The Good Ship Bestival today released details of its first wave of artists for what promises to be a unique 10th Birthday Party.  This years line headliners are Sir Elton John and Snoop Dogg.

Commenting on his Sunday night Bestival Headlining set, Elton John said: _“I haven’t played any of the major festivals in the UK in recent years, so when the opportunity to play Bestival came up I was very interested. I’ve heard that the Bestival audience comes in fancy dress and I can’t wait to see that, they must all look amazing from the stage. At various times I have worn enormous feathered head-dresses, cloaks, hot pants, jumpsuits, clown suits, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, French Maid, The Eiffel Tower and The Statue of Liberty onstage! Wearing fancy dress makes us all feel less inhibited so I think it’s a great way to enjoy live music.

“2013 marks the 40th anniversary of the release of the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album, so you can expect to hear several tracks from that album. My shows always involve audience participation, singing and dancing, so make sure there is plenty of room for movement inside those fancy dress costumes!”

Rob da Bank said: “So here we are…our tenth birthday…like a small child proudly entering double figures…but here’s Bestival still wearing ill fitting shorts and running about with grazed knees giggling in the sunlight…Happy days! After 10 years of running our beloved festival, Bestival is still as psychedelically wondrous to us as the September day in 2004 when we first threw open the gates. 2013 will be a vintage year. No increase in capacity but more land, a raft of exciting changes around the site including some great new spaces and all dressed and made up in Bestival’s signature style.

“Band and DJ wise we’ve cast our net far and wide… as ever Bestival 2013 will be a magical mix of the old and the new, the vintage and classic rubbing shoulders with the ultra modern and leftfield. From one of the biggest selling artists of all time and certainly the best at fancy dress, Elton John, through the party blazing hip-hop of Snoop Dogg through amazing rare shows from the likes of The Knife, to the newest of the new bands and acts that I’m so excited about like Jagwar Ma, Merchandise and Cashmere Cat plus literally the finest selection of house and techno DJs we’ve ever had from Richie Hawtin and Carl Cox to Besti stalwarts Erol Alkan and Annie Mac – this will be our best Bestival yet, so don’t miss out!"_

Bestival has bagged itself a number of festival exclusives M.I.A , Franz Ferdinand and The Flaming Lips playing a UK festival exclusive set  .Off the wall Swedish art-pop duo The Knife, the unpredictably chameleonic Bombay Bicycle, The Roots all playing exclusive sets.

In addition there  will be performances from Belle & Sebastian, Jessie Ware, the deservingly hyped Disclosure, BBC Sound of 2013 winner Tom Odell, the incomparable Sinead O’Connor, disco overlords Chic featuring Nile Rodgers.

If that wasn’t enough some of the greatest DJ’s will be performing throughout the weekend including the Plastikman himself Richie Hawtin, techno don Carl Cox, Mark Ronson going back to back with Zane Lowe.   Bestival favourite Annie Mac Presents, Detroit via Berlin techy house hero Seth Troxler, new beat tzar Julio Bashmore, and  the sublime reggae of David Rodigan presents RAM JAM.

Details of full line up here

Live Music
Elton John, Snoop Dogg, M.I.A., Franz Ferdinand, The Flaming Lips, The Knife, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Roots, Belle And Sebastian, Jessie Ware, Disclosure, Tom Odell, Sinead OConnor, Chic, Angel Haze, The Polyphonic Spree, Johnny Marr, Bastille, Squarepusher, Hot Natured, Peace, The Strypes, DJ Fresh, Rudimental, Dexys, The Walkmen, John Cooper Clarke, Lissie, The Wonder Stuff, Caravan Palace, The Cuban Brothers, Mathew E White, While She Sleeps, Merchandise, Mikill Pane, True Tiger, Sexy Sushi, Is Tropical, Skaters, Lulu James, Swim Deep, Drenge, Jagwar Ma, Fleetwood Bac, Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, Kawa Circus, Lewis Watson, Jaws, J-Cats

DJ’s
Rob da Bank, Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox, Annie Mac Presents, Seth Troxler, Maya Jane Coles, Julio Bashmore, Erol Alkan, David Rodigan MBE Presents Ram Jam, Kerri Chandler, Eats Everything, Numbers, Jackmaster, Spencer, Redinho, Sophie, Joy Orbison, Fabio & Grooverider, High Contrast, Danny Byrd, Nu:Logic, Fred V & Grafix, Marcel Dettmann, DJ Yoda, Redlight, Bondax, Heidi, Justin Robertson, Ed Rush, Fake Blood, Jesse Rose, Andrew Weatherall & Sean Johnston, Ben UFO, Cyril Hahn, Daniel P. Carter, Catz N Dogz, My Love Is Underground, Cashmere Cat Krankbrother, Ben Pearce, Dollop DJ's, Alexander Nut, Roska, Bodhi, Kry Wolf, Coley From Luv*Jam, Crispin J. Glover, Bad Zuke

Bestival takes place at Robin Hill Countryside Adventure Park on the Isle of Wight from Thu 5th to Sun 8th September 2013

Tickets are available from Ticketline