Boy 8-Bit: Essential Mix

One of the new wave of genre-trashing DJs to mix up house, electro and old-school rave with a hip-hop sensibility, Boy 8-Bit (so called because he uses 8-bit Amiga samples to make his tunes) will be showcasing his considerable wares at our very own Camp Besti this summer.

So, what better way to introduce the now South Londoner than with a stonking mix of his own making, a recent session for Radio 1's Essential Mix...enjoy!

Download: Boy 8-Bit Essential Mix

Tracklisting:
01. Boy 8-Bit — The Blood Tide [White]

02. Aleem — Get Loose Dub [NIA]
03. Eli Escobar — Glass House [Plant Music]
04. Patrick Turner — Planets Align [Inversus Records]
05. DJ Sprinkles — Grandcentral Pt 1 (MCDE Remix Dub) [Endless Flight]

06. Ali Love — Love Harder (Jokers of The scene Unreleased Remix) [White]

07. Gui Boratto — The Glam [Kompakt]

08. Kolombo — Acai [Boxer Recordings]

09. Liz Cirelli — Ultraviolet [LouLou]

10. Kaiser Souzai — Altocumulus Floccus (Piemont Remix) [Yellow Tail]

11. Visti & Meyland — All Night Long (Trentemoller Remix) [Eskimo]

12. Justin Martin — Get Low [Dirty Bird]

13. Diamond K — Damn Track [White]

14. Boy 8-Bit — Tropical Heat [White]

15. Mele — Bombay (Nadastrom Remix) [Mixpak]
16. DJ Will Roc — Twilight Zone [Unruly]
17. Zombie Disco Squad — The Duke Sound [Made To Play]
18. Footsteps — Worker [White]

19. Detroit Grand Pubahs — Sandwedges (Unknown Mix) [White]

20. Ron Hardy — Sensation (Obi Blanche Remix) [White]
21. Carte Blanche — Black Billionaires [Ed Banger]

22. Alan Fitzpatrick — Green Light [Tokio]

23. Boy 8-Bit — Yard Birds [Turbo]

24. Boy 8-Bit — The Keep [This is Music]
25. Boy 8-Bit — Baltic Pine (Roy Apron Dub) [White]

26. Ink & Needle — Thirteen [Tattoo]

27. Bookashade Vs Mandy — Donut (Boy 8-Bit Remix) [Living the Dream]

28. Boy 8-Bit — An Impending Sense Of Doom [White]

29. MMM — Nous Sommes [MMM]

30. Pig & Dan — Terminate [Cocoon]

31. Leftfield — Phat Planet (Dave Clarke Remix) [Hard Hands]

32. Thomas Schumacher — Red Purple [Spiel-zeug Schallplatten]

33. Joe and Will Ask? — The Rusty Pig [Gulp]

34. Florence and The Machine — Drumming Song (Boy 8-Bit remix) [White]

35. Yousef — Come Home [Cocoon]

36. Josh One — Contemplation (King Britt Remix — Mat Playford Edit) [Social Problem]

37. Rodriguez Jr. — Pandora [Leena Music]

Ross Allen's Meltdown: Major, Maje, Majeur... Stuff!

Ross Allen, Besti-blog’s latest contributor, returns with more canny observations on the latest musical trends, hot new tunes, hip new bands, cultural happenings and topical bits and bobs. Plus there's a new DJ mix from his radio show showcasing all this good stuff and more...

Hi All, It's been an interesting week musically. Last night we popped to Village Underground for the return of Major Lazer (pictured)... Diplo and Switch in full effect. They are taking on the world at full pelt and i can only stand on the side lines and congratulate them as they fuse the finest in new styles in to a total mind blowing concoction that everyone is coming around too. They love it in Jamaica too. These two deserve to be where they are, and long may it continue, as they are lovers of music and know what is good about the melting pot that we exist in musically in 2010. You can hear everything, all musics, where ever you are and the ability to fuse that together is really where its at. As last night proved... the place was bouncing, fresh and FUN. Yes, it was a good night! We even visited Tinseltown afterwards!

Bestival 2010 Podcast

So earlier this week we surprised the Sunday Best Podcast faithful by uploading a brand new Rob da Bank presented podcast (a Camp Bestival special, no less) - shamefully our first podcast of the year. Well here we are right back atcha with our second podcast of the year, just a few days later, and it's a cracking Bestival 2010 Special!

What's more, it's a bumper extended offering featuring da Bank’s top tips for the sights and sounds of this year’s Bestival. You can check it out on the player below or you can subscribe via iTunes or Feedburner.


NB: If you're reading this on Facebook you'll need to click here to see the player

Besti-mix 19: Reverend Milo Speedwagon

What better way to celebrate the advent of summer - for surely it is finally here now - than with a suitably madcap mix of hip-swaying, smile-inducing, genre-trashing goodness courtesy of long-time Bestival mainstay, intrepid musical adventurer and all-round beret-sporting good-egg Reverend Milo Speedwagon.

