Camp Bestival has won Best New Festival 2008 at this year’s Festival Awards.

The inaugural festival held in the grounds of Lulworth Castle back in July, with headliners Chuck Berry, Flaming Lips and Kate Nash, scooped the award, making its organiser, Rob da Bank, a very happy man:

Wow! - we are over the ruddy moon that Camp Bestival scooped Best New Festival at the 2008 Festival Awards - thanks for voting for us and come back next year for an even better fun family

Tickets are already on sale for 2009’s festival, which will be held from 24th-26th July 2009.

It seems like only yesterday that we packed away our tent after the inaugural Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle (has the sun shone since?) when news came through that Camp Bestival 2009 early bird tickets are now available to buy.

Next year’s Camp Bestival will take place from July 24th to 26th 2009 - it’s obviously too early to know who will be playing but you know the Bestival crew will put on a super show and will improve upon the already marvelous inaugural festival.

Camp Bestival Early Bird Tickets cost £120 per adult, £60 per child (age 13-15) plus booking fee or you can put down a £50 deposit and pay the balance by February 14th 2009.

Tickets available now from: Ticketline:  0844 888 4410 (24 hr).

The inaugural Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle went off with great style at the weekend.

Thousands of festival goers donned fancy dress and enjoyed the stunning Purbeck views with the castle and the sea as fantastic visual backdrops.

As well as a smorgasbord of music including Chuck Berry, The Flaming Lips, Kate Nash, The Imagined Village, Florence and The Machine and The Cuban Brothers, there were a host of DJ’s, comedians and poets to keep everyone entertained.

One of the many highlights of the weekend was the theatrical thrill of watching Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips descend the staircase of Lulworth Castle in a bubble and then being pushed through the audience and onto the stage.

Other joys included the medieval jousting, the animal trail (those alpacas!), the Blue Coats keeping everyone entertained, barn dancing, the Insect Circus, the free whisky and the thrill of finding previous unknown pleasures such as Kid Carpet, Melodica, Melody and Me and Scroobius Pip.

Despite the teething problems with the lack of camping and parking spaces and toilets it was a great weekend and let’s hope it was the first of many Camp Bestivals to be held at Lulworth Castle - check out some photos at PurbeckBlog on Flikr or add your own to the group. 

Camp Bestival has sold out but not long to wait now for all you 10,000 happy campers who got your hands on tickets.

You can look forward to a weekend of top festival action mixed with the delights of a traditional Great British Holiday camp.

Get out your glad-rags and don your fancy dress gear to the themes of Hi-De-Hi or Alice in Wonderland - or anything else that takes your fancy.

Let’s hope the recent good weather holds up for the weekend - see you all there!

If you weren’t lucky enough to get tickets then trot along to the free and magnificent Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival instead.

Full Camp Bestival Line Up

Live Acts:The Flaming Lips, Chuck Berry, Kate Nash, The Imagined Village, Hercules & Love Affair, Suzanne Vega, Billy Bragg, The Cuban Brothers, Florence and The Machine, King Creosote, dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip, Joe Lean and The Jing Jang Jong, Kid Carpet, Eliza Carthy, Eliza Doolittle, The Ghost, Ebony Bones, Kitty, Daisy and Lewis, Black Kids, Ladyhawke, The Wurzels, Emmy The Great, David E Sugar, Gideon Conn, thecocknbullkid, Jon Hopkins, Beardyman presents Battlejam, The Fence Collective, The Melodica The Melody & Me, Micachu, Tawiah, Emiliana Torrini, The Hat, Christopher D Ashley, Sportsday Megaphone, This Is The Kit, Alice & the Majesty, Rod Thomas, Cut A Shine, Lucky Elephant, Bastila, George Pringle, Miss Odd Kidd & Dekker, Imperial Leisure, Rachael Dadd, Tofu Love Frogs, Dulwich Ukulele Club, The Hot Potato Syncopators, The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, The Henry Brothers, Quayside Cloggies …

DJs:Andrew Weatherall (Rock n Roll set), Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve (4hr set), DJ Yoda, DJ Krust, Gilles Peterson, Frank Tope, Rob da Bank, Dub Pistols Sound System, Jon Moore (Coldcut), Kevin Rowland, Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues, DJ Derek, The Nextmen, Ross Allen, Idjut Boys, Greg Wilson, Queens of Noize, Maurice Fulton, Nigel Godrich, Mungos Hi Fi, Greg’s Greats 78s, The Shellac Collective, One Deck and Popular, Rev Milo Speedwagon, John Kennedy, Balearic Jukebox, Sombrero Sound System, Fear of Theydon, Adrian Blunt, Kaptin, Giddy Plays The Beatles, Cato Canari, Ben Davis, Geek Chic Soundsystem, Matthew Burgess ….

