This weekend is set to be a busy one down on the Isle of Wight, as the island’s legendary festival returns from Thursday June 8 until Sunday June 11, with three nights of music kicking off on Friday.
They start at £80 for a day ticket and £195 for a weekend and camping pass. Doors open for campers on Thursday at noon and close on Monday at 2pm.
The festival largely pays homage to its rock history – famously documented on The Who’s 1970 live album – with a line up including The Pretenders, Arcade Fire, Bastille and rock icon Rod Stewart. That said, the Friday night has David Guetta headlining alongside rap legends Run DMC.
Headliners include:
Friday June 9: Run DMC, David Guetta, Kaiser Chiefs, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, The Pretenders
Saturday June 10: Arcade Fire, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Example + DJ Wire, The Kooks
Sunday June 11: Rod Stewart, Bastille, George Ezra, Clean Bandit, Imelda May
Besides the main stage, there are eight other smaller stages and 10 bars, cafes and gardens. Don’t miss Cirque de la Quirk.
General Information
You can bring any food or drink you like into the festival, including booze, but beware you won’t be able to take anything but a sealed 500ml water bottle into the arena itself.
Though there isn’t a set size for tents, be considerate of space: the campsites always fill up quickly. Don't be greedy.
Travel
Let’s just say you don’t want to walk it. To get to the Isle itself, pick up a ferry from Southampton, Portsmouth, Lymington or Southsea. It’s best in most cases to pre-book.
From there, you’ll need to pick up either a bus (more info here) or take a taxi. Take advantage of the locals who run water taxis on their fishing boats: though there will be a little walk from the drop-off to the site itself, they tend to be significantly cheaper than taking a regular cab.
For more information on any of the above, visit isleofwightfestival.com
