REVIEW: Bestival 2014
The perfect way to end the 2014 festival season
Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th September 2014 – Bestival @ Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight Words: Patrick Davies
THURSDAY Bestival is now considered to have become a stalwart of the UK summer festival scene, having enjoyed a glorious decade of bringing some of the finest acts around to Robin Hill Park on the Isle of Wight. With each year, it has got bigger and better and 2014 was the most mouth-watering offering so far, featuring headline sets from Outkast, Foals and Chic.
Upon entering through the main gates - after a ferry ride from Southampton that well and truly got the party atmosphere started early - the mood is relaxed and free-flowing, with those that have pitched up first lounging on the ground in anticipation of the night’s entertainment.
The section of the arena that houses the main stage and electronic hedonism of the Port are so far cordoned off, but come Friday they are brought to life with a bang.
This takes nothing away from a Thursday night performance from one of the biggest draws of Bestival 2014 in the shape of genre-hopper and cult sensation Beck.
Although his new album Morning Phase is more stripped back than previous material, his Bestival set is bouncing from the start with a huge version of ‘Devil’s Haircut’ to open. From there he takes the crowd on an enthralling journey through rock, pop, hip-hop and electronica that doesn’t stand still for a second.
After that unmissable moment on the Big Top stage it is then over to a more laid back area of the site to enjoy the wonderful sounds of the Reggae Roots stage. Armed with an impressive lineup of stellar DJ talent and even its own rum cocktail bar, the vibe chilled as Prince Fatty meanders his way through two hours of reggae classics.
FRIDAY The first day of main stage entertainment is underway and the atmosphere is a little bit more bustling around the site, with all of the 30-plus stages in full flow. However, the afternoon provides the perfect bit of solace for some who over-indulged the night before with a trip to the Ambient Forest.
This is woodland at the far side of Robin Hill Park, which is fully accessible to the public as an area of natural beauty throughout the rest of the year. It’s great to see so many festival goers taking the opportunity to take some time away from the beaten track of the main stage to enjoy this hidden gem and take in a wealth of comedy and spoken word on the amphitheatre-style performance area within.
But when push comes to shove, Bestival is a non-stop party zone whatever hour of the day - cue the arrival of the Port stage. This has become one of the most popular places at Bestival, sporting a bill of world-conquering DJs around the clock, who perform to an excitable crowd of thousands from the deck of a full-scale passenger ship. Despite this year’s ‘Desert Island Disco’ theme, it’s all very much landlocked.
Friday plays host to a barnstorming set from German electro giant Boys Noize. He’s collaborated with the likes of Snoop Dogg and The Chemical Brothers, but his performance proves he is at his best when taking his place behind the decks solo.
And Friday evening ends up being all about the electronica with equally rabble-rousing shows from techno revivalist Daniel Avery on the Red Bull stage and chart invaders Disclosure - who have developed a live set that brings to life the house-infused hits from their debut album Settle.
Then it’s time for the moment everyone has been waiting for, as Andre 3000 and Big Boi, aka Outkast, take to the stage to wow what is perhaps the biggest crowd of the weekend. There’s no pretension as they throw out the hits from start to finish, with ‘Ms Jackson’, ‘Hey Ya’ and ‘Ghetto Music’ sending Bestival into ecstasy. There are a few afterwards who can be heard complaining about the sound quality, but it does nothing to quash what has been a memorable moment.
One of the beauties of Bestival is that after the main stage comes to close, there are still planet-sized acts on through the early hours thanks to the Big Top. Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard and his collaborator Raf Rundell put on an extravaganza with their first live show as The 2 Bears, accompanying their arsenal of house bangers by throwing one million Vietnamese dong into the crowd.
But the night probably belongs to Caribou, who brings Friday to a close with a set that showcases the finest moments from his 2010 LP Swim and upcoming new record Our Love.
SATURDAY From one act's inaugural live show to another’s last. The Big Top again plays host to a real one-off occasion courtesy of Bestival stalwarts Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip. The duo treat the crowd to their unique combination of witty spoken word and twisted electro beats for the final time. It’s a moment that is poignant and joyous in equal measure.
Later on, a huge audience assembles at the main stage as one of the last year’s biggest success stories London Grammar make the penultimate set their own. Frontwoman Hannah Reid’s voice soars across the Isle of Wight sky as tens of thousands watch in wonderment.
Encapsulating as that is, it’s Saturday night and revellers are in the mood for a party. Step up Saturday headliners Foals, who bring down the curtain on their relentless touring of last year’s Holy Fire with a spectacular show. They’re an act who have slowly risen from math-rock novices to arena rockers and singer Yannis Philippakis oozes confidence throughout.
The good times aren’t just confined to the main field. One of the less immediately obvious venues on site is the Bollywood Stage, which is nestled in between the Big Top and the Port. There ravers enjoy a somewhat more club-like setting, dancing the night away to a star-studded lineup of DJs in surroundings that are far more intimate. A real highlight of Saturday is house-master John Talabot, who enthrals an excitable crowd who pack out the tent.
SUNDAY To blow off the cobwebs of the night before it’s time for a stroll around the Stardust field, which will later become the focus of the whole festival during the finale. With it being the last day, the first sight is one of hundreds of attendees who’ve gone a bit too far loosening the purse strings and are forced to wait in an Alton Towers-like queue for the cash points.
But beyond that the field is one of many more pleasing scenes. The Red Bull stage pumps out Balearic house and techno all weekend, while those who need perking up are rather forcefully encouraged by the ‘Police Rave Unit’ in the middle of the site. We didn’t actually check, but something tells us they might not have been fully qualified officers.
Then there’s the huge disco ball that sits on the mound in the middle of the field. On Sunday afternoon, all becomes clear when a Guinness World Records representative arrives on site to confirm that at 10.33 metres in diameter, it is the largest ever to grace the planet.
Back to the music though, and the main stage is enjoying a hip-hop masterclass in the shape of The Pharcyde, who play classic tracks from their seminal album Bizarre Ride II, finishing with the timeless ‘Runnin’’.
Another stage that has been loudly going about its business throughout the festival is the Invaders of the Future tent close to the campsite. It has showcased some of the finest new talent around including Ezra Furman and Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats - both of which brought the audience to their knees with rip-roaring sets.
The tent then comes to a close late on Sunday night with two of 2014’s best upcoming rock ‘n’ roll bands. The Glaswegian punk of The Amazing Snakeheads is as visceral as ever, before The Wytches encapsulate the crowd with their powerful brand of grunge-rock.
Meanwhile at Bestival’s electronic mecca The Port, the entertainment is brought to an earth-crushing close with a back-to-back drum & bass marathon from Andy C and 2 Shy.
There are some who look as if they haven’t left this area all weekend, but they show absolutely no signs of tiring. But there’s only one way to officially bring the Desert Island Disco to a close and that’s with the undeniable master of the genre,Nile Rodgers, and his esteemed band Chic. The set is packed full of party classics including ‘Everybody Dance’, ‘I Want Your Love’ and a euphoric rendition of ‘Good Times’.
According to organiser Rob Da Bank, Rodgers had asked for something spectacular to accompany his headline show and he certainly got it. After lying conspicuously in the Stardust field for the whole festival, the record-breaking disco ball is hoisted high into the night sky as Chic perform, signalling the curtain call of what has probably been the perfect way to end the 2014 festival season.
