Visit the Isle of Wight Festival

by Mohit J. White Hat Link Building Services

If you are planning your holidays and love a good music festival how about combining your holidays in the Isle of Wight along with a visit to the Isle of Wight festival? Enjoy great music, then move on to a seaside holiday or visit some parks or enjoy the history!

The Beginnings

The first festival on the Isle of Wight was held near Godshill at Ford Farm in 1968. The next year it was at Wootton, then the year after to Afton Down close to Freshwater. The 1970 festival caused a bit of a problem though. It drew so many people, a lot of whom did not actually have tickets to the festival, that the 1971 Isle of Wight Act was passed by parliament to prevent gatherings of more than 5000 people on the island (unless they applied for and got a special license). With this act and concerns from locals about the numbers, the festival stalled and was not held again for a number of years.

The Revival

Nokia sponsored a revival of the festival in 2002 and this time organisers were better prepared for larger numbers wanting to visit the Isle of Wight. The festival in 2002 was a big hit and has become an annual event. Its place on the island has moved but attendance has been high. Between 2005 and 2008 the numbers were between 50,000 to 60,000. It was booked as the Nokia Isle of Wight Festival until 2007 when the company stopped sponsoring the event. Since 2007 it has been the Solo Music Agency that has been the organiser.

Everyone welcome

Where it is now held is one of the best maintained parks in the UK! While dates for the festival vary a little you should plan for your holidays in the Isle of Wight to happen in the first couple of weeks in June. The festival lasts for three days starting Friday and ending Sunday. The tickets can be found on the official website and children are welcome at their own special rate. Camper vans need a permit and all people in the van should have their own ticket. While a lot of people enjoy the camping aspect of the festival there are other options for a place to stay near by too.

Past highlights

A number of great acts have played at the festival over the years. The year that Chicago, the Who, the Doors and a number of other great performers plated, around 600,000 people came! Other great acts have included;

• Neil Young

• The Rolling Stones

• Robert Plant

• The Police

• Coldplay

• David Bowie

• The Foo Fighters

• REM

• Prodigy

• Counting Crows

• Bryan Adams

Summary

Visit the Isle of Wight and create some great memories. Listen to great live music at the Isle of Wight festival and join the many people who attend yearly and enjoy the island at the same time!