Bestival brand is going international

Bestival founder Rob Da Bank is, according to the Telegraph (here), about to take his festival brand, Bestival, into North America and Europe.

Next week, Rob Da Bank will sign a distribution deal to launch the festival in North America through a partner organisation, which will be followed by other territories across Europe. “The deal has been a long time coming,” he said. “I’ve never been in this industry for the money but now I’m 40 with three small kids, it’s time to get business minded.”

The UK festival market hit saturation point in 2011, and is now fiercely competitive, with around a thousand taking place across the UK each year. Rob Da Bank believes Bestival's success in a crowded market here is an exportable proposition, telling the newspaper, "We've made a real impression on the festival market and pioneered a lot of ideas."

The Bestival brand is not the first to try and 'break' the American market, both All Tomorrows Parties, and Truck previously tried to make inroads into a festival market, that has over 100 major events now each summer.

Bestival may be crossing the Atlantic at a problematic time in America for festivals. The market there has already hit over 850 major festivals this summer alone. In the last five years, music festivals in North America have undergone a total transformation, just like it did here at the start of the millennium. This growth has seen a few major events joined by hundreds of smaller events in cities across the country, there's now over a dozen major events every weekend over the summer.

And like the festival scene here there are signs that exponential curve of festival growth has created an unsustainable scenario, with too many festivals in an overloaded American system, and many in the American market believe the bubble could be about to burst there too.

Rob Da Bank will be able to offer his experience of facing a crowded market, having already helmed Bestival through the choppy waters of the bubble bursting in the UK. He certainly wants to make a success of it. "People think Bestival pours multi-millions into my bank account every year and it doesn't," he continued. "That's not a sob story but now it's time to knuckle down a bit. My twenties and thirties were a total laugh but now I have to be responsible."

The main factor in his favour is his experience of branding, in America festivals are underpinned by corporate sponsorship, with big money able to attract the big names and generate ticket sales. The Bestival model is sure to be an attractive brand to American investors, and we hope they can be the first UK festival to become a regular annual success on both sides the Atlantic.

As for the European market, it appears that at least may be easier to crack with festivals like Sonisphere making a success over the Channel and able to tour their annual stadium festival shows successfully. Although, again it will require Besitval's experience to position itself in an overcrowded market. It's not yet been revealed just how many European Bestivals there will be.

The Desert Island Disco themed Bestival takes place at Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight, next month from Thursday 4th until Sunday 7th September 2014.

The hursday headliner is Beck, Friday it's Outkast, Saturday is topped by Foals, and Sunday's headliner is Chic featuring Nile Rodgers. Also confirmed are Busta Rhymes, Disclosure, Major Lazer, London Grammar, La Roux, Skindred, Kitty Daisy & Lewis, The Cuban Brothers, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Dub Pistols, Bipolar Sunshine, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Reverend And The Makers, Howard Marks, Sam Smith, Wild Beasts, Clean Bandit, Caribou, Chvrches, Laura Mvula, Paloma Faith, Basement Jaxx, Candi Staton, Sven Vath, Damian Lazarus, Boys Noize, Annie Mac, Green Velvet, Chase & Status (DJ Set), Andy C, Wilkinson, 1-800 Dinosaur (James Blake, Dan Foat, Airhead, Mr Assister), Route94, Bicep, Richy Ahmed, Krystal Klear, Monki, Loadstar (2 Shy, Adapt, MC Jakes), Jaguar Skills, Gorgon City, Rob Da Bank, Prince Fatty, Toddla T, Congo Natty, Jus Now, Jah Shaka, Mad Professor, Natty, and more.

For the line-up details, as available click here.

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Early bird tickets including entry from Thursday are priced at £195 for Adult Tickets and £127 for Teen (age 13-17) Tickets. Tickets for children (age 12 & under) are free (but must have a ticket). A campervan ticket is priced at £90 and a caravan £101 (per vehicle), and car parking is priced at £15 advance (or £20 cash on arrival).