Ladies and gents, it is our pleasure to bring you the Reverend Milo's 'Rumble in Ryde' Mix-Tape AKA Besti-mix numero 19...

Besti-Mix 19: Reverend Milo Speedwagon by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Download: Besti-mix 19 Reverend Milo Speedwagon

Tracklisting:
01 Welcome to the Casbah - Blue Flamingo
02 Casbah - Sidney Bechet's Circle Seven
03Daddy Rollin' Stone - Otis Blackwell
04 Boy From NYC - The Ad Libs
05 Fujiyama Mama - Wanda Jackson
06 Tomorrow Never Knows - Junior Parker
07 This May Be The Last Time - The Staple Singers
08 Working On A Building - Swan Silvertones
09 White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes
10 Postcards From Italy - Beirut
11 Back In The Land (Drums Up Mix by Gene Paul) - Turner Cody
12 Sagittarius / The Versatile Daredevil - The Zodiac Cosmic Sounds
13 Reggae Fox 05
14 2da Cumbia Bin Laden - Mudd Up Holiday Gift
15 Holiday in Congo - Rainbow Arabia
16 Yama Yama - Yamasuki
17 Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear
18 We Used to Vacation - Cold War Kids
19 Fish in the Jailhouse - Tom Waits
20 So You Wanna Be A Boxer - Paul Williams
21 Air A Danser - Penguin Cafe Orchestra
22 Fujiyama 2 (Lovesong) - Moondog

Besti-bod 15: The Accreditor

Now that the heatwave's over and everyone's good and pink, how about a nice sitdown and a soothing application of Besti-bod from Bugle editor Toby Collard, as he continues his search for the cream of Bestival's hidden heroes...

And today it's Mish Thomson! Mish is the accreditation manager at Bestival and Camp Besti, meaning she has the unenviable job of making sure every single person who needs to get on-site can do just that, be they stewards, stallholders or stars on stage. Unfortunately for her, this means that not only is she one of the first up and last to bed each day, but also that she spends most of her Bestival time in a portakabin up the hill. Despite this, she assures us that the accreditation team always know how to have a great time (although judging from her answers, it might be best not to ask too much about that!)

The rest of the year Mish gets to travel the world tour managing bands, which all sounds terribly glamorous, but she's quick to point out that although she might "get to see lots of festivals across the globe, there's nothing that compares to Bestival!"

Mish, whatever the weather, you certainly help brighten up our summer. Take a bow.......

Name: Mish

Bestivals attended?
"One Bestival and one Camp Bestival, so far...."

Any idea what your fancy dress is going to be this year?
"The absinthe fairy!"

Most memorable Besti moment?
"Watching Fleet Foxes with all the accreditation team."

If Bestival is the answer, what's the question?
"If you had one place in the world to visit before you die, where would it be?"

Who would you most like to see performing at Bestival?
"David Bowie. I've just noticed that everyone has said this - hmmm, think that's saying something, Robby?"

Funniest Bestival memory?
"Too many to mention, and some that are strictly to be kept in the confines of Aussie camping and accreditation!"

If Bestival was a type of food, what would it be and why?
"Ferrero Rocher - chocolate and nutty on the outside, with a crisp layer and smooth on the inside."

Message to any non-(Bestival)-believers out there?
"Have you been?????? Then make no comment!"

Anything to add?
"Go and have a mahoosive hoot!"

Camp Bestival Podcast

Subscribers to the Rob da Bank / Sunday Best Podcast may have noticed that it had been a little dormant since Christmas... sorry about that. But fret not, it's back now and on sparkling form. A new Camp Bestival Special podcast is now live and ready to steam or download packed with oodles of exciting news and music from this year’s line-up plus info about the other little oddities to be found at thus year’s festival.

You can check it out on the player below or you can subscribe via iTunes or Feedburner.


NB: If you're reading this on Facebook you'll need to click here to see the player

We've also got a new Bestival Special Podcast coming later this week ... when it rains it pours!

A little place called Great Britain...

youtube.com/watch?v=YeV2cExvnMI

Check the nifty video above for dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip's 'Great Britain', put together by a clever chap called Nick Light using only free to use Creative Commons licensed footage (& and odd bit of Pip captured on Dan's camera phone).

Nick got the gig after impressing Messers le sac and Pip with this unofficial video for their 'Letter From God To Man' track...

youtube.com/watch?v=ivOIf7nLNUQ

'Great Britain' comes out as a double A side single, alongside 'Sick Tonight', next Monday 31st May, backed with heavyweight remixes by Doctor P, Mumdance and more. Head over to our Sunday Best Webshop to grab yourself one of the limited edition 12" vinyl copies.

