Bestival 2009 Review

And then there was the music, of course. Soulwax kicked things off properly on the mainstage on Friday with a banging live set which included their own NY Excuse and remixes of Daft Punk and Justice. In the early hours the Big Top was rammed as the Belgians played again under their 2ManyDJs guise.

 

MGMT failed to get the crowd going, debuting new songs and leaving Kids till the end. They also suffered from sound problems- a result of the main stage being moved to a new position.

 

Lily Allen faired better in the Saturday afternoon sunshine getting into the fancy dress spirit in a stunning Barbarella dress and silver thigh-high boots. Giggling between each song she appropriately opened with Everyone’s At It. LDN burst into Back To The Start (MTV’s favourite track from her second disc) before Lils turned Smile into a drum and bass belter.

 

Goldie Lookin Chain proved as charmless as ever while Supergrass’ boys Gaz and Danny played as The Hot Rats covering The Beat, The Sex Pistols and The Cure with style. Major Lazer got the whistles (er, and lazers) going with their bass heavy sound. Dub Pistols and Rodney P brought rowdy hip hop and dub to the Red Bull tent very late Friday, while over the weekend La Roux, Florence, Little Boots and Mercury winner Speech Debelle all confirmed it’s been another great year for solo females.

 

Massive Attack debuted a lot of new material with vocalist Martina Topley-Bird as they headlined on Friday. The highlights though were classics Safe From Harm- which rang out across the isle as quotes about freedom flashed up behind the group- and Unfinished Sympathy. On Sunday Elbow topped the bill and were suitably epic.

 

But the highlight of weekend was definitely Saturday night headliners Kraftwerk- who proved exactly why they’re one of the most influential bands ever. In both style and substance they’ve influenced modern pop, rock and electro more than most.

 

Backed by superb visuals, the four Germans ran through their often sampled bleepy hits including Tour De France, Man Machine and Computer Love. With thousands dancing in elaborate costumes, the group certainly suited Bestival’s ‘Year Of The Spectacular.’

 

BY TOM THOROGOOD