Camp Bestival adds more laughs, word activists and literary masters

Howard Marks, Andrew Maxwell, Scroobius Pip, Gideon Conn, Glenn Wool and more

By Scott Williams | Published: Wed 14th May 2008

Howard Marks

Friday 18th to Sunday 20th July 2008
Lulworth Castle, Dorset, BH20 5QS, England MAP
SOLD OUT
Last updated: Fri 18th Jul 2008

Camp Bestival the new sister festival of Bestival and held from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th July 2008, for 10,000 people at Lulworth Castle, Dorset has revealed details of The Laughter Library stage.

The Laughter Library promises comedy, spoken word, word activists and world-renowned literary masters and will feature 'Jestival' high jinx with Roy Walker's legendary 'Catchphrase', Andrew Maxwell will present 'Full Mooners', The Cuban Brothers present 'The Bestival Bluecoats', there will be laughs a plenty from I.F Comedy winner Phil Nichol. Sketches from London's The Pros From Dover and stand-up with Glenn Wool, Adam Bloom, Jason John Whitehead, Craig Campbell, with more names still to be announced.

The Laughter Library will also host The Jestival New Faces supported by Chortle.co.uk featuring Trevor Lock, Tiernan Douieb, Carl Donnelly, Matt Reed and many more.

Scroobius Pip and a multitude of guests will host verbal rantings and spoken word from the likes of Polar Bear, Poem Inbetween People,Gideon Conn, and Peggy Sue & The Pirates.

Pip had this to say about his selection of burgeoning talent: "I'm very very excited to be putting a line up together for this stage. I see it as my opportunity to give more exposure to a load of poets that are, frankly, far better than me but simply unable to grow such a marketable beard. I've decided to sling a few music playing types into the mix as well just because it means I get to see them play without having to pay an entrance fee."

The literary line-up will be headed up by Howard Marks, and joining him will be some of this country's hottest authors such as Richard Milward, Joe Stretch, Neil Boorman, Gautam Malkani, and Gavin Pretor-Pinney who will also be immersing The Laughing Library in a celebration of our greatest writing tradition.

As well as being amused, educated or entertained, there's also a wealth of musical talent with a line-up which includes headliners Chuck Berry (Fri), The Flaming Lips (Sat), and Kate Nash (Sun) Other live acts include Hercules And Love Affair, The Imagined Village (audio-visual history of British folk music with live supergroup featuring Billy Bragg, Martin Carthy, Eliza Carthy, Sheila Chandra and Chris Wood), Suzanne Vega, Billy Bragg (solo), Kid Creole & The Coconuts, The Cuban Brothers, Eliza Carthy (solo), Kid Creosote, dan le sac vs Scroobius Pip, The Wurzels, Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong, Dub Pistols Sound System, and loads more. Click here for the line-up details to-date.

Festival goers are asked to join in with the festival spirit and bring a cymbal, trombone or sousaphone for the Saturday to be part of the The World's Largest Marching Band headed up by the Bestival Ukulele Orchestra and Masters Of The Kazooniverse.

Fun for all the family is included so expect a Kids Area filled with magic moments and an abundance of neat treats for little ones of all ages. From a Sports Day on the jousting strip to Story Telling around roaring Campfires, a good ole Cockney Knees Up, Insect Circus, The All Singing Kids Summer Party and dressing up antics, it'll be a jam packed haven for kids and their parents. Plus Lulworth Castle has its very own Animal Farm where the kids can get up close to their super-friendly animals.

There's luxury tents, tipis, yurts, bivouacs, airstreams, and gypsy caravans available, or bring your own outdoor living.

The live music line-up is programmed by Rob da Bank. The music will be diverse with a Main Stage, the new 'Tree Stage', a Balearic Bollywood arena, a Rock n Roll tent and the magnificent Spiegel tent for Come Dancing dance offs. All this plus Theatre in the Woods, Films projected on the Castle Walls, Kamp Karaoke Night – Ukelele Karaoke, Folk-aoke & Hip-Hop Karaoke, Fireworks and fun on tap!

Tickets are on sale, priced at £120 for adult weekend camping, £60 for Child (aged 13 to 15 on 18/07/2008) weekend tickets, with children under-12 free (but require a ticket), and campervans cost £50 per vehicle. To buy, click here.

Howard Marks


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