There's also an all singing, all dancing, glitter filled video for 'Sick Tonight' which we'll post here next Monday (as a handy reminder that the single will have just been released ... clever huh), but if you can't wait 'til then you can check it here.  It's SICK!

Radio da Bank: Huw Stephens hosts & Unicorn Kid in session

Huw Stephens sits in for Rob da Bank again with Radio 1's leftfield show - from techno and bleeps to ambient and acoustic, plus a session from Unicorn Kid (pictured).

Checkout the tracklisting below and get yourselves over to bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank to listen again online at any time this week...

Hot City - Another Girl - Moshi Moshi
Rusko - Hold On (Sub Focus Remix) - Ram
Delorean - Real Love - True Panther Sounds

SUNRISE TRACK
Gold Panda - You - Notown

Y Niwl - Un - White
Gorillaz - Superfast Jellyfish - Parlophone

ROB/HUW'S BEST AND IMPROBABLY GREATEST RECORD IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW… POSSIBLY… WELL AT LEAST FOR THIS MORNING… MAYBE
Bombay Bicycle Club - Ivy & Gold - Island

Mock & Toof - Shoeshine Boogie - Tiny Sticks

UNICORN KID MAIDA VALE SESSION
Unicorn Kid - Dreamcatcher
Unicorn Kid - Lion Hat

Fair Ohs - Hey Lizzy - Tough Love
Bear In Heaven - You Do You - Hometapes / Dreamboat

SATURDAY SKANK
Toots & The Maytals - Pressure Drop - Trojan

Beatbullyz - Skills - White
Kele - Tenderoni - Polydor
Band of Horses - Compliments - Columbia
Richard James - When You See Me (In The Pouring Rain) - Gwymon

UNICORN KID MAIDA VALE SESSION
Unicorn Kid - Temples

Janelle Monae feat Big Boi - Tightrope - Atlantic
Joe Worricker - We Hug In Bed - Rough Trade
Masters In France - Greyhounds - Bone Dry
High Contrast - Racing Green - Hospital
Shirley Bassey vs Propellerheads - History Repeating! - Wall Of Sound
Super Furry Animals - Northern Lights - Creation
Goldie Lookin Chain - Guns Don't Kill People, Rappers Do - Atlantic

The Trenchman Cometh...

youtube.com/watch?v=vvHZ_jDkaaI

Scroobius Pip's Camp Best of All Podcast

When he's not performing in sold out venues across the UK, alongside his beat unleashing amigo dan le sac, Scroobius Pip can often be found performing his words and rhymes unaccompanied while also vehemently championing his compadres in the spoken word scene from which he originally sprang. And this is most evident in his curation of the spoken word line ups at Camp Bestival each year and the Satin Lizard Lounge spoken word gigs he put on at Pure Groove last year (and the podcast series created from it).

This 'Camp Best of All Podcast' brings these all together nicely ... Pip has picked out the highlights from his Satin Lizard Lounge gigs and compiled them to give you an insight into some of the spoken word acts he has booked to perform at this year's Camp Bestival. So download, sit back and tune into the tall tales and sonic sorcery of Ventriloquist, Kate Tempest, Kid Carpet, Itch (King Blues) and Scroobius Pip himself.

Download: Scroobius Pip's Camp Best of All Podcast

At Camp Bestival you'll also be able to catch the wordy delights of Chris Hicks, Tim Clare, Ross Sutherland, Dizraeli, Sarah Olowofoyeku and Poem Inbetween People...

Meanwhile, in dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip land, their outstanding new double A single 'Sick Tonight' / 'Great Britain' is coming soon, Monday 31st May to be precise, on ltd. 12" and digital download backed with essential remixes by Doctor P and Mumdance. And you can pre-order the 12" from here ... if you like.

Ross Allen's Meltdown: Charmed I'm Sure

Ross Allen, Besti-blog’s latest contributor, returns with more canny observations on the latest musical trends, hot new tunes, hip new bands, cultural happenings and topical bits and bobs. Plus there's a new DJ mix from his radio show showcasing all this good stuff and more...

Hello all ... well quite a quiet week this week after all the hoo haa of the previous weeks political upheaval. Nothing quite so dramatic to witter on about just the usual hustle and bustle of a life in music... It is a charmed life and i am thankful for it but it can often be a let down and we have had a few of these this week (you know who you are) and it's often surprising to see the reality of life in this world of music... it can be tougher than one would think (don't worry i am not talking about me... yet), or may be that is just life in Britain in 2010...

Besti-mix 18: James Harwood (Let's Go Crazy)

Let's Go Crazy...no, really, let's...because the soundtrack to the latest in our series of weekly exclusive Besti mixes is compiled by rising star James Harwood, resident DJ of 16+ clubbing phenomenon 'Let's Go Crazy'.

