Bestival Friday Review

MTV hits the Isle Of Wight to catch Dizzee, Example, The XX and more…

15:00, Monday, 13 September 2010

Bestival 2010 kicked off on the Isle of Wight on Friday with a diverse range of acts playing across the many, many stages. And a crowd that seems much bigger than in previous years.

After a Thursday warm up from the amazing Janelle Monae it was left to Level 42 and the very weird Vegetable Orchestra (does-what-it-says-on-the-tin) to kick off things on the major stages.

Soon after Barry Peters (the Cuban Brothers’ alter-ego) was a spectacle with the trio’s all singing, all dancing show. Example- who has had a great year- got a massive response from the crowd, ending his set with the anthemic Kickstarts.

As ever with this festival some of the biggest hits were the more leftfield artists. Four Tet played his glitchy techno in the big top while Flying Lotus later proved why he has such a cult following- and why he’s one of Thom Yorke’s favourite acts.

Simian Mobile Disco on the main stage brought a great live show as they played throbbing tracks like Audacity Of Huge and Hustler. Festi-veterans Hot Chip hit the stage straight after to a huge crowd.

Winner of the ‘most over-subscribed-set award’ goes to Mercury winners The XX who (literally) got their heads down and played the album perfectly in the Big Top, explaining that this would be their last UK live show for some time.

Later Dizzee Rascal played his umpteenth festival of the year with a huge live band and was a deserved headliner. His main stage set included hits like pyrotenic enhanced Bonkers, Fix Up Look Sharp, Old School, Holiday and his Teen Spirit/ Jus A Rascal mash up.

The acts and DJs continued into the early hours with the Arcadia crew deserving of a mention for the sensory-overloading fire show they put on.

By Tom Thorogood

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