Summer Festival Preview: Bestival

Since its beginnings in 2004, Bestival has gained a strong reputation as being an intimate, less commercial and more alternative sibling to bigger, well-known festivals such as Glastonbury.

As such, it’s considered to attract a better class of mature, musically-erudite punter - at least that’s what my Bestival-regular friends tell me. With its picturesque Isle of Wight setting and quirky annual dress-up theme, Bestival also promises to be as English as a cup of tea, and we can’t wait to check out the stellar line-up.

2010 offers more than 300 live acts and DJs playing across more than ten arenas; including big names such as the Flaming Lips, Roxy Music, Echo and the Bunnymen, LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip, Simian Mobile Disco, the xx, Mumford and Sons, Chase and Status, the Prodigy, Four Tet, Delphic, Skream, Audio Bullys, New Young Pony Club, alongside the festival stalwart Dizzee Rascal - perhaps the exception-proving-the-rule that Bestival is the thinking-man’s option of the larger UK festivals.

Accompanying the headliners are literally hundreds of lesser-known established and up-and-coming acts, and plenty of sideshows including - believe it or not - the Big Love Inflatable Church, complete with a bona fide Reverend to provide marriage services to Bestival-goers.

Listed below are some of triplew.me’s highlight predictions, and (in true British fashion), the most appropriate cup of tea to savour while watching each gig:

LCD Soundsystem

After this year’s superb album This is Happening, who wouldn’t want to see LCD Soundsystem live?

Accompanying cuppa: Earl Grey with a slice of lemon - smooth and enjoyable with a dash of citrus to get anyone’s party started.

The Flaming Lips

With their renowned on-stage antics, the elder statesmen of art-rock should fit perfectly with Bestival’s fun-loving vibe.

Accompanying cuppa: Orchid tea - apparently the tea of connoisseurs.

Hot Chip

2010’s One Life Stand LP was a little disappointing, but on past form (and much recommendation), Bestival favourites Hot Chip should put in a good performance.

Accompanying cuppa: English Breakfast - inoffensive and at worst middle-of-the-road, but appreciated by all.

Delphic

At their best, these Mancunian dance-rockers are reputed to match the greats of the Madchester days. Here’s hoping they produce some of that at Bestival.

Accompanying cuppa: Something expensive picked randomly from a posh hotel’s high-tea menu - could be the best tea of all time, or it could be awful.

Neon Indian

Neon Indian’s trippy alt-dance should get a crowd moving - particularly in a small tent.

Accompanying cuppa: Kava root tea - this rumoured hallucinogenic could be just what’s needed to supplement this set.

The Antlers

This highly-acclaimed, chilled-out Brooklyn outfit would be nice to enjoy sitting down in the midday sun - if Bestival is blessed with any...

Accompanying cuppa: Coffee - you’re going to need that caffeine.

Toro Y Moi

Reviews of Toro Y Moi’s live performances are mixed - but this year’s album Causers of This is so good the chillwave upstart from South Carolina deserves a look.

Accompanying cuppa: Lapsang souchoung - distinctive with a smoky flavour; a bit of an unknown quantity.

New Young Pony Club

New Young Pony Club’s infectious new-new-wave and more recent post-punk stylings promise to get the kids dancing - an act for the boys and the girls to enjoy.

Accompanying cuppa: Long Island Iced Tea - not strictly a tea, but you’re going to want to dance to these guys.

Errors

The Scottish quartet have been hailed as the most-promising saviours of indie-electro - that’s for the pundits to argue about, but with their catchy riffs and bouncy beats they’ll surely get the punters on their feet and moving.

Accompanying cuppa: Nilgiri/Assam blend - the refreshing, bright flavour of Nilgiri, with the robust Assam for get up and go.

Crystal Fighters

When I first heard the single I Love London I almost creamed my tea. The album’s not out yet, but if the tracks released so far are anything to go by, these uniquely-styled Basquetronic-rockers are not to be missed.

Accompanying cuppa:****ed fruit tea - the good-time summery taste of fruit, with a****y mystery to keep it interesting.

Sleigh Bells

I missed the Brooklyn noise-rockers’ gig in Shoreditch the other week - and have broodingly regretted it ever since. Bestival offers an opportunity to atone for this deplorable mistake.

Accompanying cuppa: A cheap brew made from bottom-shelf tea bags, served in a polystyrene cup - no-nonsense stuff.