A 30-minute taster for the shamelessly euphoric, anything-goes LGC vibe that you can sample for yourself at Camp Bestival this summer, James' rapid-fire mix features his own "re-fixes" of Lady Gaga and Benny Benassi alongside bumpin' house twists on pop faves by Brit-stars Estelle and Ellie Goulding. What, no Gnarls Barkley or Beyonce, I hear you cry? That's just crazy...

Besti-Mix 18: James Harwood (Let's Go Crazy) by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Download: Besti-mix 18 James Harwood (Let's Go Crazy)

Tracklisting:
01 Dada Life - Just Bleep Me (Satisfaction) vs. Benny Benassi & The Biz - Satisfaction (Afrojack Remix) (James Harwood REfix)
02 Swedish House Mafia - One
03 Bingo Players - When I Dip (original mix)
04 Deadmau5 - Some Chords (Original mix)
05 Lady Gaga - Alejandro ( Wolfgang Gartner vs. Afrojack remix) (James Harwood REfix)
06 Tiesto & Diplo - C'mon
07 Estelle - Freak (Riva Starr Extended Vocal Mix)
08 Sindey Samson - The world is yours
09 Wynter Gordon - Dirty Talk (Laidback Luke Remix)
10 Ellie Golding - Under The Sheets (jakwob remix)
11 Reso, Vent - Rumble (Original mix)
12 Doctor P - Sweet Shop
13 Nero - Innocence (Original mix)
14 Chase & Status vs. Emalkay - When I Look At You Jamming in East (Ben D REfix)

Back To The Phuture at Bestival Launch Party

As well as getting Bestival off to a flyer on the opening Thursday night of the festival (click here for more on that), Back To the Phuture also has an extra-special Back To The Phuture at Bestival launch party lined up for Tuesday 25th May.

Reclaiming legendary early 80s venue La Beatroute for one night only, Back To The Phuture will be taking over the basement of 17 Greek St in London (currently the site of Moonlighting) for a future-retro shindig featuring Heaven 17's Martin Ware (DJ Set), Kids On Bridges (Live), Mark Jones (DJ Set), Howard Jones (Live) and a DJ set from 80s scene stalwart and New Romantic authority Rusty Egan.

It all kicks off at 7.30pm and runs until late, entry is free and tickets are available from crowdsurge.com/backtothephuture or, if you're lucky, on the door. Make sure you get down there early.

Also, you can catch an electro special on Mark Jones' Back To The Phuture BBC 6 Music show on May 31st.

Free Lucky Elephant Download

The wonderful, heartwarming band of poets and miscreants that is Lucky Elephant have offered up this murderously splendid remix of 'Modern Life' by Yimkin to you, our Besti-blog faithful. Enjoy!


NB: if you're reading this on Facebook you'll need to click here to listen / download

The original version of 'Modern Life' can be found on Lucky Elephant's debut LP, 'Starsign Trampoline' ... out now on our very own Sunday Best Recordings :)

Radio da Bank: Huw Stephens hosts & Mitchell Museum are in session

The right honourable Huw Stephens sat in for Rob da Bank on Radio 1's leftfield show at the weekend.

Checkout the tracklisting below and get yourselves over to bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank to listen again online at any time this week...

Hurts - Better Than Love (Tiefschwarz Remix) - Major More
People Like Us and Wobbly - A New Baby - Illegal Art
Ellen Allien - Flashy Flashy - BPitch Control
Everything Everything - Schoolin' - Geffen
Paul White - Dance Scene - One Handed
Teeth - See Spaces - Moshi Moshi

SUNRISE TRACK
Underworld - Born Slippy - Junior Boy's Own

Big Boi - Shutterbug - Def Jam
Dam Mantle - A Statue That Is Perpetually Unveiled - Halleluwah

MAIDA VALE SESSION
Mitchell Museum - Warning Bells

Young Fathers - Automatic - This Is Music
Slow Club - Giving Up On Love - Moshi Moshi

SATURDAY SKANK
DJ Shepdog - Groove Is In Jah Heart - Nice Up!

Vampire Weekend - Holiday - XL
dan le sac Vs. Scroobius Pip - Sick Tonight - Sunday Best
Foals - Blue Blood - Transgressive / Warner
Roots Manuva - Snakebite - Banana Klan
Mountain Man - How'm I Doing - Bella Union
Dimlite - Kalimba Deathswamp - Now Again

MAIDA VALE SESSION
Anchorsong - Phone Booth

Sukh Knight & P Money - Slang Like This - White

ROB'S BEST AND IMPROBABY GREATEST RECORD IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW… POSSIBLY… WELL AT LEAST FOR THIS MORNING… MAYBE
Tom Jones - Burning Hell

LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls - DFA / Parlophone
Flying Lotus featuring Thom Yorke - And The World Laughs With You - Warp

ROB'S GUIDE TO BARELY BELIEVEABLE NEW GENRES OF MUSIC…
THIS WEEK IT'S A NEW ONE FROM HUW… VEHICLE GLAM!
Razmataz Lorry Excitement - A Year Short On Surprises - Fakedream Records
Apples - Caravan Of Love - Popular Recordings

M.I.A. - Born Free - XL
Tinie Tempah - Frisky - Parlophone

The Letter H in Alphabetical Encyclopedia of All That Is Hot In New Music

H is for haircuts, hell, hung parliaments, hippies, the heebee jeebees, Howie B, Howard Jones and helium. Aside from those strange bedfellows it’s nae bad for new music...

