Fleetwood Mac And Blur Sing-A-Longs Are Expected For Isle Of Wight Festival 2015
Summer festival season kicks into high gear this weekend with the first big event of the calendar taking place on the south coast. Tens of thousands of people will be heading to Seaclose Park on the Isle of Wight for a bill, which is top heavy on heritage acts that bring with them a sense of nostalgia. While recent years have welcomed the likes of Jay-Z, Calvin Harris and Kings Of Leon to headline, this time round it seems big names with an even bigger back catalogue are being used as the main attraction.
There are obviously many more things to see at Seaclose Park than just the tentpole names over the weekend. The festival site tends to include things like a manmade beach and family areas that are always popular. In honesty though, it's some of the names lower down the bill that could provide the best moments of the festival. While they've always struggled to attract the attention they deserve in the UK, Counting Crows' mid-afternoon slot on Friday has the potential to be a real treat. Recent album 'Somewhere Under Wonderland' boasts material that will work well on the Main Stage and with anthems like 'Round Here' in their back pocket they're likely to draw a sizable crowd. Equally, Pharrell's anthem 'Happy' is sure to get the party started on Saturday evening during his support slot. First Aid Kit are also well worth checking out, and although their brand of Alt-Country and Folk may seem more suited to the Big Top than the Main Stage, they're sure to provide an excellent soundtrack for a summer afternoon. 24 year-old James Bay's rapid rise to stardom is also likely to be cemented this summer and his slot will no doubt be the first of many festival performances to win over new fans. There's also a surprise Sunday lunchtime slot for Suzanne Vega, who's certainly no stranger to these kinds of festivals, although it's rare to see her perform a show like this in Europe.
More: Read our interview with Counting Crows
If those names don't tick the box for you, there's certainly more choice in the Big Top this year. Louisa Allen, better known to the world as Foxes, could almost count the festival as a hometown gig. The 26-year-old from Southampton may only have one album under her belt, 2014's 'Glorious', however her brand of Dance infused Pop may prove to be a highlight of the weekend. The gloriously noisy Chicks On Speed are also likely to blow the top off the Big Top on Saturday afternoon. Other names of note include a solo Sharon Corr and Geno Washington who may well put in impressive performances for those looking to pursue the nostalgic tone set by the festival headliners. There's also a great 1-2 punch of Ash and then The Charlatans on the Sunday night in the Big Top, but my money's still on Fleetwood Mac to draw the crowds. It's also worth remembering there are other stages dotted around the site. The Garden Stage for example includes names such as Ben Montague, James Walsh and London trio Honey Ryder, all of whom could provide the perfect antidote to and respite from the crowds in the main arena. If you're headed to the Island this weekend, I only have one cast-iron guarantee for you. When you get the ferry home there will be an impromptu outburst of singing from festival-goers, it tends to happen most years. This time around I'm pretty sure it'll be a selection of Fleetwood Mac and Blur's greatest hits, so you'll want to get practising.
More: Fleetwood Mac cancel Nebraska show mid-way over illness
Jim Pusey