Shanklin Freak Show's Mr Strange makes a big impression on the Bestival Bands and DJs competition stage. Picture by Robin Crossley.
VIDEOS & PICTURE GALLERY
IT WAS decks at dusk in the annual Bestival Bands and DJs competition last night (Wednesday), with some of the best in Island talent battling for the chance to play at the award-winning festival.
As ever the competition showcased the wide spectrum of Island music, with acts first shortlisted by Bestival curator and Radio One DJ Rob Da Bank and his team and finalists picked through a public poll at www.iwcp.co.uk.
After one of the tightest competitions yet, it fell to judges Rob and the County Press’s Ross Findon to choose just one band and one DJ to play the main stage and dance tent at the September festival.
From the bands, they chose avant-garde glam circus stars The Shanklin Freak Show, who stormed the stage complete with stilt-walker, juggler and a poi-flinging Jesus.
Island drum-and-bass favourites Mitsubishop and Duvstar scooped the honour of representing the Island’s DJ community on a bill that already featured some of the biggest names in the genre, including Roni Size and Pendulum.
The night kicked off with a laid-back lounge funk set from The Steam Machine, featuring duelling keyboards and multi-instrumentalism that would not have been out of place in a Vegas cocktail bar.
Next was bedroom spinner DJ Steel, performing on stage for the first time. He wasted no time in announcing his arrival, dropping a drum and bass remix of Utah Saints as his first track.
Fresh from their performance at the Isle of Wight Festival Bandstand stage, having won the County Press/ Platform One competition Live/Wired, Magic Octagon again impressed with their original indie.
Jordan Peak showed off his experience behind the decks, working the crowd well, before The Guy Page Trio hit the stage and delivered an incredible set of ambient indie.
Final DJs dj dj and Alex Hodda both showed the broad spectrum of the Island dance scene and highlighted the need for more venues for local talent to be showcased.
Final band on stage was The Kurves who, despite already knowing they would be playing the Bestival’s bandstand in September, delivered their best live set yet.
Rob Da Bank said later: “It was another bumper year of talent from this incredibly eclectic Island. It was a very tricky choice, but the Freak Show are slightly weird and interesting, like Bestival, and Mitsubishop and Duvstar had brilliant energy.”
Bestival Band competition winners The Shanklin Freak Show.
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Bestival DJ winner Mitsubishop & Duvstar.
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Video of other acts below:
•Videos of the rest of the acts coming soon
• Pictures from our online gallery www.iwcpgallery.co.uk below. Click on the image for a larger version.
SEARCH FOR A FEMALE STAR
ASPIRING singers have another week to win the chance to play with The Kurves at this year’s Bestival.
The band are in search of a female singer to collaborate with them on their forthcoming debut album and perform with them at the September event.
Launched last week on iwcp.co.uk, the competition has already seen the band inundated with entries and they may now introduce a live audition stage.
To find out how to enter and potentially get yourself on the Bestival bill, visit www.iwcp.co.uk/Other/Kurves.aspx