The Bestival 2007 was the fourth installment of the Bestival a boutique music festival at Robin Hill on the Isle of Wight. It was held between 7 and 9 September. Tickets went on general sale on Friday 2 March, around 20,000 have been admitted for general release. Tickets were officially announced as sold out on 12 May.
The Bestival 2007 won the Best Medium Sized Festival award, at the UK Festival Awards. This was the third consecutive award for the Bestival, a feat achieved by no other festival in the awards history to date.
Many of the established features were retained including the Bollywood Bar, Hidden Disco, The Farmers Market, Come Dancing Tent, Bestival 87.7FM, Solar Powered Cinema, The Inflatable Church and the Fancy dress parade. The new features for the 2007 Bestival include:
Swim to Bestival – A charity initiative involving swimming the Solent with the assistance of Royal Navy lifeguards for protection. Club Dada – A cabaret/circus themed club tent Laughter Clubs – Inspired by the influx of laughter clubs of India. Night of 100 Ukes – A performance of a 100 ukulele players comprising festival goers, organised by the Dulwich Ukulele Club.
BBC Radio 1 broadcast live from the Bestival, they also had a stage present at the Bestival showcasing many talented artists.
2007 marked the launch of Bestival Radio. The station broadcast on-site over the frequency 87.7FM and kept listeners camping at the festival up-to-date on news and events over the weekend. Bestival FM was sponsored by Jokers' Masquerade
There were 14 different musical venues at the Bestival 2007, these are – Main Stage, The Big Top, The Bollywood Bar, House of Bamboo, BBC Introducing..., Hidden Disco, Club Dada, Jestival, Bandstand, Restival, Come Dancing, The Rizla Arena, Time For Tease and Loose Tea Party.
Line up
There were three surprise guests appearing over the course of the weekend.
Main stage
Friday
Chemical Brothers
Nathan Detroit
The Go! Team
Rev Milo Speedwagon
Barry Peters
DJ Dave Grogan
The Maccabees
The Levellers
Holy Goat Soundsystem
Noisettes
The Hat
Adjagas
Hugo Frusslinky
Saturday
Beastie Boys
Zane Lowe
The Cuban Brothers
Night of 100 Ukes
Soul II Soul
Michael Cock
Madness
Spank Rock
Easy Star All-Stars
The Bees
Gregory Isaacs
Billy Bragg
Fionn Regan
Sunday
Primal Scream
Rob Da Bank
Gossip
Queens of Noise
Ska Cubano
Kate Nash
MC Beardy Man
Beastie Boys
DJ Yoda
Marlena Shaw
Colin Toogood
Kitty Daisy & Lewis
Bat for Lashes
Other Stages
Friday
Calvin Harris
Tim Westwood
Fields
Jon Hopkins
John Foxx
David Guetta
Architecture in Helsinki
Saturday
François K
Simian Mobile Disco
The Rumble Strips
Erol Alkan
Candie Payne
Robyn
Annie Mac
Daedelus
Foals
Kid Carpet
Fujiya & Miyagi
Phill Jupitus
Ed Byrne
Sunday
The Orb
Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip
Róisín Murphy
Dub Pistols
Remi Nicole
Horace Andy
Bestival Spring Launch Parties
These were a new concept for 2007, allowing people to experience the atmosphere of the Bestival around the country in small gigs. Details of the events are listed below -
Saturday 7 April – Komedia, Brighton
Feat. The Cuban Brothers, Sombrero Sound System and Lost & Found.
Saturday 14 April – Mayrhofen, Austria
Feat. Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, The Cuban Brothers, Louie Austen, Rob Da Bank, Dub Pistols and Sombrero Sound System.
Friday 20 April – The Bloomsbury Ballroom, London
Feat. Candie Payne, Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Natty, Planning To Rock, Rob Da Bank, Trojan Sound System, Sombrero Sound System.
Thursday 26 April – The Lizard Lounge, Southampton
Feat. DJ Yoda and Tommy Gunn.
Saturday 28 April – Turnmills, London
Feat. Rob Da Bank, Kitty, Daisy and lewis, Dub Pistols and Rodney P.