Isle Of Wight Festival 2007: Friday Blog

United Kingdom | 07 June 2007

Friday

11.32pm
Snow Patrol thank the crowd for a third time.  Three is the magic number for the majority and many sneak off like a one night stand before the band return to add an encore their already very long set.  Some how everything seems so 2004. Again!

11.00pm
Back at the main stage Snow Patrol still wallow on as the lighters sway to the sounds of 'Chasing Cars', which is dedicated to an injured girl in the front row - bless.  They gather a huge cheer for 'Set Fire to the Third Bar' before Gary Lightbody's thanks are crushed by a few boos as the five-piece stroll into 'Run', which is dedicated to the daddies of rock - The Rolling Stones. 

10.36pm
The Strongbow Cider House is pulling the house party to end all others on the island.  Dub Pistols' member Barry Ashworth is spinning the tunes to get us moving again, plus there's no need for beer tokens in here - what a relief!

10.28pm
Gary Lightbody and the Snow Patrol boys step onto the Main Stage at Seaclose. "Have you had a good night Isle of Wight?" Lightbody quizzes as the band roll into a mundane version of the omnipresent festival tune 'Final Straw'.  And for us it was just that -the final straw, so we leave the main arena in search of the party Groove Armada started an hour ago, I'm sure we've still got our invitations. 

9.38pm
Groove Armada cannon out another of their classics with 'I See You Baby'.  It hypnotises the crowd into a mass of swaying and shaking derrieres.  Like a mule's kick Groove Armada sail into the festival and leave a trail of party destruction, drunks and all...  

9.30pm
The shindig swings into full gear as the crowd are surged forward by their uncontrollable dancing feet which excitedly bop and hop to the Groove Armada anthem 'Superstylin''.

9.20pm
As darkness settles Groove Armada take to the stage to an almighty chorus of cheers.  The electronic big beat specialists start the evening's penultimate set with strong vocals, throbbing baselines and an exuberantly colourful visual display.

7.56pm
The queue stretches for miles to get back in from the campsite as thousands head to the main arena.  The Feeling are in full swing executing their summer classic 'Torn' to a mass sing-a-long as well as an excellent cover of The Buggles' 'Video Killed The radio Star'.  The festival is warming up as the summer begins to settle down.

5.49pm
My ears start to tingle as Koopa seem to be suspiciously playing a cover of The Proclaimers '500 Miles', though it's a little rockier then the original.  If it is a cover it's certainly woken the crickets which seem to be holding a festival of their own across the Seaclose site.

5.41pm
Koopa get the festival kick started just as the sun decides to get back out of bed and join the revellers who are swelling the site.

5.35pm
The gates have just opened and although its still fairly empty inside, its filling up fast.  It's just a shame the sun had decided to go in...
 

3.32pm
We're picked up by the most miserable taxi driver on the Isle of Wight.  But if he gets us to the site we don't really care...

2.23pm
The Solent looks calm, which is a relief for those who've had a few cans on the way down.  Dan, Stu and Dan from Portsmouth reveal their plans: "can't wait for Kasabian and Muse.  Saturday is going to be amazing, not too bothered about James Morrison though," or their diets either by the looks of it.  They pull out their rations for the weekend - malt loaf and beer.

12.53pm
The train from Waterloo is packed with festival-goers.  With back packs and smiles we head South towards the blue skies and this year's Isle of Wight festival.

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