Bestival Sunday" and "Bestival Friday and Sunday" give errors though?

 

[William of Walworth]

Cheers-in a way would have prefered to bimle around weirdy tents and write about that sort of thing as not into many big name bands on main stages but still had wicked time where be lisa's review?

Erm ... post 73??

Should come next year William-think i prefer it to Glastonbury even

Sounds pretty good, but I doubt I could, so many other festie commitments!!
Won't rule it our just yet though ....

 

[Lisarocket]

Nice piccies.

The links to the "Bestival Sunday" and "Bestival Friday and Sunday" give errors though?

Ta i'll check it and fix it

 

[Lisarocket]

Links fixed now...i think

Bloody tinternet

http://tinyurl.co.uk/ix1k

 

[Lisarocket]

Just got an email saying theres Bestival coverage on Channel 4 this weekend...

SATURDAY 16TH - 00:15 (Saturday Night / Sunday Morning) – ‘The JD Set Presents Bestival’
SUNDAY 17TH – 00.25 (Sunday night / Monday Morning) – ‘Bestival Featuring Scissor Sisters’

 

[twister]

Links fixed now...i think

Bloody tinternet

http://tinyurl.co.uk/ix1k

aww... great photos, brought it all back...

 

[Lisarocket]

aww... great photos, brought it all back...

Thanks. I like the fact that just about everyone is smiling in every picture

 

[cyberfairy]

Geat pics lisa None of me crumpled in a heap throwing up Jack Daniels I see though Suppose you have enough

 

[Lisarocket]

Geat pics lisa. None of me crumpled in a heap throwing up Jack Daniels I see though Suppose you have enough

Thanks Cyber. They go very well with your excellent review.

Yeah your right. I've got plenty pics of you in that state.There's one of you pulling a face sitting on a picnic table outside the JD bar with Mark and Jonny though. That was before the throwing up bit

Didn't take as many friend pics at Bestival. I'll have to learn to get the balance right between 'work' and fun...

 

[twister]

scissor sisters were fantastic... and very funny too

"we just heard some of you guys are scared of clowns.... oops! we didn't get the memo!"

"I hope you saved some pills!!!"

 

[Lisarocket]

That's my favourite one i took of Jake Shears. He looks like he's looking right at me

E2A: It was bloody funny when they said that. One of our mates met one of the giant clowns on the seafront (obviously out of costume) at East Cowes. They had a great time coming on at the end...

 

[twister]

yeah, those giant clowns at the end were great, danced like giant children..

 

[Lisarocket]

yeah, those giant clowns at the end were great, danced like giant children..

The scissor sisters sick sense of humour was definitely not lost on me

I've never worked out how to post big pictures on threads. Twister, can you post my Steve Irwin one? (saturday pt 2!)