Isle of Wight Guru
  • Home
  • Why you should visit the Isle of Wight
  • Ferry travel advice & discounts
    • Discount Isle of Wight ferry travel
    • Isle of Wight ferry beginners guide
    • Wightlink's Tesco Clubcard deal – is it the best discount?
    • Using Wightlink’s Multilink deal for cheap ferry travel
    • Cheap Isle of Wight ferry travel for caravans
  • Holiday parks, hotels, camping & cottages
    • Family holiday parks & caravans >
      • 10 of the best Isle of Wight caravan holiday parks
      • Park Resorts and Parkdean Resorts Isle of Wight holiday parks
      • Which Isle of Wight holiday park should I stay in?
      • Last minute deals and discounts at holiday parks
      • Is there a Haven holiday park on the Isle of Wight?
      • Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park reviews and facilities
      • Lower Hyde and Landguard Holiday Park review
    • Hotels & guest houses >
      • Isle of Wight Hotels - a beginner's guide
      • 10 of the best Isle of Wight luxury hotels
      • 5 Ventnor hotels and guest houses
      • Warner's Bembridge Coast & Norton Grange hotels
      • 5 best Isle of Wight coach tour holidays and trips
      • Romantic Isle of Wight holidays for couples
      • 5 best Isle of Wight spa break hotels and spa days
    • Camping & glamping >
      • 20 Isle of Wight camping and touring parks
      • Isle of Wight Glamping
    • Cottages & self catering >
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Shanklin
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Cowes
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Newport
      • Dog friendly Isle of Wight accommodation
      • 10 Isle of Wight wheelchair accessible & disabled friendly holidays
      • Brambles Chine and Linstone Chine self catering
    • Lodges & hot tub holidays >
      • 5 best Isle of Wight holiday lodges
      • 10 best Isle of Wight hot tub holidays
    • Quirky & AirBnbs >
      • 20 quirky places to stay on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 best Isle of Wight Airbnb holiday homes
    • Group accommodation >
      • 10 of the best places to stay for large groups
      • 7 best Isle of Wight manor houses for hire
    • Accommodation advice >
      • What time of year should I visit the Isle of Wight?
      • Which Isle of Wight town should I stay in?
      • Where is the cheapest place to stay?
      • Dog friendly Isle of Wight holidays
  • Festivals, days out & attractions
    • Festivals & carnivals >
      • Major festivals and carnivals
      • Isle of Wight Festival 2021 lineup and tickets
      • 10 unforgettable Isle of Wight Festival moments
      • Isle of Wight Festival History
      • Cowes Week - attractions and accommodation
    • Free days out & attraction discounts >
      • Free days out on the Isle of Wight
      • Discounts to Isle of Wight attractions
      • Itinerary for a budget Isle of Wight holiday
      • 10 ways to save money on Isle of Wight holidays
    • Attractions for children, teenagers, adults >
      • Activities for toddlers on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for children and families on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for teenagers on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for adults on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for an Isle of Wight stag do
      • Surviving an Isle of Wight holiday with a toddler
    • Quirky days out >
      • 10 quirky days out on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 things you can't do on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 things you can only visit on the Isle of Wight
      • Isle of Wight TV & Movie Tour
      • 10 reasons to visit the Isle of Wight
    • Days out in Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor >
      • 10 things to do in Bembridge, St Helen's and Seaview
      • 10 things to do in Cowes and East Cowes
      • 10 things to do in Newport and Carisbrooke
      • 15 things to do in Ryde
      • 15 things to do in Shanklin and Sandown