Trenchman – Hacienda

So good I signed it to my Sunday Best label. This mysterious electronic producer could be Freddy Mercury back from the dead and getting into dubstep, it could be Keith Richards’ side project that Mick frowns upon or it could be Aphex Twin remembering his old Madchester days raving at the Hacienda … Most likely its none of the above but it is sodding good. Check our Ruth from the Sunday Best office’s cracking stop-motion animated vid she’s done for it too!

Adam Freeland  - How To Fake Your Own Life (Etienne De Crecy mix)

An interesting concept and one that I may try until the wife spots me faking myself and punches me hard in the groin. Anyroad check Monsieur de Crecy getting acidic and knob twiddly on the mix.

Netsky – Iron Heart

Joyous uplifting drum & bass designed for being off your nut at festivals, losing all your mates and your marbles and dancing like a freak with gay abandon before you come to naked and dressed in a nuns habit in the back of a rusty camper van with 3 bearded blokes grinning at you. Dark.

Heavy Trash (pictured) – (Sometimes You Got To Be) Gentle

Jon Spencer returns with a bluesy, raw kick in your speakers and pour a glass on whisky into your eyeball type jam. Join in!

NB: If you're reading this on Facebook you'll need to click here to check all the tracks out.

;) Robby

Ross Allen's Meltdown: Change Makes You Wanna Hustle & other Tales from the last week

Long-time stripey-jumper sporting Bestival favourite and a man with impeccably good taste, meet Besti-blog’s latest contributor, Mr Ross Allen, who each week will be bringing us his thoughts on the latest musical trends, hot new tunes, hip new bands, cultural happenings, topical bits and bobs and a brand new DJ mix from his radio show showcasing all this good stuff and more. This week, Ross dives right into the thick of it with a politically-charged diatribe about the state of the nation in light of recent momentous changes, what makes Congolese “African techno” stars Konono no.1 so bloody brilliant and why M.I.A’s opinion-dividing new video is worthy of all the online chatter it’s been generating. Over to you Ross...

Besti-bod 14: The Princess of Pamper

After three long days stomping around the site, pounding the keyboard and wringing every last pun out of the madness around him, Bestival Bugle ed Toby Collard knows exactly where to head for, and so for this week’s Besti-bod salute, who better for him to chat to than our very own Princess of Pamper?

It’s Jax Jones! Despite the fact that a certain Mr da Bank once made her cry, Jax (pictured, above, far right, with mum Joan and Alice Partridge) enjoyed the early Bestivals so much that she jumped at the chance to get involved, and since 2008 has been soothing and smoothing away our aches and pains from all that fun as the curator of all things Pamper Lounge.

Although she claims to do her best avoiding ‘proper’ jobs, she’d never find the time for one anyway, what with volunteering at her son Neo’s school, copywriting, tutoring, and of course running The Pamper Lounge, and she reckons working your whatsits off at Bestival is the only thing that can beat living it up at Bestival. And who are we to argue with that?

So, Jax, on behalf of all the pampered campers, we thank you!

Now, about that foot rub….

Name: Jax Jones

Bestivals attended?
”Present for all Bestivals and Camp Bestivals.“

What would be your ultimate fancy dress theme?
”I don't see how you can beat the fantasy theme, it encompasses everything. I'm quite taken with the idea of an ‘opulence/decadence’ theme - that was Julian Winslow's idea but I don't mind stealing it and passing it off as my own....”

Most memorable Besti moment?
”It could be watching Zero 7 that first year with my mate Dani, any number of Sunday night parties spent dancing till dawn, that light saber duel in the woods, or when we braved the mud in little other than fishnet stockings and a bottle of champagne....it's an impossible question to answer, kind of like asking which child you favour the most.”

If Bestival is the answer, what's the question?
”All roads lead to...?”

Who would you most like to see performing at Bestival?
”Dolly Parton. When Robby made an announcement on facebook that she was in the line up, I was so excited until I realised it was April fools day. Then I had a little cry.”

Funniest Bestival memory?
”Any memory involving Nigel Bulloch. Particularly sewing him into the goat legs of his Pan costume and getting dangerously close to the crotch area....it made for a good photo.“

If Bestival was a type of food, what would it be and why?
”I keep thinking of Falafels. I did have the tastiest ever Falafel at Bestival once, perhaps that's why.... I'm not sure it answers your question though.”

