Friday 24th until Sunday 26th July 2009 @ Lulworth Castle, Dorset
Featuring Performances From: VV Brown, Florence And The Machine, High Contrast, DJ Dan, Bon Iver, Laura Marling, Alessi’s Ark, PJ Harvey, Alela Diane, Trojan Sound System, Trojan Sound System, Roots Manuva, Candi Stanton

This weekend, Lulworth Cove played host to seventeen thousand punters, about seven thousand of which were mini-ladies and sirs; children running about in animal furs. Music, food, comedy and copious bunting, even some peacock hunting; it was truly a family blast. Ferris-wheels, storytelling by Howard Marks and parents with cash to splash and loud barks. Of course ‘family’ inevitably means ‘curfews’, the indeterminable aged Castle lit like a luminous monster purveying the tented expanse of land may beckon revelry for those with a zest for Sunday Best but alas lights-out at 2am! Or indeed thou shalt see the other side of the security’s hand.

Indeed, Camp Bestival was an enjoyable, exceptionally friendly event. Perfect if you have bred some little nippers. With hundreds of hands-on activities for both the ‘kidz’ and ‘other’, all festival scamps were highly catered for and strop prevention was maintained. With joys including, painting models, tracing faces, a petting farm, odd shaped cycles, copious sweets, insect performances and ‘serious’ theatre and film in the atmospherically lit woodland, it was  all very sweet. And despite some power trip parents, and quite ridiculous health and safety precautions, everyone was relaxed and enthusiastic. Amusingly the kids also managed to chuckle in the face of HS rigmarole, by scaling the massive flagpoles and climbing on anything remotely high. Wicked imps!

Musically, VV Brown was a happy start to the first day but lacked the fire to ignite the interest of many. Florence And The Machine provided more of a rocket, taking to the stage with a flurry of white batwing and trailing disco/garden fabric. She flounced, rocked and belted her voice, psyching up the crowd and generally performed with some perfect sunset pizzazz. Similarly, High Contrast blasted the crowd, adding some cemented bass to the previously light and airy first night. Later was Silent Disco territory, which included singing wedding disco favourites in unison, or on the other channel, DJ Dan. I am yet to be convinced by the silence, at least the kids didn’t wake up though.

Bon Iver proved to be a marvellous performer, the whole audience escaping to Justin’s log cabin in the woods. Stacks was simply beautiful. Laura Marling cracked out some new tracks which were pleasant lolls but there was a sense she wasn’t wholly into her performance. Nonetheless, she still sounds clear and sweet as honey when she sings live. Alessi’s Ark were late and that infected their performance a little, but Miss Alessi still delivered her charming, quirky folk with heart. PJ Harvey packed the tent and hills and delivered a meditative performance. Musically self taught, Alela Diane was a highlight of the festival for me; her guitar notes and mesmerising voice is quite the folk heaven. Trojan Sound System and Roots Manuva are also still amazing, just like disco original, Candi Stanton. You Got The Love as the rain began again on Sunday was a perfect ending moment to a festival of skippy, happy times.

www.campbestival.net

Helen Martin