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Last summer saw the cancellation of music festivals and live music events, but with the roadmap to recovery and the COVID vaccination programme in place, things are looking positive. News of the return of Bestival has set everyone’s heart aflutter and with a strong headline line up of music icons, Kelis, Fatboy Slim and Groove Armada, and artists including Sophie-Ellis Baxter, Friendly Fires and Tim Burgess as well as the comic styles of 1993 novel ‘Trainspotting’ author Irvine Walsh, tickets are sure to sell out. Bestival is set to return with a bang, with new attractions including a new comedy tent called ‘The Giggle Box’, a Full Moon cinema and a Cirque Bijou High Wire performance.

The festival which takes place at Dorset’s Lulworth Castle from July 29th to August 1st has been on the summer calendar since 2004 when it was held on the Isle of Wright and moved to Dorset in 2017. Run by husband-and-wife duo, BBC 6 DJ and producer Rob da Bank and Josie. Da Bank famously started the festival from his music label Sunday Best Recordings established in 1997, which in turn was originally a club night begun in 1995. Da Bank was also given the huge shoes to fill when broadcasting legend John Peel died, stepping in to host his show for a short period. It is with Da Bank’s passion and love that Bestival has become such a success and a high point of British summers. Da Bank recently spoke to BBC about his excitement for the return of the festival, “There is literally nothing [my wife] Josie and I like more in life than standing in a field surrounded by family and friends, dressed in daft outfits dancing to amazing bands and DJs and Mr Tumble.’’

Bestival is not the only live event that has been given the green light for the summer. Ready & Leeds tickets sold out just two days after the announcement which could make or break summer music events from the Prime Minister. Other festivals set to take place include Green Man and 2000 Trees, the award-winning festival held at Cotswold Hills from 8th July till 10th July. With the news from Melvin Benn, boss of Festival Republic, confirming the importance of the vaccination programme to this summer’s live music events, UK festivals are getting ready to go on with the show.

Festival anticipation and excitement is in the air after the promising news from Number 10, the country is crossing their fingers that the roadmap set out to recover from Covid and lift restrictive social rules is a success. And with many other artists including Hip Hop pioneers The Sugarhill Gang and the Furious Five as well as DJ Jo Whiley spinning some classic and new tracks, Bestival is sure to make up for the lost summer of 2020. Although the health and safety of ourselves and others are important and vital during these times, the announcement brought hope to many that this summer will be full of good friends, good music and good times again.

Click here to buy tickets.

Jesse Glynne and The Human League will take the stage kicking the festival off the on Friday night. Followed by Nile Rodgers and Chic who will bring “feel good” vibes on Saturday. BBC Radio 1 DJ, Annie Mac, will hit the decks ending the weekend of celebrations on Sunday night.

For younger fans, pop duo and YouTube stars, Max and Harvey will also perform a live set and Q&A session at the Castle Stage.

Camp Bestival curators Josie and Rob da Bank have been working hard to build the festival’s success, which first started in 2008. Rob da Bank, said: “We’re really proud to unveil two of the world’s biggest party starters in their own fields – Nile and Chic go back a long way with us and they’re going to have everyone dancing at Lulworth Castle.

“BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac is one of the UK’s best DJs, tastemakers and a mama to boot so we know she’s going to press all the right buttons. This year we’ve got some whacking great headliners and loads of amazing family activities, we will be prioritising our teens to keep them happy with a new screen free area avoiding technology.”

Other acts which have joined the lineup are Sister Sledge, Sara Cox, Big Shaq, Vengaboys, East 17 and Spice Girl’s Melanie C. Camp Bestival will also host entertainment for younger children with appearances from Big Fish Little Fish, Mr Tumble, Mister Makes and The Shapes and CBBC presenters Sam and Mark.

The full line-up will include sets from – Jess Glynne, The Human League, Sister Sledge, The Waielrs, Big Shaq, Sara Cox, Goldie, Vengaboy, Ash, David Rodigan, Greg Wilson, Melanie C’s 90’s Mixtape, Rak-Su, Morcheeba Rick Witter & Paul Banks (Shed Seven Acoustic), Grandmaster Flash, Black Grape, Earache Takeover: Napalm Death, Lewis Capaldi, Nina Nesbitt, East 17, The Cuban Brothers, House Gospel Choir, The Correspondents, Beans on Toast, Stanton Warriors (Live), Elvana: Elvis Fronted Nirvana, Henge, Four of Diamonds, Junior Jungle, Dj Yoda, Vic Reeves, Utah Saints, Clint Boon, Dub Pistols, Ghetto Funk Allstars, Rob Da Bank and Dr Dj  Purple Rave (Prince Tribute).

