Blondie, Mark Ronson, House Of Pain, for Camp Bestival

Blondie, Mark Ronson & The Business Intl., House of Pain, and Norman Jay top the first acts announced for the medieval themed Camp Bestival.

Headlining the Castle Stage on Friday night will be Blondie, on Saturday it's the turn of Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. and warming up for them will be House of Pain. Sunday's headliner is still to be announced but Norman Jay will provide the support. Next week Camp Bestival will reveal the Sunday headliner and the special guest.

Also confirmed for the main Castle Stage are resident hosts The Cuban Brothers, The Correspondents, and Mistajam.

Also announced today are Katy B, Clare Maguire, Eliza Doolittle, Wretch 32, Breakage feat. Jess Mills, Fenech Soler, Ms Dynamite, Beardyman, The Selecter, The Wonder Stuff, The Nextmen, The Bad Shepherds, Lau, Marcus Foster, and ABC.

Headline DJs Groove Armada present Red Light, plus David Rodigan, Channel One Soundsystem, Dub Pistols Soundsystem, DJ Derek, Reggae Roast, Mistajam, DJ Yoda, London Elektricity, Krafty Kuts, and A Skillz.

Plus rising stars including Brandt Brauer Frick, Frankie And The Heartstrings, Ed Sheeran, Lucky Elephant, The Crayonettes, Smerins Anti-Social Club, Two Wounded Birds, Caitlin Rose, Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, Kawa Circus, Bajah & The Dry Eye Crew, The Emerald Guard, The Widowmaker, and Kathryn Williams.

Kids can look forward to Jellicle Cats, Zingzillas and The Sooty Show with Soo & Sweep as well as the return of The Gruffalo and Justin Fletcher aka Mr Tumble.

Foodies will be pleased to hear that writer, broadcaster and campaigner, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is back with the only River Cottage Cafe appearance this year and food writer and telly cook Gizzi Erskine will also be at Camp Bestival this year.

Camp Bestival Curator Rob da Bank said, "This year's Camp Bestival is going to be the best ever - we've geared up Lulworth Castle to be a total festi-holiday experience, bringing back the spirit of the Great British Camping holiday with bells on. All this plus headline performances from Blondie and Mark Ronson, the return of the legend that is Mr Tumble - and even Sooty, Sweep and Soo are back to bring a bit of nostalgia to the weekend. We can't wait here at Camp Besti HQ, so get your medieval costume in the bag and we'll see you at the end of July to kick of the school summer holidays in style! Hi De Hi."

One of the best festivals in the country for families with young children, Bestival's sister festival Camp Bestival returns in 2011 from Friday 29th to Sunday 31st July, the first week of the school summer holidays, at the picturesque setting of Lulworth Castle, set against the backdrop of England's dramatic Jurassic coastline in Dorset.

This festival is hugely suited to families, far more so than for those without kids. Camp Bestival is all about bringing back the British Holiday Camp... Bestival style! A place where Hi de Hi camping capers meet the spirit of early festivals and as well as entertainment, comedy, and literature.

Spread across the Castle Field, Kids Garden, Big Top, Bollywood, Black Dahlia, East Lulworth Literary Institute, Freestyle Sports Park and more, this year will offer even more family entertainment, sideshow attractions and more. There's a huge Kids Area filled with things to keep little ones of all ages entertained all day long including over 100 Free Things For Kids To Do, and Gavin Turk's House of Fairy Tales who will be making an exclusive appearance at this year's Camp Bestival. Plus Lulworth Castle has its very own Animal Farm where the kids can get up close to their super-friendly animals.

Also returning are The English National Ballet with a host of expert ballet workshops in the ballet tent. There will be something for children of all ages; family sessions for tots, introductions for complete beginners and workshops for improvers! In between the workshops, there will be screenings of The English National Ballet's shows and a chance to try on ballet costumes in dressing-up corner.

This year organisers will be opening up campsites on Thursday and from 10am today will offer a Thursday Camping Ticket priced at £10 for adults, and £5 for those aged 11 to 17 years. Children aged 10 years and under are free, but require a ticket.

An adult weekend ticket with camping is priced at £170, student/concessions £160, a weekend with camping child ticket for those 11 to 17 (on 29/07/2011) is priced at £85. These ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21. All children under-11 can attend for free (but MUST HAVE a ticket), and campervans cost £65 per vehicle.

To buy tickets, click here.

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