LINES OF THOUGHT ACROSS SOUTHEAST ASIA

Bestival music fest sets sail from the Isle of Wight to Bali

The iconic UK music festival has announced plans for a star-studded lineup to play in Indonesia from 30 September to 1 October

Nathan Paul Southern
August 16, 2017

The iconic UK music festival has announced plans for a star-studded lineup to play in Indonesia from 30 September to 1 October

Partygoers at Bestival in the UK in 2007.
Partygoers at Bestival in the UK in 2007. Photo: WikiMedia Commons

Bestival, one of Britain’s biggest music festivals, is making some drastic changes following disappointing ticket sales in 2016 – the annual Isle of Wight event drew 40,000 revellers, about 15,000 short of the venue’s full capacity.
Apart from changing venues of its flagship event in the UK to the Lulworth Estate of Dorset, this year will also see the inaugural Bestival Bali.
BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob Da Bank, a co-founder of the festival, described last year’s event as having a “compact unique vibe,” which looks to be a continent away from the plan for Bali. Major acts including Pendulum, Alt-J, Rudimental and De La Soul are already locked in.
The weekend-long celebration will take place in the majestic Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, home to the world’s largest statue of Garuda, the a Hindu bird deity and Indonesia’s national symbol. The tropical landscape boasts some 240 acres of parkland and 25-meter high limestone cliffs.
Apart from the main performance space, there will be a second music stage for local and international DJs and a VIP area with table service and a more laid back beach feel. Bestival will also ensure that the non-music needs of festival-goers are met. The park will host a bazaar with some of the finest offerings from Bali’s famed local food scene. And if revelers need to recharge, they can chill out on the daybeds at a lush cocktail bar.
Of course, it’s the music that will make it worth the trip, as described by Rob Da Bank said on Bestival’s website.
“So here we are upping the ante with our first foray into Indonesia’s festival scene,” he said. “We’ve got some old-school legends, hip hop wizardry and indie beauties, so we’re adding some serious antipodean vibes with the like of Pendulum, Bag Raiders and Kilter who are all smashing it down under. We’re only a (long) stone’s throw from Australia so you’ve no excuse. Book ya flight!”



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