Comedy:Roy Walker’s ‘Catchphrase’, Andrew Maxwell presents ‘Full Mooners’, The Pros From Dover, Phil Nichol, Glenn Wool, Craig Campbell, Jason John Whitehead, Andy Askins, Adam Bloom, Sol Bernstein, Pete Cain, Susan Murray, Jonathan Mayor, John Fothergill, David Hadingham, Jeff Innocent, Carl Donnelly and more …

Spoken Word:Scroobius Pip Presents… Polar Bear, Poem Inbetween People, Peggy Sue & The Pirates, Gideon Conn, Kate Tempest, Matt Lloyd, AF Harold, John Berkavitch, Riz MC, Ventriloquist …

Literature: Howard Marks, Richard Milward, Tom Hodgkinson, Joe Stretch, Gautam Malkani, Sebastian Horsley, Henry Hemming, Edward Docx, Marie Phillips, Nigel Spriggs/Daniel Clay, Tom Leveritt, Book Slam - Ben Mellor, Salena Godden, Sophie Woolley & Tawiah, Michael Smith, Nicholas Hogg, Andy & Dave Hamilton, Damian Barr, Gabriela Blandy, Ross Raisin …

More Info: http://www.campbestival.net/

If you haven’t bought your Camp Bestival tickets yet you need to get your skates on as there are only 500 left.

The new festival at Lulworth Cove which runs from 18-20 July features Chuck Berry, festival legends The Flaming Lips and Kate Nash in the headline slots and there’s also a staggering array of amusements including Balearic Bollywood, The Laughter Library, Karaoke with a twist, Physics In the Field, Come Dancing, Strummerville, the Knitting Tent and oh, so much more.

If you like dressing up then the fancy dress theme for Camp Bestival is loosely Alice in Wonderland and Hi de Hi but feel free to get dressed up in whatever takes your fancy! There’s even a dressing up area to help you get dolled up!

You can also hear a special Camp Bestival edition of the fortnightly Sunday Best Podcast, which Rob da Bank has just put together to get you in the mood for this year’s fun and games. The podcast features tunes from Chuck Berry, Suzanne Vega, Flaming Lips, Billy Bragg, Micachu, Hercules and Love Affair and more.

As well as weekend camping tickets there are also day tickets available (£45 adults, £22.50 (age 13-15), FREE for  under 13s but tickets required).

Ticketline: http://www.ticketline.co.uk// 0844 888 4410 (24 hr)
Lastminute: http://www.lastminute.com/
Lulworth Castle: in person [no booking fee]

With only 11 weeks until the inaugural Camp Bestival comes further news of the fun and excitement lined up for all you happy campers:

As well as headliners Chuck Berry, The Flaming Lips and Kate Nash here are just some of the fun activities lined up so far:

• PLAY LIVE ON THE MAIN-STAGE WITH THE CAMP BESTIVAL JUG BAND
• JOIN THE WORLD’S BIGGEST EVER MARCHING BAND
• THE TASTIEST GOURMET FOOD EVER AT THE DORSET FARMERS’ MARKET
• STRUMMERVILLE CAMPFIRE SESSIONS BY KING CREOSOTE SCROOBIUS PIP, POLAR BEAR, PEGGY SUE & THE PIRATES AND GIDEON CONN
• ‘COME DANCING’
• KAMP KARAOKE
• HEAVENLY HEALING AREA
• KIDS’ DRESSING UP AND WORKSHOPS A PLENTY
• A LOT OF WORK FOR CHARADEE
• PHYSICS IN THE FIELD
• HAPPY CAMPERS AREA
• KNITTING TENT NEWS
• KIDS SUPERMARKET
• LOST & FOUND IN THE WOODS (OUTDOOR DANCE & THEATRE)
• AND MUCH MORE …

The first in a series of Camp Bestival warm-up parties takes place at Sixty Million Postcards in Bournemouth on Thursday night.

The actions starts at 8pm and includes:Kid Carpet (live), Sunday Best Upstarts, Geek Chic Sound system, Cliff Lay and Tosh Ohta. Entry is FREE.

Sixty Million Postcards: Thur 20 March: Free

News from the good fellows at Camp Bestival that Kate Nash, the lovely Harrow girl, will be headlining the Sunday evening slot.

For those of you who have had their head in the sand, Camp Bestival is Purbeck’s very own super new festival being held at Lulworth Castle from 18-20 July.

Curated by Rob da Bank, the mastermind behind the Isle of Wight’s superb Bestival, it aims to be a smaller, more intimate festival with a bent towards those who love camping and with lots of fun and games for all the family.

As well as a great line-up of bands and DJ’s (see below), some of the other highlights include: a comedy arena, spoken word, theatre in the woods, a magic meadow,  a kids area, Bestival Blue Coats to look after your every need, Balearic Bollywood arena, the magnificent Spiegel tent for Come Dancing dance offs, films projected on the castle walls, fireworks and more fun than you’ve had in the Dorset countryside in a long time.

