Ventnor Blog

Dear Bestival gets another mention as a fave of the stars (did you know that Will Young had been to Bestival for the last three years without anyone knowing?).

Dan Hipgrave, former guitarist with British indie rock band Toploader, picks the best of this summer’s music festivals world wide in The Telegraph - one of them being Bestival.

He’s spot on with his comments

What really sets Bestival aside from the rest, however, is the free-spirited crowd that flocks to this weekend funfair.

Read

All of you Bestival ticket holders have got this to look forward to … those who have been slow, regret at leisure, as all of the tickets for this year have just sold out.

We had a ball at Bestival last year, as did our camera-man, Spanish-born DJ, conga player and film-maker, Lucho Limpo.

If after reading the 150 articles that we’ve written about Bestival over the years, you’re still not convinced that it is the best festival going, why not sit back, turn up the volume on your computer and take a walk with Lucho through the crowds of Bestival 2007?

He’s managed to capture is that blissful, confused experience you have wending your way through the wide array of fancy dressed revellers in the wonderful surroundings of Robin Hill Country Park with the sun kissing the back of your neck.

(more…)

Beg, borrow (but don’t steal).

If you haven’t got your Bestival 2008 tickets yet, better get a move on.

We hear from Bestival HQ that there are about 150 left and the only remaining outlet with tickets is WightLink.

You don’t need us to tell you how we feel about Bestival, find out yourself this September.

Say, Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn!

We’re hugely excited that the rap pioneers, The Sugarhill Gang, will be playing an UK festival exclusive at Bestival this year.

Soak up some original 1979 video footage after the jump (more…)

Everyone knows Underworld from their Born Slippy track that featured in the 1996 film Trainspotting.

Looks like they’ve had a pretty busy year in 2007 when they played Hollywood Bowl, Central Park and a sell out UK tour.

To get an understanding as to quite how popular Underworld are worldwide, a peak at their MySpace shows they’ve nearly got 100,000 MySpace friends and 1.4m.

This year they’ve be gracing the main stage, as headline act, at Bestival on Sunday.

Video after the jump (more…)

Blimey the list goes on and on …. there’s a fair old few from the Wight, including Blank Beats, Cooly Haste, Goodbye Stereo, Hugo Frusslinky, JC & Angelina, The Kurves, Wight Light Orchestra and of course, The Chancers.

Here’s what our Rob had to say about the offering for this year ….

(more…)

Amy Winehouse has been confirmed as the Saturday headline act at Bestival this year.

The nueva-Soul Diva played Isle of Wight Festival last year, but we’d imagine the Bestival would be far more her type of thing - it being a looser atmosphere.

She clocked up ‘f.i.v.e gold rings’ (well five grammys) in 2006 for Back to Black (see vid below). She’s been Best New Artist, had Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
(more…)

If you missed the fact that tickets for Bestival are almost sold out and for some strange reason, needed more info before committing yourself to grabbing one of the last remaining tickets, how about taking a butchers at the confirmed lineup of who will be playing on the Wight this September. Don’t forget Saturday headline act to be announced tonight at 7pm.

And yes, as you will’ve guessed from the pic, George Clinton IS coming to the Island - bringing with him all the greats from Parliament and Funkadelic!
(more…)

If you haven’t got your tickets for Bestival yet, you’d better get a move on. There are three reasons ….

1. It’s going to be the best festival of the year (natch)

2. The next headline act is going to be announced tonight on VentnorBlog so tickets will probably be snapped up within minutes of this news going live

3. The only place you can buy tickets now is through Red Funnel and Wightlink as all other outlets have sold out.

Check out their websites for more info:
Red Funnel
Wight Link

News has just reached us that the original and best Pop Idol Will Young, will be bringing some pop panache to proceedings and playing a special acoustic set on the tiny Bestival Bandstand.

Pop fans will know that young Will is the record holder for the fastest selling debut single in UK chart history.

His silky tones have propelled him to international stardom and his Bestival appearance is a rare chance to catch him in intimate surrounds.
(more…)

A quick reminder - Islander Bestival tickets are available _just_ today, as we’ve mentioned a few times this week.

The acts that have seen announced for Bestival 2008 so far, are splendiferous and there’s more to come too.

