Florence & the Machine draws a huge audience, but it's Mercury Rev who captivates on Friday

Camp Bestival review

By Richard Stevens | Published: Mon 3rd Aug 2009

Camp Bestival 2009

Friday 24th to Sunday 26th July 2009
Lulworth Castle, Dorset, BH20 5QS, England MAP
adult weekend ticket no camping £100, child age 12-16 £50, under 12s free

In only it's second year Camp Bestival, the younger sibling of Rob Da Bank's Bestival, has already become a fixture in the festival season with it's niche in the child-friendly boutique market. It is estimated that 5000 of the total 15000 capacity are under-12 and it is for these children and their parents, who maybe generalised as the generation of partygoers from the 80's and 90's, that the majority of the attractions and the festival style is aimed at with it's Hi-de-hi blue coats presentation.

Mumford & Sons bring their unremarkable folk to the Castle Stage, the main outdoor arena, which has seen them tagged in with the recent folk movement including Noah & the Whale as A&R men across the country scramble to find the British answer to Fleet Foxes. Although pleasant in the afternoon sun it seems that the search is still on.

VV Brown appears next on the Castle Stage with her unoriginal funk/soul workout. After a wardrobe malfunction that requires a cover up of her split silver leggings, which to be fair showed a little bit too much for the young audience eyes in the first place, VV Brown attempts to whip up the crowd which, to her credit, seems to work and the yummy mummies lap it up.

Over at the other, much smaller, outdoor Bandstand set in the huge Kids' Garden area of the site is Gideon Conn. His unique, eccentric songwriting and performance is a real hit with the kids as he enthusiastically delivers his set ending with a version of Outkast's 'Ms. Jackson' amongst the sitting crowd.

Another act that fits in well with the Camp Bestival spirit is Kid Carpet from Bristol with his ramshackle pop played with parts from old children's toys. His lyrics aren't always child-friendly but he is great fun and once again he is another hit with the young audience.

The Kids' Garden also plays host to the popular Wonderland Inn, the only place on site for real ale, the River Cottage where Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall makes a few book-signing and Q&A appearances (as well as serving up some delicious bacon sarnies in the morning) and also a wide range of activities for the kids, notably the Penguin Book readings, English National Ballet, bouncy castle, soft play area, donkey rides and the Nickelodeon tent where Spongebob Square Pants entertains the onlookers.

Back to Friday evening and the local town crier introduced Florence & the Machine to a packed Garden Stage and she floated around the stage with her flowing golden locks, however it all seemed rather meretricious. The songs do not do justice to her powerful voice (if it can be a bit painful at times) but the comparisons to Kate Bush are fair and I'm sure we'll be seeing much more of her in the coming years.

Mercury Rev gave another wonderful festival performance with the marvellous Jonathan Donahue giving a wizardry show to a depleted crowd. The closing trio of 'Goddess on a Hiway', 'The Dark is Rising' and 'Senses on Fire' was majestic.

To close our Friday evening we opted for shock-comedian Frankie Boyle in the Big Top. On stage late enough to avoid most of the young audience Boyle didn't hold back and laid into everybody from Jade Goody to Susan Boyle. If I had been told these jokes from some bloke in the pub I would have made my excuses and left the premises but coming from Frankie Boyle I just couldn't control my laughter, I think deep down everybody loves a sick joke. Or fifty.

around the festival site (2)

review by: Richard Stevens

photos by: Karen Williams / Sarah Stevens