![It's insanely good fun: Maybe it's the fact that you have to hop on a ferry to travel to an island to get there, maybe it's the party-oriented line-up, but there's a sense of escapism and mindless decadence at Bestival that can't be beat.]()
It's insanely good fun: Maybe it's the fact that you have to hop on a ferry to travel to an island to get there, maybe it's the party-oriented line-up, but there's a sense of escapism and mindless decadence at Bestival that can't be beat.
![Outkast are headlining: Can you think of a (legal) way to have more fun on a Friday night? No, no you can't. Shake it like a polaroid picture.]()
Outkast are headlining: Can you think of a (legal) way to have more fun on a Friday night? No, no you can't. Shake it like a polaroid picture.
![The Port Stage: Last year saw the launch of The Port - a new stage built from an old navy boat that played host to DJ's, pole-dancers, fire-breathers and a whole lot of all night raving.]()
The Port Stage: Last year saw the launch of The Port - a new stage built from an old navy boat that played host to DJ's, pole-dancers, fire-breathers and a whole lot of all night raving.
![Disclosure: You can't have a party without Disclosure, so what better band to warm up for the insanity of Outkast on the main stage on Friday? Expect the new kings of dance to receive a right royal welcome at Robin Hill County Park.]()
Disclosure: You can't have a party without Disclosure, so what better band to warm up for the insanity of Outkast on the main stage on Friday? Expect the new kings of dance to receive a right royal welcome at Robin Hill County Park.
![The people: Not only is Bestival the ultimate getaway but it's one of the last big parties of the festival season. The crowd knows this all too well - which is what pumps the event with 'Bestival Spirit': the urge to find a reason to love everybody, rave constantly and have a good time...all the time. Complete strangers are about to become your best friends.]()
The people: Not only is Bestival the ultimate getaway but it's one of the last big parties of the festival season. The crowd knows this all too well - which is what pumps the event with 'Bestival Spirit': the urge to find a reason to love everybody, rave constantly and have a good time...all the time. Complete strangers are about to become your best friends.
![Foals: Making their major headline festival debut at Latitude last year, Yannis and co showed the world that they were destined to top the bill. They can only be bigger and better when they do it again with Holy Fire at Bestival in 2014.]()
Foals: Making their major headline festival debut at Latitude last year, Yannis and co showed the world that they were destined to top the bill. They can only be bigger and better when they do it again with Holy Fire at Bestival in 2014.
![Fancy dress: One of the greatest things about Bestival is their annual theme. The result is a mash-mash of over the top, genius and occasionally offensively lazy fancy dress. The quality doesn't matter - the important thing is that everyone gets involved (even a lot of the bands). This year's theme is Desert Island Disco - which suits Bestival down to a T.]()
Fancy dress: One of the greatest things about Bestival is their annual theme. The result is a mash-mash of over the top, genius and occasionally offensively lazy fancy dress. The quality doesn't matter - the important thing is that everyone gets involved (even a lot of the bands). This year's theme is Desert Island Disco - which suits Bestival down to a T.
![London Grammar: One of 2013's best new bands, watch them bloom into one of Britain's biggest bands in the year ahead - with their crowning moment in the beautiful sunshine of the Isle Of Wight.]()
London Grammar: One of 2013's best new bands, watch them bloom into one of Britain's biggest bands in the year ahead - with their crowning moment in the beautiful sunshine of the Isle Of Wight.
![This man: Rob Da Bank created Bestival to put on the best party possible. Whether he's spinning two hours of Prince classics or booking the ultimate disco fiesta, he won't rest until you've partied yourself into oblivion. Give this man a knighthood.]()
This man: Rob Da Bank created Bestival to put on the best party possible. Whether he's spinning two hours of Prince classics or booking the ultimate disco fiesta, he won't rest until you've partied yourself into oblivion. Give this man a knighthood.
![Beck: When you arrive at most festivals on a Thursday night, all there is to do is pitch your tent, wander about, look at some tatty stalls, hope to meet some strangers and probably drink far too much of your booze. Not at Bestival - how about a headline set from the Godfather of US alt-rock Beck? Expect to hear cuts from new album Morning Phase alongside classics like 'Loser', 'Sexxxlaws' and 'Devil's Haircut'.]()
Beck: When you arrive at most festivals on a Thursday night, all there is to do is pitch your tent, wander about, look at some tatty stalls, hope to meet some strangers and probably drink far too much of your booze. Not at Bestival - how about a headline set from the Godfather of US alt-rock Beck? Expect to hear cuts from new album Morning Phase alongside classics like 'Loser', 'Sexxxlaws' and 'Devil's Haircut'.