Message to any non-(Bestival)-believers out there?
”It's not called Best-ival for nothing y'know.“

Anything to add?
”Tea and cake. There should always be tea and cake. Preferably served in (or on?) chintzy china.”

Sunday Best party in Brighton this Friday - feat. Beardyman, David E. Sugar & Sound of Rum

Camp Bestival and Sunday Best Recordings are heading to the Brighton seaside this Friday (14th May) for an intimate late night knees-up mother-brown as part of The Alternative Escape (on the fringe of The Great Escape Festival). 

Our party will be at The Fortune of War pub in the arches right down on the seafront, and what a party we've got in store with exclusive live shows from forthcoming Sunday Best recordings artists Beardyman (pictured), David E. Sugar and Sound of Rum, plus DJ action from Fear of Theydon and our resident DJs Sombrero Sound System.

Our party runs from 9pm - 3am but, as The Fortune of War is quite small, we heavily recommend you get down there early (10.30pm latest) if you want to get in. Entry is strictly for Great Escape wristband holders. More info on this here Facebook event page.

Besti-mix 17: Jaymo & Andy George

Fast rising Radio 1 stars, championed by Annie Mac and famed for their monthly Moda parties, new kids on the block Jaymo & Andy George take Bestival's 'fantasy' theme and run with it on this, their exclusive 17-track 'fantasy disco' Besti-mix.

An interstellar trip that takes in bumpin' downtown NY grooves, South African house and London late-night after party biz, Besti-mix 17 features the likes of LCD Soundsystem, Holy Ghost, Mickey Moonlight, Danny Howells, DJ Mujava and a roster of up'n'coming UK talent. Jump on board for the ride...

Besti-Mix 17: Jaymo & Andy George by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Download: Besti-mix 17: Jaymo & Andy George

Tracklisting:
01 Mighty Mouse - Song With No Word (Movement 3)
02 Telonius - Hit Me (Cassian Remix)
03 KZA - Goody Goody
04 Jupiter - Starlight (Bottin Remix)
05 Space Ranger - Phase Fever
06 DJ Mujava - Township Funk (Crazy P Remix)
07 Mickey Moonlight - Pelu Tolo
08 Danny Howells - Right Off (Faze Action Remix)
09 The Revenge - Unfinished Edits Are Out Of My Hands
10 Lauer - Detla
11 80 Kidz - Miss Mars
12 Strip Steve - Breakin (Lorenz Rhode Remix)
13 Mano Le Tough - Eurodance (Dances For Euro's Mix)
14 The Krays feat. Ebony Bones - Ready When You Are (DJ Mehdi Remix)
15 LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls (Holy Ghost Remix)
16 Flight Facilities - Crave You (Bxcentric Remix)
17 Marcos Cabral & Shux - A Lifetime Groove

Dulwich Uke's bid for World Cup glory!

Besti faves, local South London heroes and mega-talented strummers The Dulwich Ukulele Club are making their own bid for World Cup glory this summer with a song set to capture the hearts and minds of England fans everywhere, titled, yep, you guessed it, 'There May Be Glory'.

Check it out here, and keep 'em peeled on youtube for a forthcoming vid set to give John Barnes, Keith Allen & New Order a run for their money!

Radio da Bank: Four Tet, Yeasayer & Local Natives in session

This week we have some Vintage-ish Maida Vale Sessions where we showcase some of the best sessions so far this year including Four Tet (pictured), Yeasayer and Local Natives. Plus we've got the Saturday Skank, an amazing Sunrise Track (about an hour after sunrise...), a great new genre courtesy of Nihal in the form of Bhangarage and loads of great new tunes and quirky chat from Mr Rob da Bank...

Checkout the tracklisting below and get yourselves over to bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank to listen again online at any time this week...

Logistics - Warehouse (Ill Skillz Remix) - Hospital
Kele Okereke - Tenderoni - Wichita
Roots Manuva - Snakebite - Banana Klan
The Magic Numbers - The Pulse - Heavenly Recordings
Sage Francis - Slow Man - Anti-

ROB'S BEST AND IMPROBABLY GREATEST RECORD IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW… POSSIBLY… WELL AT LEAST FOR THIS MORNING… MAYBE
Jamaica - I Think I Love You 2 - V2

Lee Mortimer & Foamo - Superman - Wearhouse
Renaissance Man - Scat Track - White

VINTAGE-ISH MAIDA VALE SESSION
Yeasayer - One

Ramadanman - Your Words Matter - Aus Music
Lizzie Nunnery - Company Of Ghosts - Fellside Recordings
Frightened Rabbit - Living In Colour - Fat Cat

SATURDAY SKANK
Grace Jones - Love You To Life (Mala Digital Mystikx Mix) - PIAS

Sister Sledge - Lost In Music (The Revenge Re-Work) - White
Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work (Twelves Remix) - Kitsuné
Ursula 1000 - Bo Diddley-itis - Musclecuts