      • 15 things to do in Ventnor and South Wight
      • 15 things to do in Yarmouth and West Wight
    • Rainy day & winter attractions >
      • Rainy day activities on the Isle of Wight
      • Itinerary for a rainy Isle of Wight holiday
      • Winter days out on the Isle of Wight
    • Zoos, historic attractions, gardens >
      • Isle of Wight zoos and animal attractions
      • Historic attractions on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 Isle of Wight Gardens and Parks
    • Day trip itineraries >
      • Day trips from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight
      • Day trips from Southampton to the Isle of Wight
      • Day trips from Lymington to the Isle of Wight
    • Car journey games & viewpoints >
      • 5 Isle of Wight car journey games
      • 15 of the best Isle of Wight car park viewpoints
      • The Isle Spy car journey game
  • Beaches, tides & weather
    • Which is the best Isle of Wight beach for...
    • Isle of Wight Beaches Interactive Map
    • Isle of Wight tide times
    • Isle of Wight weather forecast
    • Isle of Wight surf forecast
    • The beach holiday checklist - 5 accessories
    • Mobile version of Isle of Wight Best Beaches
  • Cycling, walking & public transport
    • Public transport
    • Cycling holidays on the Isle of Wight
    • Walking the Isle of Wight Coastal Path
  • Food & drink
    • Eating out on a budget
    • Pubs and restaurants with a sea view
    • Isle of Wight Supermarkets
  • Useful information
    • Boring & practical stuff >
      • FAQ
      • Which mobile phone network has the best signal on the Isle of Wight?
      • Cheap parcel delivery and sending mail to the Isle of Wight
      • Isle of Wight Map
      • Isle of Wight newspapers, news websites and radio stations
    • About >
      • Who is the Isle of Wight Guru?
      • Contact us/about/disclaimer
    • Souvenirs
    • Should I move to the Isle of Wight?
    • Les vacances sur L’île de Wight
  • Blog
  • Advice for plagiarists
  • Privacy policy and cookies policy
  • Home
  • Why you should visit the Isle of Wight
  • Ferry travel advice & discounts
    • Discount Isle of Wight ferry travel
    • Isle of Wight ferry beginners guide
    • Wightlink's Tesco Clubcard deal – is it the best discount?
    • Using Wightlink’s Multilink deal for cheap ferry travel
    • Cheap Isle of Wight ferry travel for caravans
  • Holiday parks, hotels, camping & cottages
    • Family holiday parks & caravans >
      • 10 of the best Isle of Wight caravan holiday parks
      • Park Resorts and Parkdean Resorts Isle of Wight holiday parks
      • Which Isle of Wight holiday park should I stay in?
      • Last minute deals and discounts at holiday parks
      • Is there a Haven holiday park on the Isle of Wight?
      • Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park reviews and facilities
      • Lower Hyde and Landguard Holiday Park review
    • Hotels & guest houses >
      • Isle of Wight Hotels - a beginner's guide
      • 10 of the best Isle of Wight luxury hotels
      • 5 Ventnor hotels and guest houses
      • Warner's Bembridge Coast & Norton Grange hotels
      • 5 best Isle of Wight coach tour holidays and trips
      • Romantic Isle of Wight holidays for couples
      • 5 best Isle of Wight spa break hotels and spa days
    • Camping & glamping >
      • 20 Isle of Wight camping and touring parks
      • Isle of Wight Glamping
    • Cottages & self catering >
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Shanklin
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Cowes
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Newport
      • Dog friendly Isle of Wight accommodation
      • 10 Isle of Wight wheelchair accessible & disabled friendly holidays
      • Brambles Chine and Linstone Chine self catering
    • Lodges & hot tub holidays >
      • 5 best Isle of Wight holiday lodges
      • 10 best Isle of Wight hot tub holidays
    • Quirky & AirBnbs >
      • 20 quirky places to stay on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 best Isle of Wight Airbnb holiday homes
