Bestival

Where and when? Robin County Park, Isle of Wight - 11th-13th September.

Why should I go? Because no festival is complete without a fancy dress theme.

Any interesting titbits of information? New mothers can suckle their young in privacy in the hilariously named Breastival area.

Radio 1’s Rob da Bank sure knows how to throw a party. Since 2004, he’s been putting on this little shindig on the Isle Of Wight, handpicking the eclectic line-up and masterminding the fun and games you’d expect at a festival with a fancy-dress theme (this year, outer space).

That means there’s something to suit every musical taste, whether you fancy the wobble of Skream’s organ-rearranging dubstep, indie du jour courtesy of The Klaxons or all points in between. This year’s headliners include Massive Attack and Kraftwerk who certainly give you ample excuse for dusting off the robot costume hanging around your wardrobe. Elbow are the third who pertain less to the futuristic theme but ,who cares? Da Bank just picks bands he likes. Who’s going to argue with that kind of no-nonsense remit?

Accommodation-wise, it’s the usual array of campsites, yurts and fancy-dan teepees for the better-off festivalgoer. The festival takes place in a quaint country park, so you can soak up a dose of natural beauty as you revel. Delightful!

Of course, no boutique festival worth its salt launches without having some socially responsible credentials nailed to the mast. Bestival is aiming to be carbon-neutral by carbon offsetting and other forms of waste reductions, but it’s not managed it yet - not that that’ll stop the crusties hitting the Isle of Wight…

One more fact: the local WI bake delicious cakes and sell them at the festival. Score.

Ticket price: £140

Accommodation: Camping, both regular and boutique. Campervans cost £50 extra.

Site opening: TBA.

Capacity: 30,000

Stages: Main stage, Big Top, Bollywood Bar, Time for Tease, Hidden Disco, The After Burner, Come Dancing, Bandstand, The Black Dahlia Cocktail Lounge, The Knees Up, Insect Circus/Al Fresco Bandstand, Polka Tent.

Travel: Take a coach or train to Portsmouth or Southampton, then cross the water to the Isle of Wight using a ferry or hovercraft.