Bestival 2015 - Live Review / Pictures

As Bestival started to wind up for the weekend, Thursday saw Jamie XX and Underworld  headlining the Big Top. Underworld’s vocalist Karl Hyde gave an enthused performance really drawing the crowd in. Check out our exclusive pictures from their performance here:

With the festival now in full swing Friday was gloriously sunny and truly felt like a Summer Of Love. 

The day was shaping up nicely with performances by Tame Impala, Honeyblood, Fat White Family, Misty Miller and Boxed In. We caught Boxed In on the Invaders of the Future stage, their debut album is out now including the single False Alarm. Check out their luxurious blend of electro-indie led by multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Oli Bayston on the link below and also our exclusive pictures from their performance here:

In an afternoon set on the Main Stage Charli XCX

bounded on stage and really got the crowd going with her upbeat energy and sense of humour. Introducing Body Of My Own “for all the ladies who have pussy power” she is a strong character and with a Gwen Stefani twang to her vocals Charli XCX’s brand of pop has a fresh and vibrant edge.

With fun, light-hearted tales of Breaking Up “everything was wrong with you so breaking up was easy to do” and the song Break The Rules about “Dancing / getting wrecked” the crowd was really getting involved. With the girl-gang chorus of Boom Clap chants and hand claps rang clear across the site.

Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer was a highlight for Friday, from deepest darkest Surrey his performance in Club Da Da was packed out with a queue of eager folks waiting for their turn … one in one out. Check out the link below, if you have not already discovered this gem you need it in your life!

Friday’s headliners Duran Duran wow’d the crowd with so very much pyro! Set opener Wild Boys was lavishly set alight on the main stage and they were going down really well. Firm favourite of all the Duran classics Hungry Like The Wolf was up next and then A View To A Kill amongst all the usual favourites. 

On Saturday we checked out LA’s Girlpool on the Invaders stage. Cleo and Harmony treated us to their beautifully acoustic sound that really felt like they had something to say. With the lyrically narrative storytelling and Velvet Underground / Verruca Salt tinged sound. Highlights were Blah, Blah, Blah with its catchy girl gang harmonies and “Before The World Was Big” with its chorus developing into a seem-less round. 

Saturday was packed with plenty to see, the secret Main Stage act was finally revealed to be one other than 90’s favourites House Of Pain.

Kate Tempest on the Main Stage and Slaves in the Big Top:

Saturday's headliners The Chemical Brothers on the Main Stage. Following their vastly popular new album Born In The Echoes they mixed new material with old favourites which translated well with a great lighting show to provide an overwhelming all encompassing musical experience.

By the time Sunday rolled around there was no way the threat of rain would dampen spirits. We started off the day with Portsmouth favourites Kassassin Street in the Big Top, 

It was then onto the amazing Skinny Girl Diet on the Invaders of The Future stage. 

Leading up to the grand finale of the weekend we caught The Jacksons on the Main Stage, who ran down all the favourite hits including a touching rendition of I'll Be There.

The grand finale had Missy Elliot appear from a tower beneath the Main Stage, full of energy for her first Bestival performance and played all the favourites like Get Ur Freak On, Work It and The Rain. The actual rain did not put off revellers and the massive firework finale was a fitting end to an eventful fun festival experience.