‘Mud, glorious mud’ will certainly be the unofficial theme tune of this year’s Bestival. The Isle of White took a lashing from strong winds and monsoon rains for the course the weekend, resulting in campsites resembling the epitome of quagmire. But it didn’t stop the t5m team boarding the ferry over the stormy Solent and pitching the t5m tent for a fun filled weekend.
Despite the rain and the wind the Bestival spirit was left intact albeit rather soggy. Barbour’s and Hunter Wellington boots were de-rigueur even if one was wearing a sparkly Octopus costume over them. With a theme of “2000 freaks under the sea” this year’s fancy dress parade was made all the more real by the layer of dried mud on the majority of costumes. TOPSHOP were thankfully on hand to give out free scarves to keep the t5m team warm and the Isle of White Women’s Institute kept festival goers freshly supplied with tea and cake.
As ever it was a great weekend for music and t5m caught amazing sets by CSS, Hercules and Love Affair, Chromeo, Alphabeat, Hot Chip, Jamie Lidell, Aphex Twin to name but a few. Grace Jones made a surprise appearance on the Saturday; everyone seemed to pull up to the bumper baby! Will Young took to the BBC Introducing stage in an Admiral Nelson outfit and Hot Chip seemed to have raided a fancy dress shop’s entire stock as they graced the main stage dressed as a host of characters. Amy Winehouse came on stage rather late but in a suitably nautical theme with a band of sailors to keep her going during her last rather patchy performance of the year.
Click here to see our Bestival Fashion Slideshow
James Tregaskes
