Isle of Wight festival - the inthenews.co.uk preview
Isle of Wight festival - the inthenews.co.uk preview
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Wednesday, 10, Jun 2009 09:34
The banking system may be in pieces and the world may still be struggling to escape from the clutches of the savage beast that is the global economic turn down, but this year the Isle of Wight Festival has succesfully sold out completely.
Labelled as the first festival of the summer, the Isle of Wight Festival has got a cracking line up this year with dance rock warriors the Prodigy ready to pounce on Friday and classic rock legend Neil Young set to bring home some good old rockin' times and close the festival on Sunday.
inthenews.co.uk's Ross McTaggart is at hand to give you an in-depth look at this year's line up and will be reporting live from the festival so be sure to come back and check out what's been going on.
Friday June 12th
Aussie electro-poppers Sneaky Soundsystem start the party on Friday and will hope the island massive love it as much as they do.
If ever there was a sure sign that the 80s are the decade du jour right now, that era's must-have accessory creator Ray Ban are sponsoring a stage that will host London's own bedroom beatboy Esser, who will join Radio 1 DJ/it boy Nick Grimshaw and Newcastle's finest bookish indie outfit Maximo Park.
Back on the main stage we have the metrosexual masters of disco Iglu and Hartly who will no doubt attract the otherwise city bound festival-goer - those who'll for the most part of the festival be found either desperately searching for a place to charge their phone or talking out loud about the merits of glamping.
After a nearly a year of topping the charts and a recent Ivor Novello award for songwriting the Ting Tings will hit the main stage at the IOW to bring a dose of catchier than swine flu summery tunes that despite our best efforts to flush them out of our subconscious with warm cider will remain in our heads till at least Monday morning.
The main stage then looks set for a triple blow of some of the biggest names in live dance music with Australian drum and bass superstars Pendulum bringing their muscle-bound breakbeats followed by festival first timers Basement Jaxx and their dancefloor-filling hits.
Back across in the Ray Ban Rooms the Maccabees will be readying themselves for a headlining slot and will hope that tracks from their latest album Wall of Arms will lift them out of undeserved obscurity that little bit further.
Underneath the hem of the Big Top Tent you will find some of music's finest women with music school sensation Pixie Lott, synth-pop wonder Ladyhawke and 80s pop babes Bananarama.
Friday night is all right for fighting and with that in my mind the crowned kings of raving the Prodigy will doubtless deliver a knuckle sandwich packed with rib-shaking rhythms and back-breaking beats that will have the crowd in either raptures or pieces come the close of day one.
Anyone who hates sleeping outdoors can sneak a few more hours in at the Bowtime Bar or a the disco-tastic Hipshaker Lounge which will no doubt see only the hardest of partiers carrying on till 2am.
Saturday June 13th
Today is a day of the guitar bands and the Guitar Hero stall will no doubt be heaving but there's plenty to see so get up early to make the most of it.
Gravely throated anti-crooner Paolo Nutini will be today's special guest and Sharon Corr makes a solo appearance but being the most attractive one in the Corrs she should probably go down a storm.
The main stage is line up etched in indie excellence with rowdy rockers the View as well as the dark and mysterious White Lies.
Have your sleeveless denim jacket, pink eye shadow and shoulder pads at the ready as 80s throwbacks Golden Silvers headline the Ray Ban Rooms.
Maximo Park will make the jump to the main stage for Saturday and will be followed by indie pretty boys Razorlight but the headline slot falls to undoubtedly the best Welsh three-piece on the market, Stereophonics.
The Big Top tent is packed with radio friendly pop and rock all day long with McFly and Will Young flying the flag for the chart raiders and one man wonder Calvin Harris will hope that he's not alone when he takes to the stage.
Sunday June 14th
Faux chav prankster rappers Goldie Lookin Chain are back on the festival circuit and may be just the sort of comic relief needed to help lift the spirits of those who lifted too spirits many last night.
Good-looking bunch of Irish lads the Script and those feathered sleuths the Pigeon Detectives follow with more indie anthems on the main stage.
Psychedelic retro rockers the Black Lips can be found about now in the Ray Ban Rooms laying down some truly far, far out rock that would go nicely with a bacon roll and a proper sit down. But don't expect too much respite as the ghoulish garage rockers the Horrors will be creeping up behind you and on to the stage after Black Lips.
Scottish MOR legends Simple Minds make their first appearance at IOW and it's unlikely anyone will forget about these 80s superstars.
Making their ONLY, UK festival appearance this year and taking the stage before one of their hero's is alt-rock gods The Pixies. Black Francis and company haven't played in over a year so expect something special from one of rock's most influential bands.
A special appearance can only be bettered by an even more incredible appearance and that honour falls to Neil Young. The Americana rocker famed for his unique of brand of anti-folk rock will no doubt bring a fitting end to this historical festival.
Ross McTaggart