Playing the fields

'Anything goes' should be the mantra for summer festival fun. The most memorable experiences usually involve discovering bands you've never heard before, flaunting homemade clothes, consuming different foods (sometimes memorable for the wrong reasons) and feeling a fantastic camaraderie with the thousands of strangers around you. That mantra has certainly held Bestival in good stead; since 2004, this annual bash has delivered DIY attitude on a dazzling scale, attracting an estimated 17,000 party-goers last year. Its founder, Sunday Best/Radio One DJ and seasoned festival fan Rob Da Bank, is a man who thinks big, even when it comes to off-the-cuff ideas.

'We'd drunk too much red wine and decided to hold our own festival - suddenly, we were standing in field thinking: "What the hell have we done?",' he recalls cheerfully. 'The main thing that inspired me was probably hosting the Sunday Best/Radio One stage at Glastonbury a few years ago,' he says. 'At one point, we had 10,000 people in the crowd. Massive parties can only really take place outside.'

Past and future glories
Bestival isn't the only summer festival with DIY roots; the mighty Glastonbury set a precedent, and returns this year after a break in 2006. There are also parallels with the personalised approach of The Big Chill and the Green Man Festival (founded by folk combo It's Jo And Danny). This summer, festivals have mushroomed on every green patch of Britain but Rob is confident that Bestival's distinctly quirky charm, which has scooped UK Festival Awards for the last two years, still sets it apart. 'It's an exciting time, because everybody's having a go at festivals now,' he says. 'Bestival is like a psychedelic village fete. There's always lots of weird and wonderful things going on, whether it's the Morris dancers, the Hidden Disco (where superstar DJs play in a secret intimate location on site) or the Loose Tea tent, where members of the public perform.'

It's worth braving your stage fright - after all, it's not every day you get to appear on the same bill as The Chemical Brothers, the Beastie Boys and The Gossip. Well, sort of; these headline stars promise to keep Bestival's main stage rocking but Rob's broad-ranging enthusiasm ensures that all kinds of music fans are well served.

'There's absolutely no one on the bill that I don't like!' he says. 'I do try to reflect every kind of genre with Bestival. I've been supporting The Gossip for a while but we've also got different generations of performers such as Gregory Isaacs, Billy Bragg and The Orb, alongside buzzy indie bands like Bondo Do Role and the Foals. I'm sure they'll be a lot bigger by the end of the summer.'

Keeping it colourful
Bestival's art director, Josie Da Bank, takes credit for the site's vibrant decor, from flyer artwork to handmade tents. She and Rob are such festival soulmates that they were engaged at Glastonbury - and their infant son now joins them at events.

But this event has also become legendary for its dressing-up flair; Bestival previously broke the Guinness World Record for the biggest fancy dress party and this year promises its first costume parade on the Saturday night.

'When we got the idea, we thought a couple of hundred people might join in - it turned into about 10,000 people in full regalia. They'd clearly spent weeks making these crazy outfits,' Rob says. 'But fancy dress is just one aspect of the community that exists around the year. I've known people who've met their partners at Bestival and there have been a lot of Bestival babies! Life-changing things do happen at festivals.'

Rob agrees that festivals are the perfect excuse to escape the urban sprawl. 'It's all about escapism - when people get on the ferry to Bestival, they know that they're leaving everyday life behind. But I think another reason why Londoners love festivals is that they are exposed to a variety of music.'

There are masses of festivals to enjoy in the next few months, from heavy metal to banging dance and hippy retreats. In the following three pages, Metro has cherrypicked some of the best. Rob plans to attend quite a few (he's also hosting a Sunday Best arena at Scotland's Rockness event on June 9 and 10, www.rockness.co.uk) and is looking even further ahead with his festival vision: 'Hats off to Michael Eavis - it's brilliant that he's back again with Glastonbury this year,' he enthuses. 'I want to be doing this when I'm 75.'
Bestival 2007 is at Robin Hood Country Park, Isle Of Wight, on Sep 7 to 9, £115 (limited availability). www.bestival.net.

What's on in London this summer?

Zena Alkayat takes a look at the capital's festivals:

O2 Wireless
Not only is Wireless the only British festival where you'll see The White Stripes live this year, it also peddles Kaiser Chiefs and Daft Punk alongside a friendly array of fairground rides and market stalls.
Jun 14 to 17, Hyde Park W2, £40 day, £75 two days, £105 three days, £135 full pass. www.o2wirelessfestival.co.uk

Meltdown
Not an outdoor fest as such but this year's arty extravaganza sees Jarvis Cocker take to the helm at the revamped South Bank, with artful programming: featuring Motorhead, Iggy And The Stooges and SunO))). Jun 16 to 23, Southbank Centre, prices vary. www.southbankcentre.co.uk