VINTAGE-ISH MAIDA VALE SESSION
Four Tet - Love Cry

Charlotte Gainsbourg - Time Of The Assassins (Matthew Dear Mix) - Because
O Children - Ruins - Deadly People

SUNRISE TRACK
Orbital - Belfast - FFRR

Netsky - Iron Heart - Hospital

VINTAGE-ISH MAIDA VALE SESSION
Local Natives - Airplanes

Black Star - History - Downtown

ROB'S GUIDE TO BARELY BELIEVEABLE GENRES OF NEW MUSIC - THIS WEEK IT'S BHANGARAGE!
RDB - Aaja Mahi - Three Records

Flying Lotus - Computer Face - Warp
Laura Martin - Tease Me - White
Hervé - Blaze It - Cheap Thrills
Robyn - None Of Dem - featuring Röyksopp
Mumford & Sons - Roll Away Your Stone - Island
Kelis - Acapella

The Best Picture of Bestival I've Ever Seen...Part 1

Check out this photo taken of The Afterburner at Bestival last year... wow! (Click on the image for a bigger version)

This one was taken by Carl Sukonik. If you've got any extra-special photos from Bestival (or Camp Bestival) over the years, please send them to us at besti-blog[at]bestival.net and we'll post the best ones up here in the coming weeks...

The Fall's ode to the town of Bury

Yo Camp Bestival people...if you haven't heard / bought / stolen the new The Fall album yet you must because its flipping fantastic. The lovely people from Bury Council (yes from the town of Bury) have got the vid to their new single up on their website now.

Check em live on Friday at Camp Bestival too.

Hot Chip's Grovesnor launches solo album

Hot Chip have played at almost every Bestival, performing on the main stage at the very first one in 2004 long before they hit the giddy heights of acclaim that they now deservedly receive. What makes them extra special though is the slew of side projects they also find time to spew out ... one of which comes from Grovesnor AKA Rob Smoughton - their live drummer.

Described by The Guardian as "Barry White grappling on a waterbed with Brian Eno", Grovesnor is a student (although some might say he looks more like a teacher) of the old school who loves a good tune and a crisp rhythm.

The Local present his new album 'Soft Return' launch on Monday 10th May at Madamme JoJo's in London. The night will also include a Jazz trio, a lady with a python and the blue-eyed luxury pop leanings of Rescue Cat, with the Grovesnor band topping the night off. Click here for tickets.

Say hello...to Swiss Toni!

So yes Camp Besti people - the legend that is Charlie Higson is coming down to Dorset! What hasnt this guy done? He was signed to 2 Tone Records, he wrote lots of the Fast Show, created Swiss Toni and now writes the ace Young Bond books which he'll be reading from at Camp Bestival.

Check this out for a flavour:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5ZcwxtHGKc

Snap up your Camp Besti tickets here!

Rob x

Best-bod 13: The Arty Party Starter

Suffering from election fatigue? Well it’s probably time for another pick-me-up from Bestival Bugle supremo Toby Collard, as he drops by the only constituency where everyone’s a winner, and finds out what another prize candidate from Bestival world has to say…..

….and up to the soapbox comes arts co-ordinator Becky Burchell! As well as a regular engagement “running around in circles at the legendary Roundhouse venue”, this year Becky will be looking after all things artsy at both Bestival and Camp Bestival – from theatre in the woods to opera in the Wonderland Inn and everything inbetween.

Becky, you definitely get our vote!

Name: Becky Burchell

Bestivals attended?
“My first year was the floods in 2008...what an introduction!”

What would be your ultimate fancy dress theme?
“Homemade. I don't think costumes count unless you have made them yourself. Sewing machines and glue guns at the ready….”

Most memorable Besti moment? 
“Phoenix on the Main Stage at Camp Bestival in 2009 – amazing! One of my favourite French exports (along with good wine, smelly cheese and acrobats extraordinaire Compagnie XY).”

If Bestival is the answer, what's the question?
“What keeps Michael Eavis awake at night?”

Who would you most like to see performing at Bestival?
“Abba. What a reunion that would be. Never too old to disco!”

Funniest Bestival memory?
“At the end of Bestival 2008, we used up all the remaining helium in the office and went out into the crowds with fistfuls of balloons to pimp them out for tricks. We had people telling jokes, stripping, singing, kissing us…. I think they possibly misunderstood that they were just helium ones.”

If Bestival was a type of food, what would it be and why?
“Hot chocolate with two shots of brandy, topped with whipped cream and a flake. Warm, tasty, and naughty with a big kick. The ultimate pick-me-up.”

Message to any non-(Bestival)-believers out there?
“You've got to be in it to win it!”

Anything to add?
“Feed your mind at the new East Lulworth Literary Institute at Camp Bestival this year! A packed programme of brain treats, hot guests and literary lovelies.”