    • Group accommodation >
      • 10 of the best places to stay for large groups
      • 7 best Isle of Wight manor houses for hire
    • Accommodation advice >
      • What time of year should I visit the Isle of Wight?
      • Which Isle of Wight town should I stay in?
      • Where is the cheapest place to stay?
      • Dog friendly Isle of Wight holidays
  • Festivals, days out & attractions
    • Festivals & carnivals >
      • Major festivals and carnivals
      • Isle of Wight Festival 2021 lineup and tickets
      • 10 unforgettable Isle of Wight Festival moments
      • Isle of Wight Festival History
      • Cowes Week - attractions and accommodation
    • Free days out & attraction discounts >
      • Free days out on the Isle of Wight
      • Discounts to Isle of Wight attractions
      • Itinerary for a budget Isle of Wight holiday
      • 10 ways to save money on Isle of Wight holidays
    • Attractions for children, teenagers, adults >
      • Activities for toddlers on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for children and families on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for teenagers on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for adults on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for an Isle of Wight stag do
      • Surviving an Isle of Wight holiday with a toddler
    • Quirky days out >
      • 10 quirky days out on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 things you can't do on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 things you can only visit on the Isle of Wight
      • Isle of Wight TV & Movie Tour
      • 10 reasons to visit the Isle of Wight
    • Days out in Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor >
      • 10 things to do in Bembridge, St Helen's and Seaview
      • 10 things to do in Cowes and East Cowes
      • 10 things to do in Newport and Carisbrooke
      • 15 things to do in Ryde
      • 15 things to do in Shanklin and Sandown
      • 15 things to do in Ventnor and South Wight
      • 15 things to do in Yarmouth and West Wight
    • Rainy day & winter attractions >
      • Rainy day activities on the Isle of Wight
      • Itinerary for a rainy Isle of Wight holiday
      • Winter days out on the Isle of Wight
    • Zoos, historic attractions, gardens >
      • Isle of Wight zoos and animal attractions
      • Historic attractions on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 Isle of Wight Gardens and Parks
    • Day trip itineraries >
      • Day trips from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight
      • Day trips from Southampton to the Isle of Wight
      • Day trips from Lymington to the Isle of Wight
    • Car journey games & viewpoints >
      • 5 Isle of Wight car journey games
      • 15 of the best Isle of Wight car park viewpoints
      • The Isle Spy car journey game
  • Beaches, tides & weather
    • Which is the best Isle of Wight beach for...
    • Isle of Wight Beaches Interactive Map
    • Isle of Wight tide times
    • Isle of Wight weather forecast
    • Isle of Wight surf forecast
    • The beach holiday checklist - 5 accessories
    • Mobile version of Isle of Wight Best Beaches
  • Cycling, walking & public transport
    • Public transport
    • Cycling holidays on the Isle of Wight
    • Walking the Isle of Wight Coastal Path
  • Food & drink
    • Eating out on a budget
    • Pubs and restaurants with a sea view
    • Isle of Wight Supermarkets
  • Useful information
    • Boring & practical stuff >
      • FAQ
      • Which mobile phone network has the best signal on the Isle of Wight?
      • Cheap parcel delivery and sending mail to the Isle of Wight
      • Isle of Wight Map
      • Isle of Wight newspapers, news websites and radio stations
    • About >
      • Who is the Isle of Wight Guru?
      • Contact us/about/disclaimer
    • Souvenirs
    • Should I move to the Isle of Wight?
    • Les vacances sur L’île de Wight
  • Blog
  • Advice for plagiarists
  • Privacy policy and cookies policy
Isle of Wight Guru