The festival will also feature a range of events for children including Mr Tumble and CBeebies presenters Sam and Mark, who will also make an appearance at the festival as well, Organisers of the event Josie and Rob da Bank said: ‘Camp Bestival is back with a bang and we’re over the moon to announce our return with the best and biggest line-up to date in 2019.’

With this announcement coming not long after the festival was plunged into financial uncertainty. In September it was reported that Bestival’s future could be in jeopardy, with reports suggestion the company behind the festival were being put into administration. After The Sunday Times claimed that loans tycoon James Benamor, filed the administration notices at the High Court.

 A spokesman told NME: ‘Richmond Group has today made an offer of £1.1m to purchase the brand and assets of Bestival Group, with the intention of running the successful Camp Bestival going forward. Under this offer, all Camp Bestival 2019 tickets sold so far will be honoured.’

The annual music festival which was lunched way back in 2004 has seen performances from the likes of The Cure, Massive Attack, Outkast and Florence and the Machience as headliners. The original place of the event was the Isle of Wight but it was then relocated to Dorset in 2017. This year at Camp Bestival the headlining acts are Jess Glynne and The Human League which you can see them perform at Lulworth Castle form the 25^th– 28^thJuly 2019. You can access tickets here.

The gates first opened for the festival on Thursday July 26, and was due to run until the night on July 29, seeing the likes of Orbital, Simple Minds, and The Undertones take to the stage at the Lulworth Castle site. However, the festival organisers issued a statement saying that the site had to be close as a safety precaution, following several flood warnings issued across England and Wales over the weekend, following a nigh-on unprecedented heat wave in the UK.

Update from Camp Bestival. pic.twitter.com/cWl3tyXqQH

— Camp Bestival (@CampBestival) July 29, 2018

The post continues: “You are by far the best festival audience and we love you dearly. This has been such a tough decision, but the safety of all you guys, the families, kids, and our working staff has to be of paramount importance.

“The campsites will remain open tonight if you want to continue with your Camp Bestival stay regardless of the conditions. Thank you so much for coming and please get home safely.”

Fans shared recorded footage of the damage caused by the weather, with the general consensus being that the right decision was made to cut the event short.

@SkyNews loved my time at #CampBestival but an early escape was essential. Wow, what a weekend, what a storm pic.twitter.com/aG2qWjB8Ih

— mel Brolly (@melmel2801) July 29, 2018

#campbestival come down. Decamped to pub waiting for storm to subside. #remainers #campmageddon pic.twitter.com/EjdrS53pCB

— Alison Richards (@richards_alison) July 29, 2018

Bestival itself is still scheduled to go ahead at the same site next weekend, with London Grammar, Silk City (Diplo and Mark Ronson’s collaborative proect) and M.I.A, confirmed to headline. Last week, an offer for two-for-one day tickets surfaced online, which you can look into here.

Having just released their debut EP Milkshake earlier this year, the foursome have wasted no time in getting some more material out in the open, with Gold featuring one brand new song as well as some alternative versions of tracks from Milkshake. Both Toucan Surf  and Surround You from the April release have been recorded acoustically on the ever-growing RTTV Session YouTube channel, and both feature on the four track EP. Track listing is below.

1. Gold

2. Toucan Surf (RTTV Session)

3. Surround You (RTTV Session)

4. Toucan Surf (CS Remix)

The young lads have a busy schedule ahead of them, including an appearance at Camp Bestival this coming weekend. They wrap up their August activities with a slot on the BBC Introducing stages at Reading and Leeds festivals, the critically acclaimed stage which has seen the careers of Don Broco, Everything Everything and Dinosaur Pile Up kick off following shows there. They will then embark on a tour of the UK, with gigs around the country including Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool and London. Be sure to check out why there is such a rush around these guys at one of their shows, although with tickets sure to be selling like hotcakes, you’re going to have to move fast.

Listen to their recent track Gold to see what all the fuss is about.