Besti-mix 16: Greg Wilson

Disco and electro legend Greg Wilson was pioneering DJ styles while most of us were still in school shorts, so we're in more than capable hands with Besti-mix 16. Far from resting on his considerable laurels the ever-green DJ/producer has pulled out the stops for a marathon session of superlative mixing that showcases a slew of exclusives (including currently unreleased goodies by The xx and Goldfrapp) and soon-to-become big festival favourites this summer.

An exclusive mix with exclusive tracks - what more could you lot want?

Besti-Mix 16: Greg Wilson by Bestimix on Mixcloud

Download: Besti-mix 16: Greg Wilson

Tracklisting:
01 T-Coy - Carino (greg wilson edit)
02 War - Youngblood (livin’ in the streets) (cosmic boogie edit)
03 William DeVaughn - Be thankful for what you got (onur engin edit)
04 Banbarra - Shack Up (revenge edit)
05 Rocha - Feel the love (greg wilson version)
06 Florence & The Machine - Rabbit Heart (raise it up) (leo zero mix / greg wilson edit)
07 The xx - Night Time (greg wilson version)
08 Goldfrapp - Dreaming (greg wilson version)
09 Hercules & Love Affair  - Blind (frankie knuckles mix)
10 The Clash - Casbah Breakdown (joey negro edit)
11 The Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows (leftside wobble edit)

Hawkwind return to the Isle of Wight!

Legendary free spirited festival heroes Hawkwind are set to return to pretty much exactly the same spot as the 1970 Isle of Wight rock fest, exactly 40 years later, for an intimate affair they're calling Hawkfest!

Limited to only 1,000 guests, the pioneering space rockers and their pals will no doubt be putting on a unique event, so grab your tickets while you can!

Grace Jones: queen of the light

Our pals at uber-cool London underground space The Vinyl Factory are currently putting on a mega eye-fest of a 3D show with her royal highness and Bestival 2008 surprise headlining goddess Grace Jones.

A blinding (sorry!) collaboration between Grace Jones and groundbreaking light artist Chris Levine, the show features a series of 3D holographic portraits, lasers, video installations, a weird beautiful dubbed-out Eno-esque soundscape and a brilliantly freaky light 'sculpture' of pop legend Miss Jones under the title Stillness at the Speed of Light.

Running until May 21st and located underneath Phonica records on Poland Street, Soho, the show is free - get down there!

Radio da Bank: Penguin Prison in session

Rob da Bank's done it again with the first BBC Radio 1 Maida Vale session from hotly tipped newcomer Penguin Prison. He recorded 3 songs for Rob's radio show and you can watch a video of the session right here - bbc.co.uk/radio1/videos/robdabank

And once you've done that click here to listen to the whole show, featuring...

Two Bears - Be Strong - Southern Fried
Try To Find Me - Get To My Baby (TBD Extension) - Golf Channel
Passion Pit - Sleepyhead (Borgore Mix) - White
J Majik & Wickaman - MOsquito - MOsquito Recordings
Active Child - When Your Love Is Safe - Filter US

ROB'S BEST AND IMPROBABLY GREATEST RECORD IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW…
POSSIBLY…WELL AT LEAST FOR THIS MORNING… MAYBE
M.I.A - Born Free - Neet / Interscope

Deadboy - If You Want Me - Numbers
Grace Jones - Pull Up To The Bumper (Disconet Mix) - Disconet
People Like Us & Wobbly - Giant Love Ball - Illegal Art

PENGUIN PRISON IN SESSION
Penguin Prison - Something I'm Not

Robyn - Don't Tell Me What Do - Island
Sia - Clap Your Hands (Fred Falke Mix) - Monkey Puzzle / Jive Records

SATURDAY SKANK
Franek Kimono - Dysk Dzokez - Bumrocks

Beastie Boys - Intergalatic - Capitol
Crystal Castles - Celestica - Polydor
Lorn - Cherry Moon - Brainfeeder
CocoRosie - Lemonade - PIAS
65daysofstatic - Crash Tactics - Hassle

PENGUIN PRISON IN SESSION
Penguin Prison - The Worse it Gets
Penguin Prison - A Funny Thing

SUNRISE TRACK
Midlake - Roscoe (Beyond The Wizard Sleeve Re-Animation) - Is It Balearic?

Stornoway - The Coldharbour Road - 4AD
Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work - Twelves Mix

ROB DA BANK'S GUIDE TO BARELY BELIEVEABLE NEW GENRES OF MUSIC - AUSTRODUB
Hey-O-Hansen - Zulu - Pingipung

The Like - He's Not A Boy - Downtown / Interscope
The Cocknbullkid - Misery - Moshi Moshi / Island
Hurts - Better Than Love - RCA
Washed Out - New Theory - Mexican Summer
LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls - DFA / Parlophone