Full Lineup: The Flaming Lips, Chuck Berry, Kate Nash, The Imagined Village, Hercules and Love Affair, Suzanne Vega, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis , King Creosote , The Cuban Brothers, DJ Yoda, dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip, Billy Bragg, Florence and the Machine, Andrew Weatherall (Rock n Roll set), Eliza Doolittle, Beardyman presents Battlejam, Ebony Bones, DJ Krust, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, Emmy the Great, Gilles Peterson, Black Kids, Ladyhawke, Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve, The Wurzels, David E Sugar, Greg’s Greats, Grand National, The Hat, Greg Wilson, Scroobius Pip, Gideon Conn, Idjut Boys, Jon Hopkins, Kevin Rowland (Dexy’s Midnight Runners), Imperial Leisure, The Fence Collective, Eliza Carthy, The Melodica, The Melody and Me, Queens of Noize, Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues, The Shellac Collective, Christopher D Ashley, Mungo’s Hi Fi, One Deck and Popular, Rachael Dadd, Alice & the Majesty, Sportsday Megaphone, thecocknbullkid, George Pringle, Dub Pistols Sound System, Kid Carpet, The Nextmen, Ross Allen, This Is The Kit, Taiwah, Emiliana Torrini, Lucky Elephant, Rod Thomas, Sombrero Sound System, Fear of Theydon, Bastila, Cut a Shine, Roy Walker’s ‘Catchphrase’, Andrew Maxwell presents ‘Full Mooners’, Ida Barr & Tina C , Phil Nichol , Glenn Wool, Craig Campbell, Dave Fulton, Jason John Whitehead, Andy Askins, Adam Bloom, Sol Bernstein, Pete Cain, Susan Murray, Jonathan Mayor, John Fothergill, David Hadingham, Jeff Innocent, Carl Donnelly

Get warmed up for this summer’s inaugural Camp Bestival at Lulworth Cove by catching the Bestival reunion tour as it reaches Bournemouth in March.

The Cuban Brothers will be performing live at Bournemouth’s Hush club- with other acts and DJ’s to be announced.

Camp Bestival, the exciting new festival coming to Lulworth Castle on 18-20 July, launched its new website today.

It reveals more details about the festival: the Castle Stage will host the main acts of the weekend and there will be Bestival Blue Coats on hand in the main arena to look after your every need in a style akin to 1950s British Holiday Camp hosts!

Check out the website for more details of the Magic Meadow with its Bollywood Tent, a Pink Flamingo Cocktail Bar and a Knitting Tent! There’s more fun and activities planned than you could shake a stick at so if you are bringing the kids they are guaranteed a fantastic weekend.

Bands and DJ’s confirmed so far are: The Flaming Lips, Chuck Berry, Billy Bragg, Suzanne Vega, The Wurzels, King Creosote, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, The Fence Collective, Ladyhawke, Florence and the Machine, Scroobius Pip, Beardyman presents Battlejam, The Cuban Brothers, Andrew Weatherall, Idjut Boys, Kevin Rowland, Greg’s Greats, Queens of Noize, Maurice Fulton, Mungo’s Hi Fi, Greg Wilson

Chuck Berry and The Flaming Lips have been announced as the headliners for next year’s Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle.

Bestival, held on the Isle of Wight, is already regarded by many as the country’s finest festival, and Camp Bestival in Dorset looks set to follow in its footsteps.

As well as a great musical line-up, its organisers are aiming to make it the first festival to cater for people who love the camping ‘experience’. It promises to be very family friendly with lots of entertainment and activities to keep the campers happy.

Other acts that have been confirmed include Suzanne Vega, Billy Bragg, Kid Creole & the Coconuts, The Cuban Brothers, Florence and The Machine, King Creosote, Ladyhawke, The Wurzels, Scroobius Pip, and more.

Tickets are selling fast so make sure you get yours now.

Tickets for Camp Bestival: 18-20 July 2008

Exciting news from our friends at VentnorBlog that the organisers of Bestival, the Isle of Wight’s renowned music festival, are setting up a new sister festival at Lulworth Castle next summer under the guise of Camp Bestival.

Running from 18-20 July 2008 and with only 10,000 tickets available, it promises to “hark back to the first ever Bestival, where magic moments were shared between special people, creating memories that last forever”.

Early-bird adult tickets go on sale this Sunday (£100), but you will have to move fast as there are only a limited number available for the Dorset festival before full-price tickets go on general sale on Tuesday 6 November.

Adult weekend tickets will cost £120, children (13-15) £60 and under 12s get in for FREE.  Check out the Bestival website for further details.

If your appetite needed whetting any more here are some words from its organiser - Rob Da Bank

“I can’t wait to get to Camp Bestival! It’s gonna be a big old family campsite with what we reckon will be the best facilities of any festival from custom furnished tipis and yurts to campfires, maintained barbeques, a massive kids areas and our Bestival Bluecoats on hand 24 hours a day to cater for your every need… and then there’s the music - not so much an afterthought as just one part of the whole shebang. Roll on July!”