![The arena: With countless places to dance away the summer, a woodland area filled with curiosities, comedy, cinema, a burlesque tea room, a ballroom and countless other custom-built attractions and mental goings on, the Bestival's main arena can only really be compared to a miniature Glastonbury without the crush or the need to spend eight years walking from one side to the other.]()
The arena: With countless places to dance away the summer, a woodland area filled with curiosities, comedy, cinema, a burlesque tea room, a ballroom and countless other custom-built attractions and mental goings on, the Bestival's main arena can only really be compared to a miniature Glastonbury without the crush or the need to spend eight years walking from one side to the other.
![CHVRCHES: Proving that Scotland can't stop churning out brilliant bands, this electro-pop trio are the latest to conquer the world from north of Hadrian's Wall. Their near-flawless debut album, The Bones Of What You Believe, is making waves around the planet and was even named Gigwise's Best Album Of 2013. So yeah, they're pretty good. See exactly why at Bestival.]()
CHVRCHES: Proving that Scotland can't stop churning out brilliant bands, this electro-pop trio are the latest to conquer the world from north of Hadrian's Wall. Their near-flawless debut album, The Bones Of What You Believe, is making waves around the planet and was even named Gigwise's Best Album Of 2013. So yeah, they're pretty good. See exactly why at Bestival.
![The fireworks finale: Seriously, it's really something. Prepare to embrace your friends tighter than ever before, bawl your eyes and scream until your lungs explode as the last great party of the summer is topped off with an audio-visual pyrotechnic spectacular.]()
The fireworks finale: Seriously, it's really something. Prepare to embrace your friends tighter than ever before, bawl your eyes and scream until your lungs explode as the last great party of the summer is topped off with an audio-visual pyrotechnic spectacular.
![Dub Pisotols: Well, they've not been announced yet but they play every year. Barry Ashworth and co are Bestival veterans. After 10 years, they're somehow still not only the highlight of the festival - but of the entire bloody year. The mantra of]()
Dub Pisotols: Well, they've not been announced yet but they play every year. Barry Ashworth and co are Bestival veterans. After 10 years, they're somehow still not only the highlight of the festival - but of the entire bloody year. The mantra of "oh no, here we go again - I'm off my face, another mucky weekend" should be adopted as the Bestival motto. Actually, screw that - just rename the whole festival 'Dub Pistols And Friends'.
![Wild Beasts: Britain's biggest cult band threaten to break into something much larger when they drop their ambitious fourth album, The Present Tense. Check out exactly what makes them so wonderfully weird and special at Bestival 2014.]()
Wild Beasts: Britain's biggest cult band threaten to break into something much larger when they drop their ambitious fourth album, The Present Tense. Check out exactly what makes them so wonderfully weird and special at Bestival 2014.
![The perfect ending to summer: By the time September rolls around, most of the UK has packed their tents away and is hibernating for the long hard slog of winter. With some pretty brilliant festivals announced already, 2014 promises another relentless summer of love, music, magic and mayhem. Bestival marks the end of it all - and there is no better finale to be found on the planet. Get yourself on the boat.]()
The perfect ending to summer: By the time September rolls around, most of the UK has packed their tents away and is hibernating for the long hard slog of winter. With some pretty brilliant festivals announced already, 2014 promises another relentless summer of love, music, magic and mayhem. Bestival marks the end of it all - and there is no better finale to be found on the planet. Get yourself on the boat.
![Busta Rhymes: It's going to be his first ever UK festival appearance. It's going to be epic. WOO HA!]()
Busta Rhymes: It's going to be his first ever UK festival appearance. It's going to be epic. WOO HA!
![Chic ft Nile Rodgers: We're struggling to think of a more fitting end to a weekend of 'Desert Island Disco'. They were awesome last year, expect to Get Lucky as they take things up a notch.]()
Chic ft Nile Rodgers: We're struggling to think of a more fitting end to a weekend of 'Desert Island Disco'. They were awesome last year, expect to Get Lucky as they take things up a notch.
