While the Isle of Wight festival holds its own against the festival giant (by this I'm always going to mean Glastonbury!) you can't help but come away with the feeling that the experience is not about the music, it's about the money. With festival goers being searched before being allowed into the main arena you can't help but feel tainted with the brush of commercialism, with only beverages purchased on site being allowed into the arena (I'm mostly talking about beer here!). As for the sniffer dogs, slightly over the top I believe! I mean, I feel edgy even passing a policeman due to my in built ultra sensitive guilt chip, imagine the overload of guilt I got from those puppies thinking that I was going to be hauled off and strip searched at any moment.

That aside, the Isle of Wight provides brilliant music by the bucketload with a mix of old and new creating an electric atmosphere.


With acts such as the Ting Tings, Pendulum and Basement Jaxx kicking the evening entertainment off on the friday night leading to a riotous and thoroughly enjoyable performance from the Prodigy, I got the feeling that the festival had peaked too soon and that possibly they got the headline acts a bit wrong.


The headliners on the saturday night, the Sterophonics, while musically brilliant band and not bad to look at, were no match for the chavvie charisma of Goldie Looking Chain who had the crowd eating out their bling covered hands as far as the eye could see.


A surprise to this rock chick was how much I enjoyed Will Young's performance. I know, I know, traitor to my people but the guy is an excellent performer, engaging with the crowd and fully deserving a whole lot of credit.


Sundays main stage line up started well enough with a lovely chilled set from Arno Carstons, a duo from sunny South Africa and Judy Collins who was radient as ever. Newbies The Script put on a wonderful performance made even better by the fact that they couldn't seem to believe that they were playing to such a massive crowd; the looks on their faces was so cute! Then Goldie looking Chain got the crowd jumping with classic aplomb.


Unfortunately it dive bombed after Simple Minds with The Pixies giving a lacklustre performance which was followed by an embarrassing headline act; Neil Young failed to draw a decent crowd and his closing the main stage felt like an anti climax.


Luckily, there is more to do than watch the main stage, many food stalls (with the Australian steak bar being my personal favourite), Guitar Hero tent,  not to mention the Strongbow Dance Bar and the Hipshaker Bar both churning out music and party atmosphere until the wee hours of the morning.


Although a good time was had, I can't help feeling that this had more to do with the weather and the people I went with rather than the music.


Perfect first time festival as you're being looked after by big brother and his friends everywhere you go but for the seasoned pro, slightly annoying commercialism interspersed with a few good bands. Must try harder!!

Posted In Festivals, Jun 24 2009. Words - ally