IOW Festival preview: Paint It Wight

United Kingdom | by Daniel Fahey | 04 June 2007

here’s what will be heading for the festival's rich history books this year…

From its humble hippy beginnings in 1968, with two trailers as a stage, to nearly a million riotous revellers destroying the festival’s fence just two years later, the Isle Of Wight Festival is doused in festival folklore.  The 1970 festival was to be the stage for Jimi Hendrix’s last ever performance and the final event of its kind on the Isle Of Wight for some 32 years, thanks to the draconian ‘Isle of Wight Act’.

The act banned any future festivals from ever taking place on the island again, but a surge in musical interest, filled by the hunger for a new festival, saw organisers resurect the event in 2002 and it has been growing in stature ever since.  2002's Rock Island started as a one day event before, much like its predecessor, it quickly evolved into a mammoth musical ocassion. 2003 saw the festival turn into a two day affair before it settled on its current three day status.

The festival's 32-year hiatus seems to have done it more good then harm with acts like Bowie and Dylan to the Foo Fighters and The Who all performing at the event in recent years. In its heyday, organisers managed to draw the biggest names in rock and roll to the island and this year is no different.  Muse, the contemporary champions of their genre, tread the boards the night before the greatest granddads of rock, The Rolling Stones make their first UK festival appearance in over 30 years.

Ten things you must see at this year’s festival:

Carbon/Silicon  Main Stage - Saturday. 
Your chance to see two punk pioneers almost exactly 30 years since the scene exploded with The Sex Pistols’ single ‘God Save The Queen’. Punk veterans Mick Jones and Tony James, members of The Clash and Generation X respectively, are back to ignite the anniversary of anarchy.

Bastila  Platform One Bandstand – Sunday 6PM.  
Bastila are as pleasing as finding a tenner in an old pair of jeans. The local band confidently combine ska and reggae to produce some top 2-Tone tunes. They have a certain likening to The Specials, but hold a darker edge. Mix that with their enigmatic and energetic front man and top it off with a brass section bolder than Braveheart and the festival is left with a gem of an act. 

Keane  Main Stage - Sunday
Somewhere only they know, Keane perch between piano pop and infectious anthems, and have gained an exciting rock n' roll dark side recently. This is your chance to see how the loveable band from Battle perform, with lead singer Tom Chaplin playing his first UK festival since leaving The Priory. It may also yield an opportunity for him to put his money where his mouth is, since he claimed he could drink Kasabian under the table, although that wouldn't really be very sensible all things considered...

Amy Winehouse  Main Stage - Saturday
To be 'Frank', the reckless 'Rehab' star is a must see. Her killer voice coupled with a collection of catchy, well written soul, jazz and RnB songs is enough to pop an ear in, but her unpredictable behaviour and dress sense will make sure your eyes join the party too.  Amy Winehouse is the opposite of Tom Chaplin, declining to put herself into rehab. Furthermore she decided, this week, to devote the rest of her life to motherhood over and above singing. So this could be one of the last chances to see her performing for a while!

Groove Armada  Main Stage – Friday
One of the monsters of dance music bring their unique sound to the Island for their second appearance at the festival. With a back catalogue full of hits and one of the most recognisable dance sounds around, the Armada is ready to set sail with funk, big beat and electronic grooves heading straight for the main stage on the Friday night.  Look out for ‘At the River’ - it’s almost written for the Isle of Wight.

Norman Jay  Bacardi B-Live - Saturday 3PM
An absolute DJ legend, Norm started out with his infamous warehouse parties in the 80s, before establishing himself through Kiss 100, while it was still a pirate radio station, and then making his mark on the Notting Hills Arts festival. Amazing eclectic sets with an inate ability to read the crowd has led to a huge following for the funk and soul pioneer. Likely to play the best DJ set you will see all weekend - in front of the best crowds.

The Bees  Hipshaker Lounge – Saturday 8PM
Playing on home turf, the eclectic and unique sounds of The Bees echo the great island festivals of the past. With sounds ranging from funk to folk to psychedelia, the band seem to wrap up the history of the festival with their own diverse selection of tracks. So tie up those dancing shoes and get your hip replacement tightened to join the boys in the Hipshaker Lounge Saturday evening.

Annie Mac  Strongbow Cider House – Saturday 11PM
The Radio 1 DJ will be taking the Saturday night off to travel down to the Isle of Wight for a bit of after hours mayhem. The Irish queen of electronic music will brings her beeps, beats and basslines to the

Muse  Main Stage – Saturday
Voted Best Headiners and Best Rock Act in last year's UK Festival Awards, Muse look set to blow the stars out of the festival sky just as they have done in recent years at Glastonbury and the Carling Weekend. Inhuman guitar work, supernatural energy, even a Nina Simone cover, the trio are consistently special and simply made for the outdoor stage. With a repetoire of ground-shaking anthems, Muse are an act you cannot miss - the perfect headliner.

The Rolling Stones  Main Stage - Sunday
And then you have this lot.  Everything about The Rolling Stones is impressive. They contain Keith Richards - who remains the coolest rock star on the planet, at 183 years old; they have hundreds of classic songs and albums; they designed the template for rock as we know it; Mick Jagger has somehow maintained legendary frontman status despite possibly being as embarassing as Bono (how does that work?); there's not a band on this line-up that won't claim them as an influence - and this is their first traditional UK festival appearance EVER! (Ok, they did an outdoor gig at Knebworth in 1876 but there was no camping and it was their own gig).

The Isle Of Wight Festival takes place this weekend at Seaclose Park, Isle Of Wight, this weekend (8-10 June)