"Make some noise if you’re under 10!" crows Dick, or maybe Dom, at a satisfyingly chaotic midnight rave. A joyful, high-pitched cheer slices through the warm night air. If you’re a parent, this is the place to be. A paradise. You can stay out late, dance with your partner, enjoy a cider, and catch up with friends. The kids? They’re either enjoying their first real dance party, mesmerized by the wild lights and sounds, or they’re napping in a cozy pull-along trailer right next to you, wearing ear protection, surrounded by 30,000 caring adults.
Rob da Bank's joyful multigenerational gathering has reached its 17th year. When he and his wife Josie began their family, they decided to establish a festival for those like them. Just like us. And it’s thriving.
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The lineup maintains its typical balance between established acts – Tom Jones, Basement Jaxx, Goldie – and exhilarating chaos designed for kids. Horrible Histories. Primary School Bangers. Mister Tumble leading the largest hokey-cokey you can imagine. The frenzied rush for Bluey’s meet-and-greet? Pure energy akin to a Sabbath show at Download.
Basement Jaxx deliver a thunderous performance, showcasing why they belong among the greats. And what a priceless treat it is to see the Lightning Seeds perform 'Three Lions' on a beautiful summer evening, celebrating the Lioness’s Euro victory. The often-overlooked Zutons also put on a fantastic show. My wife gives me the green light to rush to the front, and suddenly my beaming face is all over the big screen during ‘Valerie,’ which greatly impresses the kids.
In another part of the festival, MC Grammar (yes, you read that right) transforms classic bedtime stories like Bear Hunt and Each Peach Pear Plum into entertaining hip-hop numbers. My 11-year-old son makes it to the barrier, high-fiving Grammar ("I will never wash this hand again") before an unexpectedly heartfelt tribute to Funnybones author Alan Ahlberg, who recently passed away. Cheers to Alan Ahlberg.
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This year’s creature comforts are improved. More toilets now flush with efficient airplane suction. Debenhams, heavily involved this year, seem to have invested in luxurious picnic benches, enhanced décor, a bright-blue area offering free ice cream, and a complimentary photo booth. The lovely ladies at the makeup station are thrilled to glam up the women in my life – aged 36 and 6 – for a fun Saturday night out.
Heartworms deserve a larger audience, for what it's worth. Their deep-seated grunge and a face likely to inspire a thousand goth phases are humorously scheduled just before ‘Barrioke’ with Barry from Eastenders. A delightful contrast, epitomizing Camp Bestival. Hopefully, Jojo Orme finds the humor in it.
Beyond the music, my kids are lighting fires with English elm, climbing tall Purbeck oaks, and participating in bushcraft courses while parents engage in some friendly competition at the archery range, red-faced and laughing. It’s wonderful.
Of course, the mild discomfort and challenges of a four-day festival aren’t for everyone—especially for forty-somethings with crying infants. But this year, Rob and Josie fully embraced their SloMo Wellness side project. An impressively equipped, modern-feeling area is right in the center of the festival, featuring yoga classes, hot tubs, Lithuanian wood-fired saunas, cold plunges, and a generous supply of pampering products. Kudos to the radiant Kelly leading movement workshops and a rather intense leaf-thrashing session, at least from my viewpoint in the hot tub while I sip negronis with my wife.
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Sunday night features the marvelous Tom Jones, by the way. At 85 – eighty-five! – his sparkle remains. His voice? Still strong, enriched with a mature depth. He begins softly with a song about aging ("I’m growing drowsy in my chair") before smoothly transitioning into spirited merengue versions of ‘What’s New Pussycat’ and ‘It’s Not Unusual.’ Are these reimagined tracks to everyone’s taste? No. But those who criticize can leave. Here is a true artist, contemplating the fleeting sands of time in a stylish manner. And ‘Delilah’ is still a jam.
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I absolutely adore this festival. The best part? Watching my kids grow up in these fields year after year. No stroller needed anymore; my delightful daughter runs around singing ‘What’s New Pussycat,’ sporting the wife’s Apple Watch ("to help get Mummy’s steps in"). My son, the superstar, now independently fetches bacon rolls from the upscale (worth every penny) backstage campsite during our 'delicate' mornings. For a weekend, it feels like I’ve found the
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"Make some noise if you're under 10!" cackles Dick, or maybe it's Dom, at a delightfully chaotic midnight rave. A joyful, high-pitched cheer cuts through the