The latest news from the Bestival hotline confirms that this year there will be no less than 14 local island bands and DJs playing across the various arenas and stages at the top event of the year, all programmed in typically eclectic fashion by Rob da Bank.

As we reported last month, Ventnor’s own, The Bees will be returning for their third year. Playing live in the Rock N Roll tent and DJing in the Fat Tuesday tent as The Bees Sound System.

One thing I love about festivals like The Big Chill and Bestival is that you get exposed to musicians that you might not otherwise have heard of. One of those is musical maverick Matthew Herbert (right), who is visiting the island for the very first time. So thanks Rob for bringing him to my attention.

His Web site has a full discography that you can listen to, and it’s well worth taking the time out for. His site claim that his records are true weapons of mass seduction … and I’d certainly agree.

London born, but brought up in New York Mark Ronson (left) joins the Bestival main stage acts after doing the rounds at Lovebox, Hi-Fi, Fabric and a couple of gigs in the city of adult gaming, Las Vegas. He had great success with his superb cover version of Radiohead’s Just, (fantastic video – worth watching). Mark will grace the main stage on Friday with a full live band.

That’s it for now, off for some food. More Bestival news coming at ya later in the week.

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