The vibrant and artistic Bestival has seen its fair share of talent since its foundation in 2004, with the likes of Massive Attack, Elton John and Kraftwerk all filling headline slots.
2018’s headliners have recently been announced – London Grammar and M.I.A. will join Jorja Smith as the three main acts, with a fourth yet to be confirmed.
Other artists to play between the 2nd and 5th of August include a mix of contemporary and historical musicians, from the fiery Stefflon Don and the harmonic First Aid Kit to 80s legends Grace Jones and Chaka Khan. The festival will see a long weekend of music, art and flamboyant culture, helped along by the festival site’s hidden forest aesthetics and loud-and-proud attitude.
Taking place at the scenic Lulworth Estate in Dorset, Bestival is split into several areas, including the psychedelic ‘Ambientland’ for the far-out artists and ‘Love-Bot Park’, a three-stage extravaganza featuring a party boat, parades and a giant robot.
Bestival prides itself on expressionism as well as appreciation of diversity, and this year, variety certainly appears to be a highlight – from underground tech-house producer Mall Grab to vulgar five-piece Idles to electro synth-rock outfit We Are Scientists, Bestival seems well equipped to cater for the 50,000 or so music fanatics of grime, indie and electronica ready to flock to the fields this Summer.
Bestival has been highly praised for its innovative and outside-the-box way of thinking. Awards from ‘Best Major Festival’ to ‘Fans favourite festival’ have been won throughout its 14 years of operation. Critics and festival-goers alike are drawn to the wacky feats Bestival occasionally achieves – in 2014, the festival saw a world record broken in the form of the largest disco ball ever built, and in 2013 it introduced a weekly payment system to purchase tickets; the first of its kind to do so.
Article by Connor Winyard.
He discovered the gem when he was 12 years old and still has it now, claiming it to be why he fell in love with music. He likes to play disc golf when he's not writing about music. He is a one-of-a-kind individual who is always the first to bust out his air guitar on the dance-floor.
- Marsha Swanson, “In Touch” – New Music - November 22, 2024
- Radio Listeners’ Reactions to Scott Mills Replacing Zoe Ball on Breakfast - November 21, 2024
- Ed Sheeran Would Have Declined “Band Aid” 40th-Anniversary Remix - November 19, 2024