Festival Review: Camp Bestival 2011

There are two things in particular that give Camp Bestival its unique character.

The first is the imposing castle that stands slap bang in the middle of the site – this is Lulworth Castle, in whose grounds the festival is held.

The second is the fact that there are kids everywhere. Camp Bestival is an offshoot of its big brother Bestival and was designed as a family friendly festival; as a result, it’s populated by a rather untypical festival demographic. Around half of those present are children, ranging from toddlers being pulled along in brightly coloured trolleys to teenagers smoking rollups and smuggling booze past security. Suffering from busy lifestyles and sleepless nights, their parents aren’t the party animals they might once have been, so the overall mood is pleasantly mellow.

Such a diverse crowd requires an eclectic programme, and the 2011 edition of Camp Bestival certainly delivered here. For the youngest members of the audience, there were performances by Mr Tumble and ZingZillas, and the slightly surreal sight of a heaving festival crowd convening on Saturday morning to await the arrival on stage of The Gruffalo. With an insect circus, face-painting and a bouncy castle, there were plenty of other attractions to entertain the youngsters. However, some were more interested in the more adult-oriented activities: one small group of eight-year-olds enjoyed gathering in the comedy tent each day to trade profanities with the stand-ups.

The likes of Eliza Doolittle, Wretch 32 and Katy B catered for the slightly older and more on-trend, while countless DJs, including DJ Yoda and the festival’s curator, Rob Da Bank, kept the entertainment going later on into the evening. Silent discos ensured that the fun could continue into well the night without waking sleeping infants. Those seeking something quieter still could be edified with cookery demonstrations, readings and the knitting tent.

Camp Bestival’s headliners were also a well-chosen mix. Topping the bill on Friday night was Blondie, who played a superb set packed with crowd- pleasing hits. A somewhat spaced out Debbie Harry admitted that she didn’t actually know where she was, but proved that neither her vocal chords nor her performative flair have diminished at all. Saturday night’s proceedings began with House of Pain, whose audience enlarged dramatically towards the end of their set, as many correctly predicted that they would finish with ‘Jump Around’. Next, Mark Ronson turned in a performance that was dominated by Amy Winehouse tributes, and then Groove Armada took the stage to the delight of many an ageing raver.

Primal Scream, playing their classic album Screamadelica, closed the festival on Sunday night. The album was brought to life in a spectacular fashion, as its electronic textures intermittently gave way to extended guitar solos. From the start of ‘Moving On Up’ to the final refrain of ‘Come Together’, the sense of euphoria remained potent. Rounding everything off was the closing fireworks display. Lulworth Castle’s façade became the backdrop to a series of animations while an array of pyrotechnics were set off from the roof. It’s a well-known fact that everyone, young and old, loves some good fireworks. Camp Bestival has exactly the same qualities – there’s something here for festival-goers of all ages.

Words: Alan Ashton-Smith

Photo: Jamie Baker

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