Bestival Founders Rob and Josie da Bank Honoured by Goldsmiths University
Nearly 25 years after meeting as fresh-faced students, Bestival creators Rob and Josie da Bank have been named Honorary Fellows of Goldsmiths, University of London.
From Goldsmiths to Festival Fame
Rob da Bank, born Robert John Gorham in Hampshire, grew up playing trombone in brass bands while his dad tuned into The Beatles. Moving to London in the early ’90s, he studied French and Art History at Goldsmiths and built a reputation DJing hip-hop and funk under the name Rob da Bank.
Josie Gorham, now known as Josie da Bank, joined Goldsmiths in 1991 to study illustration. She became the creative force behind Bestival’s trademark visuals and promotional vibe.
The Rise of Sunday Best and Bestival
Rob started Sunday Best in 1994—a cult club night in Clapham that sparked a new bar-based music culture, distinct from typical “club culture.” Josie designed flyers and banners, honing her event management skills and even dabbled in Shoreditch’s first hip cocktail bar, Cocomo.
After years of attending Glastonbury together, Rob proposed to Josie at the 2000 festival. Just four years later, the duo launched Bestival on the Isle of Wight. Initially a ‘boutique’ festival attracting 10,000 people, it grew rapidly to 50,000 revellers and has been repeatedly crowned ‘Best UK Festival.’
Changing the Festival Game
Bestival became a pioneer for smaller, high-quality festivals. They introduced cleaner loos, friendly security, and luxury touches like Josie’s hand-stitched Bollywood Tent where revellers could sip cocktails on day-beds. Their focus was simple: make festival-goers feel comfortable and cared for.
Rob’s Musical Journey & Media Career
“Goldsmiths was, and probably still is, one of the most culturally diverse and enriching places. I was getting an education in French, music, and life skills all at once,” Rob told Goldsmiths’ alumni magazine, Goldlink.
After graduating in 1995, Rob became a well-loved music journalist and BBC Radio 1 presenter, taking over the legendary John Peel Show after Peel’s death in 2004. He hosted cutting-edge shows on BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music and now runs Earworm, a music supervision company creating tracks for TV, film, and games.
Expanding the Festival Empire
Bestival has since crossed the Atlantic with a Toronto edition, while Rob and Josie’s new festival project, Common People, has hit the streets in Southampton and Oxford, proving the da Banks remain at the cutting edge of festival culture.
