We returned to the Isle of Wight Festival this year as a
treat for our eldest godson Tom. Sue’s sister Deb also joined us and we stayed
at the Silver Glades Caravan Park in the same van we had a few years previously
with my mum. We travelled after work on Friday (after Tom’s final exam) and
took the ferry from Southampton to East Cowes, then across the floating bridge
to West Cowes and on to the caravan park. We went into Yarmouth for dinner at
the Blue Crab before having an evening stroll along the pier. While there we
saw several black RIBs powering up the Solent without any lights on, they
turned towards the harbour and switch on the lights as they cruised in – not sure
who they were (we speculated that they might be military, Deb thought they
might be delivering her some Milk Tray chocolates).
After breakfast, we drove to a parking spot near the
festival site (I volunteered to drive as getting a taxi could have been a bit
of an issue later). We were at the gates when they opened at 11am and exploring
the site not long after.
It was clear that the weather was not going to be great
(some reports of previous days told of a tornado and torrential rain), so we
came prepared. As it was the rain was light and patchy and eventually cleared
up completely at sunset.
I was wearing my festival top hat (complete with goggles)
and my oilskin duster coat, looking a bit like a steampunk cowboy, which got a
few comments – positive ones too – from strangers, even an invitation to join a
Steampunk Festival the following weekend.
We started at one of the smaller tents and watched a couple
of lesser known bands: Floodhounds and The Dead Freights.
At the Big Top we saw Stitch, who impressed us all very much.
After that we moved to set up a place in front of the main
stage and as we arrived Andrew Roachford was just finishing. Here we watched KT Tunstall sing her hits, Anne-Marie played up to her pop princess image, Sundara Karma were unknowns who surprised us (the lead
singer had a David Bowie’esque sound on some songs), Rick Astley was enthusiastic and fun (he also played the
drums on an AC/DC cover), Bastille were just fantastic (they also had a cameo from
Rick Astley on the drums for one song), George Ezra had damaged his foot and sat down through his
performance which was very polished (he did talk a lot, explaining each song)
that culminated in fireworks, and finally, the headliner for Saturday, Fatboy Slim, who
put on a particularly impressive show with exciting video images, smoke
cannons, laser displays and a thumping sound.
It all finished at about midnight.
The next day we headed off to catch the return ferry at
12:30 and drove back to the Whittenburry’s for a Father’s Day meal as we joined
their family.
Sue and I were back home in bed early, still tired from the
night before, thankful we only went for the one day.
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