Bestival Announces New Arena for 2013!

Photograph: Bestival 2012

Bestival’s 10th Birthday is already shaping up to be pretty special, not least because of its staggering headliners. Elton John, Snoop Dogg, Wu Tang Clan and The Flaming Lips are just of the things have made people sit up and take notice of the Isle of Wight Festival. However, this being Bestival, the plethora of small events, hidden gems and unearthed treasures around the vast venue is perhaps even more impressive, a definite contributor to the unequalled atmosphere that abounds throughout the weekend.

Rob and Josie Da Bank have once again outdone themselves on that front.

Announced today is a brand new arena for 2013! In amongst the 20 stages and 10 fields of the venue lies Bestival’s newest member - Temple Island.

Temple Island

Billed as ‘a lucid dream land of beguiling saturnalia’, Temple Island sets out to fuse fantasy and reality in the way that only Bestival could conjure up. Boasting an eclectic collection of some of the finest food in the country, street art aplenty, sculptures that could be human or alien as well as a stunning lineup of music, Temple Island looks set to be a real treat for the senses.

Some of the artists and musicians lined up for the inaugural Temple Island include Daft Punk favourite DJ Falcon, ethereal three piece London Grammar, bass music innovators Dark Sky, future garage heroes Maribou State, Bristol’s music conglomerate Eton Messy and 18 year old electronic hero Karma Kid.

Watch: DJ Falcon - First

Highly acclaimed street artist My Dog Sighs will be throwing a treasure hunt where you could leave Bestival with a £2,500 masterpiece. Need to get something off your chest? Temple Island has a confession wall for you to air your deepest darkest secrets. Don’t worry about anyone discovering them though, as on Sunday night the whole of Temple Island goes up in flames for one hell of a spectacle.

Club DaDa

Next up we have the arrival of Club DaDa to look forward to. The guys behind Glastonbury’s Shangri Las have put together a vintage soundtrack with a modern twist to warm the soul. Everyone from Rob Da Bank himself to Tayo & Nerm will be there, as well as Beans On Toast, Too Many T’s, The Allergies and main man DJ Chris Tofu.

Delta blues meets dancefloor electro in ‘The Dawn Of Electro Blues’, a night dedicated to the fusion of the genres. The following evening sees a similar feat undertaken, with the arrival of 'White Mink’s French Electro Swing', featuring artists as varied as Shore Leave, Le KKC Orchestra, Smokey Joe and The Kid, Dutty Moonshine, Max Pashm Electro Swing Ensemble and DJ Dodgy Style. Sunday will top things off with what promises to be an incredible 'Brass Special'. Joe Driscoll and Sekou Kouyate, Old Dirty Brasstards and DJ Chris Tofu's Closing Party will end the festival in style.

Watch: Electro Swing Revolution w/ Chris Tofu

The Polka Tent

The Polka Tent makes a welcome return, as one of the most unusual and exciting festival inventions boasts a line up of Gypsy Punk and Hoedown madness. Featuring King Lagoon’s Flying Sword Fish Band, Tankus The Henge and king of the gypsy remix DJ Kobayashi, as well as Hallouminati, Gypsy Hill, Discount Orchestra, Gypsy Fever, Penny Metal, Karauke, Cut A Shine and Gypsy Disco. Saturday continues in much the same vein as gypsy punk meets stomping klezmer with Buffo’s Wake, Tantz Klezmer Band, The Turbans, Maniere Des Bohemiens, and more from Gypsy Disco and Karauke. Sunday promises completely unique jumping nu folk and demented old hoedown fun, with City Shanty Band, Ramshackle Union Band, Katy Carr and Gorgeous George all in full effect.

Bestival once again put together the most original of line ups, celebrating music and art in all its forms of expression, in their own inimitable way.

For more information on Bestival head here

Click here for Bestival tickets 2013

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