![Public Service Broadcasting: Post-rock, nostalgic soundbite samples, a blinding live show and a quintessentially British approach to music - make sure you catch PBS at all costs.]()
Public Service Broadcasting: Post-rock, nostalgic soundbite samples, a blinding live show and a quintessentially British approach to music - make sure you catch PBS at all costs.
![Temples: Psych never sounded so good. Can you think of a more perfect way to spend a hazy summer day on the Isle of Wight? We can't.]()
Temples: Psych never sounded so good. Can you think of a more perfect way to spend a hazy summer day on the Isle of Wight? We can't.
![Cate Le Bon: A perfect performer in the art of understatement, prepare to fall in love with the exquisite folk stylings of Cate Le Bon at Bestival 2014.]()
Cate Le Bon: A perfect performer in the art of understatement, prepare to fall in love with the exquisite folk stylings of Cate Le Bon at Bestival 2014.
![DJ Yoda: Old school classics, surprising alternative favourites, amazing visuals - all thrown together in one hell of a party package. DJ Yoda is perfect for Bestival.]()
DJ Yoda: Old school classics, surprising alternative favourites, amazing visuals - all thrown together in one hell of a party package. DJ Yoda is perfect for Bestival.
![Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip: Thou shalt think, thou shalt dance, thou shalt always have a good time with Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip]()
Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip: Thou shalt think, thou shalt dance, thou shalt always have a good time with Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip
![SBTRKT: The OTHER masked dude who rules at electro.]()
SBTRKT: The OTHER masked dude who rules at electro.
![The Grand Palace Of Entertainment: They've described it as 'an enchanted universe of convention defying oddments, jaw-dropping spectacles and mind-altering experiences' and 'inhibition eliminating, twisted wonderland, featuring dazzling queens and party-starting midnight cowboys, all waiting to take you on an unforgettable rainbow-coloured ride'. Pretty full-on, eh?]()
The Grand Palace Of Entertainment: They've described it as 'an enchanted universe of convention defying oddments, jaw-dropping spectacles and mind-altering experiences' and 'inhibition eliminating, twisted wonderland, featuring dazzling queens and party-starting midnight cowboys, all waiting to take you on an unforgettable rainbow-coloured ride'. Pretty full-on, eh?
![Nick Mulvey: The former Portico Quartet man has now gone it alone, and he's bloody brilliant. Just check out the undeniably arresting 'Nitrous' as evidence. Miss him at Bestival, and regret it forever.]()
Nick Mulvey: The former Portico Quartet man has now gone it alone, and he's bloody brilliant. Just check out the undeniably arresting 'Nitrous' as evidence. Miss him at Bestival, and regret it forever.
![Bonobo: The master of dusky grooves, this is going to be the ultimate way to chill out and lose yourself this festival season. Imagine 'Cirrus' as the sun goes down over the Isle Of Wight. Bliss.]()
Bonobo: The master of dusky grooves, this is going to be the ultimate way to chill out and lose yourself this festival season. Imagine 'Cirrus' as the sun goes down over the Isle Of Wight. Bliss.
![Peter Hook and The Light: Arguably indie's most iconic and influential bassist, the legend that is Hooky will be performing Joy Division's seminal Unknown Pleasures album in full. If you can think of a more brilliant way to spend your summer than enjoying this masterpiece, then we'd love to hear it.]()
Peter Hook and The Light: Arguably indie's most iconic and influential bassist, the legend that is Hooky will be performing Joy Division's seminal Unknown Pleasures album in full. If you can think of a more brilliant way to spend your summer than enjoying this masterpiece, then we'd love to hear it.
![Darkside (Nicolas Jaar & Dave Harrington): This side-project is shade more darker and brooding than Jaar's slightly more jaunty solo material, and is described as aiming to explore]()
Darkside (Nicolas Jaar & Dave Harrington): This side-project is shade more darker and brooding than Jaar's slightly more jaunty solo material, and is described as aiming to explore "rock’s cosmic outer edges through the immersive, body-moving framework of 21st-century house and techno". Move your body and get cosmic at Bestival 2014, we know we will be.