Rob Da Bank - original pirate material

United Kingdom | by Jonny Rocket | 17 September 2007

Because there’s not a UK festival on the circuit that demands the same level of care and perfection than the Isle Of Wight boutique weekender, which this year celebrated its fourth year.

A true labour of love, Bestival is fast becoming one of the most popular festivals on the calendar – a fact best demonstrated by its surge in capacity, from 10,000 in 2004 to 30,000 this time round.

And while the September event demands a committed team to ensure its ongoing success, it’s Rob who’s proven its visionary by expanding the eclectic format of his Radio 1 show to a live field and adding a dimension of fun and escape for festival goers, including the now annual dressing up party.

But having won two back to back UK Festival Awards for ‘Best Medium Sized Festival’ and with tickets selling out before most of the lineup is announced, has Bestival become a victim of its own success? One of the only criticisms we’ve heard is that the festival is now attracting elements of the “Carling Weekend crowd” with people worried that its alternative vibe could be gradually diluted.

That certainly wasn't the case from our perspective though, as Bestival once again proved the perfect way to round off a spectacular summer of festivals. So we caught up with Rob to find out how ‘Bestival 4’ rated compared to previous events, and what he’s got planned for the future. He didn't always oblige our curiosity...

Virtual Festivals: What inspired you to launch Bestival?
Rob Da Bank: "Too many bottles of wine with my wife Josie and our partners, John and Ziggy! Essentially though the Sunday Best parties we'd been throwing at Glastonbury and in London just kept getting bigger and better and we thought maybe we'll try a little festival instead. The rest has been a whirlwind!"

VF: Do you have a particularly positive memory of the last five years there, what's your most memorable moment?
RDB: "All of the the last four festies have been ace and its always the people I meet on the site and afterwards that means the most - people who met randomly and are now married or have kids - it really does make everlasting friendships and loves. Selfishly 'cos I book all the acts too, I have to say I've enjoyed a fair few of them!"

VF: Bestival organisers clearly listened to last year's feedback, how important is that feedback to the organisation?
RDB: "We're scouring the forum every day straight afterwards and a week since Bestival '07 I think I have a very good idea of what the main  issues were at this years festy...and we will start planning immediately how to alleviate any problems. It's depressing going to some festivals whose name I won't mention and seeing people put up with the same shit again and again!"

VF: You seem to put a lot of effort into making the site look nice, how important is that to you?
RDB: "It's probably the single most important thing - it's not so it looks good on TV or for our benefit - it's to trick all the Bestivalites into thinking theyre not on planet Earth anymore - and they're not! Bands and Djs come and go but this different world needs to be amazing from the word go."

VF: On reflection, what are your  impressions of Bestival 2007?
RDB: "Fun, laughter, sunshine, fish and chips, pirates, wigs, feathers, guitars soundchecking, tents, bunting, geese, tea and cakes, scorched earth, two willow swans kissing, more smiles to the mile."

VF: What was your favourite fancy dress costume?
RDB: "A superb Amy Winehouse - it was actually a guy but so spot on."

VF: Do you have a funniest moment from this year's event?
RDB: "The night of 100 ukes - 100 ukelele players who hadn't even met a year ago parading onto the stage before the Beastie Boys and playing 'Ring Of Fire' quite admirably!"

VF: Which band, artist, or DJ was the highlight of your weekend?
RDB: "Beth Ditto from The Gossip because she's a loon or Bobby Gillespie, as he's just the best rock 'n' roller alive."

VF: Looking forward, do you plan to increase the number of tickets sold next year?
RDB: "Marginally, but we wont have more people on site.., less VIPs, less artists, guests, and press! and more punters. It will be the same amount in real terms though."

VF: Do you think Bestival-goers were responsible enough with their litter, how succesful was the recycling initiative this year?
RDB: "Obviously there are some people who are brill at being green and don't drop anything but an awful lot who still need to use the bins. Having said that it was much better and our Green Team did a great job under pressure. With such a party atmosphere it is tricky to remember what you're doing all the time!"

VF: Was it the right decision to abandon day tickets this year? Did it reduce on-site crime?
RDB: "Well we sold out of full weekend camping tickets in May, four months before the event so we didn't need to do day tickets. Tent thefts were down, even with a lot more people there and overall the police praised it as 'good natured'."

VF: What can you tell us about next year?
RDB: "It's gonna be 2008, there'll be twelve months in it and we'll probably get a year older and it'll be rainy and sunny!"

VF: Is there anything you'd like to say to everyone involved in the event, the musicians and the audience?
RDB: "I take my hat off to every single person who came - artist, performer, crowd - you were the most psychedelic, beautiful thing I've ever seen."

VF: Bestival is becoming ever more popular. Are you concerned that this popularity may attract the wrong crowd in future?
RDB: "Well we sold out of early bird tickets in eight minutes for next year last week and I'm confident we'll sell out very quickly. I cant govern who comes or not but hope all the same crew came who enjoyed Bestival 2007."