BESTIVAL

Get ready worshipers of grooves, vibes and all things a bit, well, leftfield.

The time is fast approaching for this year’s Bestival, held at Robin Hill Country Park on the Isle of Wight.

Rob da Bank’s double award-winning jamboree is back and bursting at the seams with things to put a smile on your face.

Even if it buckets down.

Part of a new crop of sparkly ‘boutique’ festivals that are making their bigger rivals look as knackered as their portaloos, Bestival has been gaining in musical momentum since it started in 2004.

Past headliners have included everyone from Basement Jaxx & Fatboy Slim to the Super Furry Animals, Scissor Sisters and Primal Scream.

This year’s line up of sound magicians include Aphex Twin, Underworld, 808 State, legendary George Clinton and Funkadelic/Parliament, CSS, Gary Numan, Lee “Scratch” Perry and an exclusive festival appearance from The Sugarhill Gang who gave early-80s youth their first taste of rap, grooves and samples in one shiny package.

Adding to the eclectic stew will be an appearance from shoegazers My Blood Valentine and a certain Miss Amy Winehouse, who’s expected to arrive in one piece and shake a bony tail feather.

Like Rob da Bank’s Radio 1 Sunday Best show, there will also be emphasis on box-fresh new sounds and artists, with a new BBC Introducing… stage adding to attractions at the Main Stage and Big Top.

Expect everything from pop, techno, electro, house, disco to folk, soul and downtempo to fill the sticky September air.

Bestival aims to inspire peace, love and dancing, and encourages all manner of fun and frolics including this year’s fishy fancy dress theme ‘30, 000 freaks under the sea’.

For those who don’t want to roll around in the mud dressed as a giant prawn, the expanding Bollywood Bar will be offering plentiful cocktail refreshment and dance floor space.

Also tucked away somewhere on site will be the Hidden Disco – trying to find it in a ‘refreshed’ state might prove a bit of a task but the rewards will be worth it when you stumble upon superstar DJs and glitterballs.

There are literally too many theme tents and too little time but if it all gets too much, you can make your way over to the Restival (see what they did there?), offering enough relaxing past-times to have you chilling like a chihuahua.

Anything else? Well, for the full low-down visit the festival website www.bestival.net but if you’ve got your ticket, sleep sound in the knowledge that this summer bash comes with the full Exeter List seal of approval.