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Preview: Isle of Wight Festival 2017

With less than two weeks to go until the much-anticipated Isle of Wight festival kicks-off, now is the time to start preparing our Spotify playlists and adding our festival essentials to our shopping lists ready for the big event. For those of us who have already  bagged our tickets then here are a few of my recommendations of what we can expect to find over the weekend. To those who have not bought tickets yet, here are a few reasons why you should!

Headlining the festival this year will be international dance juggernaut David Guetta, seminal hip-hop trio Run DMC, British rock icon Rod Stewart and indie giants Arcade Fireplaying their only UK festival performance of the summer.

As always at the Isle of Wight Festival, it’s not just the headliners causing excitement. The inclusion of everyone from legendary throwback acts like The Pretenders and Alison Moyet to hotly-tipped up-and-comers such as Zara Larssonand Rag ‘N’ Bone Man means that there is truly something for everyone on the bill.

My music recommendations

The Main Stage features some of my favourite current indie bands, as well as a couple of blasts from the past of my teenage youth. Of course I’ll be spending my weekend listening to as much music as possible across all the stages, but there are a few handpicked acts that I’m especially hoping to catch.

If there’s one band I will be fighting my way to the front to watch this year it has to be the most exciting new guitar band to break through in the UK this decade, Catfish and The Bottlemen. Having seen them in Bournemouth during their sell-out tour last year, I can confirm they are an absolutely brilliant band to see live and I can’t wait to see them again but in a festival environment.

Other Main Stage acts I’m looking forward to are old favourites of mine from the mid-2000s, The Kooks and The Kaiser Chiefs. Both playing shortly before headline acts, they’re great choices to get the crowd up on their feet, singing and dancing in preparation for the main acts.

Of course the Main Stage isn’t the be-all and end-all of the weekend, I’m also planning on catching The Amazons and Razorlight at the Big Top Stage, as well as Manchester female-quartet Pins and Southampton indie-rockers The Novatones at the Hard Rock Stage. I’m sure I’ll be spending a good amount of time hanging out at the Jack Daniel’s Jack Rocks Stage as well.

Everything else…

Whilst you might think the Isle of Wight Festival is all about watching some great live music, it’s also a fantastic opportunity to experience some tasty food, and get involved in everything else going on. This year the extra areas will include old favourites returning as well as some new and exciting places to swing by. Here’s some of my top picks:

Bathing Under the Sky

Returning for another amazing year on the island, this is your chance to relax and re-energise in luxury. The best way to cure a hangover from the night before is by sitting in a wood-fired hot tub with a glass of bubbly, right?

Electro Love 80s

In case we hadn’t done enough dancing yet, Team Electro Love will be delivering the art of partying to the Isle Of Wight Festival. Taking us on a trip down memory lane with a full mix of 80’s music to dance to, as well as DJ battles, power ballads, and rock and pop Tribute Acts.

Old Mout Cider Kiwi Camp

This Tent of Little Adventures will be hosting Disco Yoga, Gospeloke, Rockaoke and more, and one of their famed fruity ciders will never be far away. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even skip the queue to the bar by taking a ride on the slide. (I might have to have a couple of ciders first before trying that one…)


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