An intrepid group of charity fundraisers known as Hularama will once again swim across the Solent - one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world - to reach Bestival on the Isle Of Wight on the 5th September.
They'll be traversing the 3.5 mile stretch of water to raise money for Gosport’s branch of the Chernobyl Children’s Life Line, local water based charity Island Youth Water Activities Centre (IOW) Ltd. a voluntary organisation run for the benefit of all young people on the Isle of Wight and Imibala, a small but worthy charity created to assist underprivileged children to access an education in South Africa and Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Leaving from Stokes Bay, Gosport, the twelve swimmers, who include St Catherine’s Charity director Suzanne Hudson, Radio 1 producer Clare Chadburn, Lorraine Hardman, who only learned how to swim this January, Breakbeat legend Paul ‘Trouble Arnold’ who is currently in remission after being diagnosed with Leukaemia last November and Brothers Alex & Tom Parkinson, will all be encouraged and coaxed along the way by Bestival compere, world renowned bon vivant and Cuban Brother, Miguel Mantovani from the safety of his speed boat. With Navy lifeguards on hand just in case, they will be in the water for between 2 and 5 hours before emerging Andress-like from the salty Solent at Ryde Pier on the Isle of Wight ready for three unbelievable days of partying. Bloody good effort we say!
You can donate at
http://www.swim2bestival.co.uk/Meanwhile new additions to the bill include The Presets, I Am Kloot, Kid Sister, Nathan ‘Flutebox' Lee and XX Teens, and new arenas including including the Red Bull 54 Speakeasy, a celebration of the thrills of 1970s New York, featuring hip-hop, breaks, dubstep and full on party action. There will also be Skid Row, a brand new area running along one side of the 24 Hour Field, that takes in Club Dada, the Insect Circus / Alfresco Ballroom and the Polka Tent, as well as The Dukes Box, Bramble FM, Victorian Disco and Area 51, amongst other sumptuous treats. The Rizla Arena will also return with its collective of party hosts, The Rizla Invisible Players, featuring Greg Wilson, Annie Nightingale, Justin Robertson and Kid Acne.
There will also be a Kickers tent (or some kind of sheltered edifice) where you can attempt to get your dancing featured in a new video for Chromeo's Fancy Footwork, The Xbox Social, down in the 24 hour field, featuring laid back tunes, a mix of live music, DJ sets and comedy, and classic pub games and karaoke, The Black Dahlia Cocktail Lounge serving up a top notch selection of cocktails, plus the Havana Club Mojito Bar in the 24 Hour Field (which was a lot of fun at The Big Chill).
Then there's also Vice Tent, the return of the Knees Up, the colliding worlds of Time for Tease, the good old Hidden Disco, Come Dancing’s stunning spiegeltent and the lavish décor of the ever-popular Bollywood Bar. Spoilt for choice really!
Finally don’t forget that Jokers' Masquerade at
www.joke.co.uk/bestivalis offering a 10% discount on fancy dress costumes exclusively for Bestival goers. Promo code BEST08. (PROMO CODE MUST BE WRITTEN IN CAPITALS. Offer valid until 2nd September 2008.) Jokers' Masquerade at
www.joke.co.uk/bestivaloffer over 10,000 costumes to choose from securely online, including many outfits to inspire you for this year's '30,000 Freaks Under The Sea' theme.
www.bestival.net