Rob Da Bank interview

With the UK summer season’s best festival, Bestival, just around the corner, resident field-wanderer Khalid Mallassi gets in the festival spirit by quizzing Bestival supremo Rob Da Bank…

With only a few months left till Bestival 2007, how are you feeling? Any nerves? Butterflies?
No butterflies, just a few caterpillars! With having sold out that’s one sweat out of the way but worrying if there’s enough loo rolls and what kind of random security will turn up are more the worries now.

What do you think sets Bestival apart in the busy festival season?
Bestivals a very eccentric magical show with so many little bits to discover … I think we just put in more effort to making the festival goer feel that its their festival as much as ours. You go to some festies and really wonder where your entrance fees gone!

How does it feel going from organising parties at Sunday Best for 50 people to organising a a party for 20,000 people?
Actually doing the small parties tends to take more time up now..as bestivals got such an amazing team of people working on it it seems easier..and if something goes wrong I can blame someone else! But the core values of great music and lots of fun and magic are always there whatever we do.

What’s the music policy at Bestival? Is it just what you’re feeling, what people will pay for or a combination of both?
Ive always been into shedloads of music – from classical to techno and so I very selfishly book old stuff that I love from Lee Scratch Perry to the Stranglers and John Martyn up to breaking new acts – like last year we had Mika , Klaxons and Bat For Lashes and loads of other people our crowd didn’t know but are now massive.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing?
Gotta be the Beasties..Ive had reports back from Sonar that just sound incredible..to be honest though I book 100% of the line up and wanna see every act there!

If someone could only see one band (or was too drunk to get up for long) that would sum up Bestival what would it be?
Probably The Cuban Brothers who are our amiable (and often naked) hosts and is always a special moment on the main stage..

What’s this year’s fancy dress theme and why?
You’ll have to read my poem which is on the website … Www.bestival.net … There are loads of themes!

Ok, but even if it is ‘Pirates,’ can I still go as Rick James (bitches!) if I wear an eye patch?
Pirates is just one of the themes – if you read through im sure you can see a Rick James link in there somewhere! You superfreak!

Do you think Bestival is going to start settling into middle-age as you get older like some festivals or will it always keep that hedonistic, edgy mini-Glastonbury-mixed-with-The Big Chill vibe?
I think the line up will dictate that and as long as we have acts like The Gossip and Chemical Brothers, Klaxons and Foals we’ll attract the kids too..i want everyone to feel welcome at Bestival!

Who would you love to get to play at Bestival next year?
Dolly Parton, Kate Bush and Sun Ra

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