The Isle of Wight Festival kicked off on Thursday 13th June with Wet Wet Wet, Heather Small, James Walsh and Simply Dylan all performing on the Big Top stage last night.
The gates to Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane opened earlier in the day as the site underwent its final preparations, alongside various performances and music from Isle of Wight on- site regulars Electro Love, This Feeling, Cirque de la Quirk and Kashmir Cafe. The main arena is set to open at 2pm today.
Summer of ‘69: Peace and Love is the theme of 2019, and there was no better act to launch proceedings than Simply Dylan, with his tribute to the very man who headlined the legendary Isle of Wight Festival in 1969, with a roll-call of hits including ‘Like A Rolling Stone’, ‘All Along The Watchtower’, ‘Maggie’s Farm’ resounding around the Big Top stage.
Next up was Starsailor frontman James Walsh; who surprised travellers earlier in the day by busking on a ferry from Southampton in aid of the festival’s national charity partner Macmillan. Starsailor were also announced as a last minute addition on Sunday, replacing Mystery Jets.
M People’s Heather Small was ‘Proud’ to appear on the first day of the festival, with a set of solo tracks and M People hits including ‘Moving on Up’, ‘Search For The Hero’ and ‘One Night in Heaven’.
In keeping with the changeable weather on site, Wet Wet Wet closed the night, with an uplifting set of their biggest songs – ‘Love is all Around’, ‘Somewhere Somehow’ and ‘Sweet Little Mystery’ delighting the early doors crowds, easing them into the weekend ahead.
The main stage arena officially opened on the Friday 15th June as the sun shone on Seaclose Park for the first full day of live music performances.
Lily Allen, Courteeners, James, Freya Ridings, Gerry Cinnamon, Hacienda Classical, Jax Jones, Sigala and a spectacular headline set from Noel Gallagher’s Highflying Birds left fans delighted.
James treated the crowd to a rare rendition of ‘Come Home’, evoking a mass singalong and stage invasion. Hacienda Classical celebrated seminal 90s dance hits, a special appearance from Bez, and Peter Hook joining for a rendition of New Order classic, ‘Blue Monday’.
Lily Allen, dressed in a vintage, colourful denim two-piece, opened with ‘Come On Then’ before launching into ‘LDN’, ‘Smile’. Midway through the performance, she called for silence for Grenfell. ‘F You’ was a barnstorming encore, as the crowd sang every word back.
Liam Fray and the Courteeners lads took to the Isle of Wight stage as the sun was setting. Tunes including ‘Not Nineteen Forever’, ‘Are You In Love With a Notion?’ and ‘What Took You So Long?’ were the perfect anthems for a Friday night party.
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds returned to the Isle of Wight Festival for the first time since 2012. His headline set included new single ‘Black Star Dancing’, ‘AKA…What a Life!’, as well as Oasis classics ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’, ‘Wonderwall’ closing on The Beatles’ classic, ‘All You Need Is Love’.
VIPs spotted on site include Lorraine Kelly, Fiona Bruce, Storm Keating, Susannah Constantine, Jack O’Connell and Ben Fogle.
In celebration of this year’s fancy dress theme of ‘Summer of ’69: Peace and Love’, festival goers were surprised to see John Lennon, Elmo and Neil Armstrong accompanied by a female ‘hippy’ exploring the site yesterday. For today (Saturday 15th June) will see those dressed in their 60s-best gather at 2.00pm in Strawberry Fields, where one lucky person will be crowned the “King or Queen of Summer”. The winner will receive an exclusive backstage tour and champagne picnic.
Saturday saw George Ezra mark his first-ever major summer festival headline performance last night (June 15th), with special guest Fatboy Slim keeping the Main Stage party going into the night.
George, perched upon a bar stool thanks to a recent exercise-induced injury, paid tribute to those who’d come before him in the Isle of Wight Festival history books:
“I’m well aware that this is the famous Isle of Wight Festival that has housed legends like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. Well tonight, you’ve got George Ezra, off his head on anti-inflammatories, trying to do the best he can”.
With the festival celebrating 50 years since Bob Dylan played in 1969, George paid tribute with a cover of ‘Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright’. Other tracks included ‘Pretty Shining People’, ‘Paradise’ and ‘Shotgun’.
Fatboy Slim’s high-tempo, confetti-filled, rave-inducing set was the perfect ending to what has been a busy day at the Isle of Wight Festival.
Garbage’s Big Top headline slot went down a storm, with hits including ‘Stupid Girl’ and ‘Only Happy When It Rains’.
Before his Main Stage slot, Rick Astley stopped by Old Mout’s Kiwi Camp for a round of Rockaoke, treating fans to renditions of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ and The Clash’s ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’, which saw Astley take on drumming duties.
200 hundred lucky people in the Sky VIP Lounge watched Anne-Marie perform a short set, before she headed to the Main Stage for a hit-filled set. ‘Ciao Adios’, ‘Alarm’ and ‘2002’ were just some of the singalong tunes on offer.
YUNGBLUD, a late addition to the line-up, stormed the Big Top stage with his energetic performance. The ‘Loner’ hitmaker performed in an orange jumpsuit to a packed tent.
Palaye Royale also performed earlier in the day with a Cage The Elephant cover being the highlight of the set
In celebration of this year’s fancy dress theme of ‘Summer of ’69: Peace and Love‘, festival goers gathered in Strawberry Fields where a lucky family were crowned King & Queen of Summer for their 60’s-inspired outfits, receiving an exclusive backstage tour and champagne picnic.
Spotted on site was Colin Firth, who embodied the role of proud dad as he watched his son Matteo’s band Strange Child on the Hard Rock Stage. Also spotted in VIP was The Libertines’ Carl Barat.
2019 Isle Of Wight Festival ended in style on the Sunday as Biffy Clyro closed the Main Stage in spectacular fashion, with pyrotechnics and fireworks aplenty. The truly anthemic set spanned their 20+ year career and their return to the Isle of Wight Festival was welcomed by the band and fans alike; frontman Simon Neil, clad in a mustard suit proclaimed “we love this festival, it’s great to be back”.
Ahead of their first album release since 2012, due later this year, Keane treated fans to new music and sing along classics ‘Somewhere Only We Know’, ‘Everybody’s Changing’ and ‘Silenced By The Night’ at their headline Big Top set.
BRITs winner Tom Walker smashed an afternoon Main Stage slot with hits including ‘Leave A Light On’ and ‘Walk Alone’. Over at the Big Top Dermot Kennedy delighted fans with renditions of ‘Moments Passed’, ‘Glory’ and new track ‘Outnumbered’.
Richard Ashcroft began his Main Stage set stripped back and acoustic, building up to a mass sing-along with ‘Bittersweet Symphony’.
IDLES gave the Big Top an injection of punk rock energy, inviting audience members on stage to trade riffs during set including 6 Music favourite ‘Danny Nedelko’ and ‘Mother’.
Madness, after 40 years at the coal face of modern popular culture, sang, danced and made merry through a main stage set including hits, ‘Baggy Trousers’, ‘House of Fun’ and ‘Our House’. Suggs even took the time to give a young teen in the crowd a pep talk on the importance of staying in education…
Bringing the party early in the afternoon, satirical ABBA spoof Björn Again were a hit on the Main Stage. ‘Waterloo’, ‘Gimmie! Gimmie! Gimmie! (A Man After Midnight)’ and ‘Super Trouper’ were just some of the famous tracks on offer.
Overall it was a fantastic year and fans are clearly looking forward to what 2020 has in store for them.