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Reader rating
Florence And The Machine get the kids moving at Camp Bestival
There’s one thing absent from Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank’s Camp Bestival, which celebrated its second birthday at the weekend: adrenaline. Not from staff who dart about with jolly gusto, but revellers, who mooch and mosey with all the urgency of narcoleptic sloths.
Where Glastonbury is a Duke Of Edinburgh-style survival of the fittest, Camp Bestival, baby brother to the Isle Of Wight’s Bestival, is calm and unhurried.
As folkie Laura Marling put it during her set: “Apparently half the people here are under five.”
This is a boutique party that redefines the parameters of “mini” and “family-friendly”. “I’m being heckled by a one-year-old sticking his tongue out at me,” gasped comedian Lee Mack.
Comedy in the new Big Top tent was a highlight, the naughty japes of Jason John Whitehead and Mock The Week’s Frankie Boyle in particular.
But it’s music that drives da Bank, and what drives the little ones, too.
Beth, six, thought Bon Iver’s snow-capped romantics were “really nice”, but confessed herself more partial to the Angelina Ballerina tent, where ballet dancers taught her to pirouette.
And though her brother Finn, three, enjoyed both the powerfully moody solo session from PJ Harvey and the theatrical wailings of Florence And The Machine, it was the rocket-fast Ferris wheel that really tickled him.
Da Bank learned from last year’s niggles. A new late-night Silent Disco kept rave kids laughing without waking the real kids, the expanded site beefed up the activity factor and specialist bars quelled dads’ screaming-kidovers with Bloody Marys. And, thank God, the toilets tripled in number, meaning the wee ones could boogie to Tinchy Stryder, Erol Alkan, Brigitte Aphrodite and co with uncrossed legs.
There’s room for improvements, naturally. Late-night pursuits could be extended beyond 3am to appease totless adults, and if you wish to charge people an extra £8 for a schedule (ouch), the least you could do is ensure the times and locations of performances are correct.
But Da Bank improved on last year, so here’s betting he’ll learn from this year’s special weekend, too.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Camp bestival was amazing, we had such a great time. plenty to keep the kids entertained in the day. although the red bull tour was definatly an adult only attraction! then at night some of the best DJ's and ended with a massive silent disco!
- Lee N, Stevenage
Got back from Camp Bestival yesterday. Had a brilliant time. I enjoyed most of the acts I saw but for me the stand out act of the whole weekend was Will Young. He was worth every penny and ever minute spent in travelling. A fantastic performance from a truly great entertainer.
- Cath, Cheshire. UK
No mention of Will Youngs fantastic set -hes absolutely brilliant live & had a massive appreciative crowd
- Pa Page, Essex UK
