The Isle of Wight Festival has hosted some of the most legendary performances of all time. 2016 will mark the 14th anniversary of its 2002 revival and will take place in the usual spot of Seaclose Park in the town of Newport from 9th to 12th June.
The Colourful History
The 1970 Isle of Wight Festival was estimated at the time to be the largest human gathering in the world, with more than 600,000 people swarming to the island. With Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Who and Joni Mitchell sharing the stage, this monumental event was held at the peak of the hippy era. One year later Parliament were forced to pass the “Isle of Wight Act”, which prevented gatherings of more than 5,000 people without a license, and forced the event into a hiatus for more than 30 years.
This year, the Isle of Wight Festival will be returning to its roots by hosting a group who performed at that legendary 1970’s event: The Who. The bill will also feature Queen (with Adam Lambert), Stereophonics and Faithless.
The Bands and Vibe
With a diverse lineup of international superstars and new up-and-comers, covering the wide array of genres – from classically trained hip hop violinists (Black Violin) to old school punk rock (The Buzzcocks, The Damned) – expect a whimsical mix of festival goers. Other acts on the bill include The Corrs, Reef, Richard Ashcroft, Feeder, The Cribs, Ocean Colour Scene and… the much anticipated return of British pop-punk trio, Busted!
The Isle of Wight Festival features three stages: the main stage, the Big Top stage and the Garden stage. Since its re-launch in 2002, the festival has been on a mission to find the next big thing. Each year a selection of local bands are chosen to play, along with six national unsigned acts from the UK and Ireland – one of them even gets to appear on the main stage. Previous breakout acts include The View, Suzanne Vega and Nick Heyward. If you want to sign up your band for a shot at a slot, along with a recording session at Skinny Mammoth Studios, visit the Live and Unsigned page of the official website.
Special Features
The festival site contains 12 venues, all of which feature live music. Countless food stalls, bars and cafes are scattered throughout the grounds, ensuring you’ll never have to leave. If you’ve got family in tow, there is also a Kid Zone for when you need to let your hair down without worrying about the little ones.
Returning in 2016 for the 4th year running will be the Tim Peaks Diner (located in the Hey Joe tent). Here you will find a selection of scrumptious cakes, artisan coffees, a record shop, a juice bar and, of course, a lineup of world class bands and DJs.
Make a holiday out of your trip to the Isle of Wight Festival this year with our Whitecliff Bay holiday park. Explore our Isle of Wight accommodation deals and book with us today. We look forward to seeing you!