Ventnorians can get them from the Winter Gardens. Elsewhere on the Wight, try any of the Isle of Wight Tourist Information Centres (Westridge (just outside Ryde); Newport; Sandown; Shanklin; Ryde; Cowes and Yarmouth). They’re also available at Robin Hill and the Pilot Boat Inn, Bembridge.

The Isle of Wight Council contacted us today to let us know that they couldn’t see VentnorBlog. Given the lack of access to the site, we can only assume that they imagined a mass walkout of council staff if we didn’t fix it, given VB’s apparent popularity there, both inside and outside the press office.

The Council’s Internet content filter had kicked in after we wrote a piece about a band that will be playing at Bestival that contained an Anglo-Saxon word.
(more…)

As all of you Portuguese speakers know, Cansei de Ser Sexy means “I got tired of being sexy,” although the Brazilian band is most often called CSS.

Their lead singer, Lovefoxxx, once played a gig with wearing her entire wardrobe. As she sang each song, she removed one piece of clothing, until, on the last song, she was naked and dived off the stage into the crowd. Have to remember that one at the next Ventnor Carnival.

(more…)

Transglobal Underground (TGU) are definitely name that a certain generation will relate to.

For those who have no idea what we’re going on about but might be vaguely interested, think ethno-techno and you’d probably be pretty close.

(more…)

(Clearly some people aren’t going to like the subject of this post, but hey, it’s the name of the band … what are you going to do? If you don’t like swearing don’t read on!)

(more…)

DO NOT WATCH THIS BEFORE GOING TO BED.

Yes the Aphex Twin will be playing at Bestival 2008 - let’s hope it’s not a late slot.

I’d forgotten how scary their stuff was - especially the visual.

(more…)

No surprise there - but gratefully welcome all the same.

DJ Yoda. Well he rocked our frigging pants off the last couple of times we saw him live.

Can’t wait to see the man in action once again. He’s a very cheeky chappie, and one more who we can’t wait to sit down and have a natter with this September
(more…)

OK folks, we’ve handpicked some of our favourites out of the list given to us by those wonderfully generous people at Bestival HQ (we love you).

Looks like an indie fest ….

Here’s the rest .. well so far anyway. Make sure you check back regularly to find out who else will be headlining at Bestival 20008 - guaranteed to be the ultimate Festival of 2008 (in our humble opinion)
(more…)

Don’t, don’t you want me? Yes, ’cause we bleeding do Phil, and co.

Cut your fringe at a rakish angle, pop on your severe make-up, get in your Rover SD1 and drive yourself to Bestival to do your best 80s dancing.
(more…)

I’m sure you all agree that there are new forces in the world, the conflict between the generations; a powerful feeling that the American system is failing to deal with the real threats to life.

(more…)

P-Funk was his cry (formed from the combination of Parliament and Funkadelic)

Gotta say I’m taken aback by his website, which has aliens popping out from every corner on it. I’d prefer to remember him by the dog earred album covers, taken out many a time when we’ve had a few friends back and felt like spinning a bit of the old vinyl and having a funk out.

But let’s not worry about all that, the king of funk is coming to the Wight.
(more…)

Set your soaring-synths to stun. One of the pioneers of UK electronic music will be beaming down to Bestival.

King of the white face paint, Gary Newman will be rocking the crowd.

Expect Numaoids a plenty.
(more…)

Oh my bloody god, they’ve only gone and got My Bloody Valentine to play Bestival on Friday night - how about that for a Friday headliner? Time to buy some new shoes me thinks.

Yes folks, that’s right, My Bloody Valentine, one of my all time favs as an old indie girl, shame they weren’t able to announce it last Thursday, but there you go.
(more…)

We’re expecting news of the Bestival 2008 headline acts to arrive on Friday this week and to coincide with this very exciting news, those lovely, lovely people at Bestival HQ are giving all Islanders a chance to buy commission and booking fee-free tickets for Bestival 2008.

Now we know that lots of you haven’t even bothered waiting for the Islanders tickets this year, sales have been sky high, but Bestival have saved a few tix just for the rest of you and are offering them commission and booking fee-free.
(more…)

Yes folks, the rumours have been flying around for some time now, but we heard it from the horses mouth today.

Robby and Josie are in the process of buying a property in the greater Ventnor area and intend to set up home there some time soon.

We reckon that they will be brilliant additions to the Ventnor community and welcome them to our wonderful town.
(more…)