Give the 'alternative bestival' a chance

25/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Robin Hill playground
The African playground at Robin Hill
When Bestival booked itself onto the Isle of Wight ferry in 2016 and moved to Dorset, we got a little tearful.

Some of us realised we were getting older, others regretted taking it for granted. Others said they knew it was coming for years. 

Five minutes later a new festival at the same venue was announced - Eklectica at Robin Hill 

After the lineup and ticket price were announced this week there was the expected flurry of comments - some positive, some negative. The event will have four 'stages' or similar venues, with a mixture of cover bands, performance artists, dance music in the woods and an African-themed section. Day tickets are £35, two days are £65.

Some commenters seemed to be expecting a replacement Bestival, perhaps unhappy at the quirk of having Elton John and Stevie Wonder tribute acts on a site which once hosted the real thing. 

I think we need to be more realistic.

Inaugural years at festivals are a big financial gamble and are always going to be on a modest scale. The first Bestival in 2004 had a couple of decent headliners but it was small scale with only a few thousand turning up on the Friday and Sunday to see The Bees and Zero 7. Saturday was more popular thanks to Fatboy Slim and Basement Jaxx. It was helped along with the backing of a BBC Radio 1 DJ whereas this hasn't yet got the same clout.

The return of the Isle of Wight Festival in 2002 was similar. The main event was only one day (Rock Island), the headliners were OK (Charlatans, Robert Plant) and ticket sales were not great (according to Wikipedia it attracted about 8000 and had a capacity of 22,000 which sounds about right. Most people I knew got in free through various giveaways). I seem to remember it had local authority money to kick-start it and I'd be surprised if it made a profit. 

Bestival and the Isle of Wight Festival both picked up steam within a few years and turned into world class events with crowds of up 50,000 - 60,000 on some years. The Isle of Wight Festival is still going strong with Rod Stewart and Arcade Fire headlining this year. 

It might also not be the case that the organisers of Eklectica want to create another huge festival. Some of the Island's best festivals - V-Dub Island, Jack Up The 80s, Rhythmtree - are fairly small and they are affordable. Eklectica costs about one third of the Bestival ticket price (admittedly for fewer days) so it is more realistic to ask a family of four to come for the day.

Presumably the rest of Robin Hill will be open, so it is actually only £20 more than the normal cost of entrance to the park (sorry, this wasn't meant to turn into a sales pitch).

I think some of the negative comments are from those who weren't expecting cover bands at something called Eklectica. I can see their point - I was a bit surprised too - but the concept is clearly to combine main stage mainstream acts with artsy performers and other entertainment around the site. The venue is a children's adventure park so you'll have an Abba tribute act performing alongside a toboggan run whilst a DJ plays some tunes in a Japanese themed woodland. You'll be able to ride on a Time Machine and then watch mime artists or a 'speed painter' in an amphitheatre. I'd consider that more eclectic than most festivals.

My main point is this though - anyone willing to invest in a new event which could be ruined by bad weather, poor ticket sales or first-year teething problems deserves credit for taking the risk. Without encouragement and local support I'd say they will be less inclined to build it up to something big.

Let's hope we are talking about Eklectica's launch in 10 years' time.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    November 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015

    Isle of Wight Guru's Blog

    Tales of Isle of Wight days out, attractions and ferry discounts from a Wightophile

    RSS Feed

Where to stay

Holiday parks
​
Lodges
Posh hotels
Cheap​
​Quirky
​Big houses
​Camping
​Glamping
​Dog friendly
Last minute
​Coach trips
Airbnb
Accessible
​
Hot tubs
Manor houses

Days out

Adults
Beaches
Bembridge
​Cowes
​Cycling
Day trips
Dog friendly
Families
Festivals
Historic
Newport
​Quirky
​Rainy days
​Romantic
Ryde
​Shanklin
Toddlers
Teenagers
Ventnor​
Walking
Winter
​Yarmouth
​
Zoos

Saving money

Ferry discount codes
​
Tesco Clubcard
​Multilink
Accommodation
​Attraction discounts
Eating out
​
Free attractions

About

Contact
Blog
Who is the Guru?
​Advice for plagiarists
Privacy Policy
​Disclaimer

Some of the links on this site are 'affiliate links' meaning we may receive commission from accommodation providers at no cost to the buyer. We are also an Amazon Associate and earn from qualifying products. 
​
However, we maintain full editorial control and only recommend based on merit rather than whether they offer commission.
​© COPYRIGHT 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.