Woot! Woot!
Or should I say ‘hoop hoop’ for this year’s circus theme (as revealed by the lovely hula diva Marawa the Amazing)?
The last time we went to Camp Bestival was in 2012. It was our first ever family festival camping experience and boy did we have a blast.
I shook hands with the legend that is Nile Rodgers of Chic. Sophie Ellis-Bextor washed paint off my toddler. We partied late to the sounds of Chic, Kool & the Gang, Earth Wind and Fire and Happy Mondays headlining on the main stage.
Ms Ellis-Bextor will be playing at Camp Bestival 2014 along with an array of acts that’s so good, I’m still pinching myself:
-LIVE ACTS-
BASEMENT JAXX DE LA SOUL JAMES JOHNNY MARR SINÉAD O’CONNOR LAURA MVULA STEVE MASON POP WILL EAT ITSELF THE SKATALITES PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT THE CUBAN BROTHERS CHAS & DAVE SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR THE WEDDING PRESENT PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING THE RADIOPHONIC WORKSHOP CHARLOTTE CHURCH MNEK COURTNEY PINE D:REAM HOT 8 BRASS BAND NICK MULVEY DENAI MOORE BRUSHY ONE STRING ADY SULEIMAN JAIPUR BRASS BAND KAWA CIRCUS THE FABULOUS LOUNGE SWINGERS BEANS ON TOAST BO SARIS RORY MCLEOD INDIANA FÉ LUCKY ELEPHANT TOO MANY T’S DREAM THEMES MUSAFIR JOANNE JOANNE COCO AND THE BUTTERFIELDS CUT A SHINE FECKLESS MDOU MOCTAR NICK COPE CHERISHPORT THE OHMZ HORNS OF PLENTY
I can’t wait to see De La Soul live again, even though I’m still getting over the image of fresh-faced DJ Mase with grey in his beard!
Also seriously looking forward to Basement Jaxx, Laura Mvula, Courtney Pine, The Skatalites and Cut a Shine who kept us jigging and dos-a-dos’ing in the fields at the fabulous Just So Festival last year.
But it’s not all big stage action. The DJ sets featuring founder Rob Bank and his musical mates sound like the place to be:
-DJ SETS FROM ROB DA BANK & FRIENDS-
BOY GEORGE AND MARC VEDO TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS (DJ SET) DAVID RODIGAN MBE PRESENTS RAM JAM DJ YODA WILKINSON AWESOME TAPES FROM AFRICA ROB DA BANK CHOLOMBIAN THE SHELLAC COLLECTIVE BIG FISH LITTLE FISH COLEY FROM LUV*JAM SILENT DISCO ROB DA BANK AND TAYO PRESENT PURPLE RAVE: A PRINCE TRIBUTE DJ DAPPER DAN MIX IT UP DJ KRU
The babes will be thrilled to boogie down with our favourite family rave outfit Big Fish Little Fish, who are hosting a Camp Bestival Travelling Circus party this weekend (May 18). And I’m all over the Purple Rave, Prince Tribute!
The real beauty of Camp Bestival is there is a seemingly endless supply of things to do with kids of all ages. Aside from Comedy Club 4 Kids in the comedy line-up, the Theatre and Shows menu is pretty much all focused on the minis:
-THEATRE & SHOWS-
HORRIBLE HISTORIES, BARMY BRITAIN PART TWO MR TUMBLE CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY 50TH BIRTHDAY TAKEOVER BEN AND HOLLY – LIVE (MAIN STAGE HOSTS) MICHAELA STRACHAN’S REALLY WILD ADVENTURES GANDINI JUGGLING REMIXED BY ROB DA BANK INSECT CIRCUS – THE GRAND TOUR HUGLESS DOUGLAS KAWA CIRCUS ROYAL ALBERT HALL PRESENT: ALBERT’S TRAVELLING CIRCUS BAND MARAWA THE AMAZING BRIT SCHOOL MATTRESS CIRCUS FUNK DA CIRQUE WEST END KIDS THAT CATHERINE BENNETT SHOW FUNKY LITTLE CHOIR FUTEBOL THE BEST OF 155 KAWA CIRCUS JIM BERNARDIN’S WORLD MUSIC WORKSHOPS BIGTOPMANIA KIDS THEATRE & CIRCUS POP COWBOY MAX MARAWA’S MAJORETTES BARNABY BEAR WITH ME KAT’S WHISKERS BACH TO BABY THEATRE TOTS: THE CLUMSY CLOWN
The only challenge will be picking what to see when!
For activities, there’s everything from Bollywood dancing and circus workshops to puppet shows, medieval jousting, Mumma Baby Sanctuary, pimp my trolley, fireworks and more.
An exciting new addition this year is Project Wild Thing, the campaign that aims to get more kids off their digital gear and back into nature. Project Wild Thing will be taking over the Dingly Dell for a whole weekend of making fires, building dens and shelters, identifying birds and birdsong, tree climbing, campfire cooking and everything you need to get ahead in the great outdoors.
I’ll be posting more about Camp Bestival as the big weekend approaches and look out for more festival fun in our Family Festival Guide out soon.
In the meantime, have a wander around the site and grab your tickets for Camp Bestival while you still can!
Visit http://www.campbestival.net
Watch the Camp Bestival video trailer here http://youtu.be/cLNGoK4DaIg
Sinead is performing???? My daughter and I are there!!!!!!!
Wow! The line up looks ah-mazing. I am tempted, very tempted to join in.
Remember your fab review last time, this festival looks amazing catering for the adults as much as the kids, brilliant write up and you are gonna rock out Mama, have fun xx
Thanks Vicki, it really is something to look forward to and the kids are already getting excited for summer!
Come in, come in Nomita, the water’s fine :-) Seriously if you’re going to try a family festival I would highly recommend Camp Bestival, so many go back year after year because it’s such a lovely experience! x
I know!!! Very excited to see Sinead O’Connor live, hadn’t seen her for ages and then she was on Later with Jools Holland and it was amazing. Great line-up this year for sure x
This looks fantastic, would love to join in but as every summer we are out of the UK for the whole of summer. Have fun!
Can’t believe you’ll get to see Basement Jaxx!!!!! Last time I saw them was pre-kids as part of the Wireless festival – they were phenomenal!!!! xx
I’m really excited to see Basement Jaxx, love ’em :-) Great line-up, can we tempt you into family festival mode??? ;-)
Ooh one day I will have to piggy back on your summer travels!
I am so glad you are going! Right, we need to arrange a meet up :)
i haven’t got past De La Soul on the line up, Basement Jaxx, let’s meet there!
Cool, let’s do it! Can’t wait x
For sure, funnily enough the babes still think of you as Penny from Camp Bestival haha! xoxo
I am so unbelievably envious. I wanted to go last year but holidays got in the way, then I wanted to go this year and my in-laws have arranged a holiday with us then. Next year I’m blocking this in my diary so nothing gets in my way! Have an amazing time!!