Isla Issue 4

Isla ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 2014

TEAM Editor-In-Chief Jacqui Swift Editors Joshua Pauley Katie Vowles Sub Editor Zoe Coxon Contributors James Barlow Niamh Moore Andrew Yates Photography Edie Lawrence The Isle of Wight Festival Art Director Adam Woodgate Designer Ronald Duke Kiwi Vincent Illustrator Rebecca Libby 2 isla magazine

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO:

04 - Festival Highlights 06 - History of the Isle of Wight Festival 08 - John Giddings Interview 10 - Thursday in Pictures 11 - Boy George 12 - Friday in Pictures 14 - Biffy Clyro 16 - Calvin Harris 17 - Rudimental 18 - Tom Odell 19 - Starsailor 20 - Lawson 21 - Katy B 22 - The Selector 23 - Chloe Howl 24 - Saturday in Pictures 26 - Red Hot Chili Peppers 28 - The Specials 29 - The 1975 30 - John Newman

Nina Nesbitt - 31 Rival Sons - 32 Clean Bandit - 33 Duke Dumont - 34 Cher Lloyd - 35 The Vamps - 36 Neon Jungle - 37 Sunday in Pictures - 38 Kings of Leon - 40 Suede - 42 Fall Out Boy - 43 Passenger - 44 Ella Eyre - 45 The Delays - 46 Travis - 47 The Horrors - 48 Peace - 49 Introducing - 50 Tweets - 54 Selfies - 56

Contents

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HIGHLIGHTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, MUSICAL TASTES AND WALKS OF LIFE TRAVEL TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL EVERY YEAR. HERE FESTIVALGOERS TELL US THEIR WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS PLUS DISH OUT ADVICE FOR THOSE READY TO ROCK NEXT YEAR.

HERBIE

JOE

From:

Fro

Londm: on High l i Rud ght: imen tal

Swindon Highlight:

The Horrors I love their new songs Advice:

Explore the whole festival

E

L TEL

N

A CH

m: Fro outh m t: rts Po ghligh e was Hi - sh g

ty B zin Ka ama

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LUCY From: Beverly Highlight: Red Hot Chili Peppers I’ve wanted to see them all year Advice: Don’t bring too much food, just alcohol!

Highlights

DAWN

ANGIE

From:

Fro

South London

Birmin m: gham

Highlight:

Highl

Biffy Clyro It was loud

Calvin ight: Harris

Advice:

The £30 toilets are an absolute must. They’re amazing

TAMMY

JOAN

Cowes

From:

From:

Isle of Man

Highlight:

Kings of Leon

E BRYC

: a From Australi n ester t: W , h t ligh Per High orge

e Boy G ce: l Advi f loo rol so load g n i Br

Highlight:

I loved seeing John Newman smile at the crowd as everyone sang along

CHRIS From:

Derby Highlight:

Red Hot Chili Peppers I want to see them again Advice:

Bring sun cream, and use it!

Highlights

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ISLE OF WIGHT

FESTIVAL HISTORY

R

ural, restful and relaxed - these are just a handful of connotations that spring to mind when imagining the Isle of Wight.

However, once a year, the tranquil island plays home to thousands of festival-goers who descend upon the island for four days. Since the sixties, this unassuming Island has seen it all, from hippies to groovers, from rockers to dancers, and has become one of the leading places to see all the hottest acts.

Held in the middle of the Summer

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of Love, the Isle of Wight Festival opened its gates for the first time in 1968 which saw an influx of 15,000 festivalgoers. Jefferson Airplane graced the headline slot with their suitably characteristic psychedelic-rock sound.

They were supported by English rocker Arthur Brown - his mix of theatrical performances and flamboyant stage presence only emphasised the hippy feel of the festival.

The success of the first Isle of Wight Festival in 1968 saw the return of

History

the event in the next year, this time bigger and better. An increase in the number of bands playing equated to an increase in the number of attendees with 150,000 festival-goers enjoying the music. Yet, 1969 remains special in the heritage of the festival for two main reasons – Bob Dylan and The Who. After a motorcycle accident three years prior, it was believed that the singer-songwriter from Minnesota, Bob Dylan, would never perform again. Yet, the festival organisers pulled it off and secured the musician to play the festival – his first live performance in three years. What is even more impressive is that Dylan was living in upstate New York at the time, in a little place known as Woodstock. Guess who wasn’t appearing at Woodstock Festival that year then?

It may have been seen as a risk at the time to place The Who on the bill. They were rockers, they were heavy, and they may have been too tough for the

festival’s ideology of flower power and peace, but they did it and returned the following year for part two.

It was this year, 1970, that may be the best-remembered of the early Isle of Wight Festivals with 600,000 festival attendees catching The Who at the peak of their career. Guitarist legend Jimi Hendrix headlined the festival, which turned out to be one of his final public appearances on stage before his death.

After a 32 year break, the festival returned in 2002 and has since been held annually, each year outdoing the previous.

Since its revival, the festival has played host to notable headline acts with The Rolling Stones and Robert Plant of the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin headlining the festival after its resurrection.

Since then, the Isle of Wight Festival has increasingly become one of the leading festivals in the UK, attracting the media, famous faces and more

History

festival-goers with every year. The atmosphere has moved on from its humble beginnings grounded in hippy culture, and now attracts major worldwide acts. From 2004’s headliner David Bowie to 2009’s headliners The Prodigy, the diverse and family-friendly atmosphere manages to attract all walks of life.

With the help of the spectacular performances from Muse and The Stone Roses, the Isle of Wight Festival won the Best Major Festival at the UK Festival Awards for its line-up 2007. While the festival’s main man, John Giddings, took home the Outstanding Contribution award for his tireless work regarding the festival, making it the success it is today.

From its debut 50 years ago to the present day, the Isle of Wight Festival remains one of the leading festivals in the UK. It may be half a century old, but it still retains its original values – peace, love and rock ‘n’ roll.  Niamh Moore

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ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?: AN INTERVIEW WITH JOHN GIDDINGS

A

ll in all the Isle of Wight Festival 2014 seemed another runaway success for its organiser and mastermind John Giddings. Since reviving the festival following its 32 year absence in 2002, Giddings has brought the renowned weekend back into contention with the UK’s heavyweight summer festivals, thanks to its consistently starstudded line-up and diverse and constantly growing list of unique attractions.

The 12 years it has now been back up and running have boasted an embarrassment of riches with a plethora of great headliners including David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, The Who, Coldplay, The Prodigy, Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen and Jay Z. This year’s festival definitely

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Headline

didn’t drop the ball either as legendary acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Specials shared the bill with Tennessee rockers Kings of Leon, Calvin Harris and Biffy Clyro.

Giddings seems the perfect candidate to have taken over the festival given that he was one of the estimated 600,000 attendees of the festival’s most celebrated edition back in 1970 and still remembers that weekend very fondly. “Incredible,” he says. “It was the Woodstock of Europe back then. Up to that moment I’d just listened to albums in my bedroom or at school. I thought this is for me, this is what I want to be part of.”

So when he himself was asked whether he wanted to bring back that beloved event it really was a no-brainer.

“I’ve been to festivals all around the world and I thought why don’t I put my own ideas into practice and it’s just taken off really,” he explains. “The Isle of Wight Festival is a name famous worldwide.

You can only get The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Foo Fighters, Coldplay or Jay

Z if you’ve got a famous name.”

But what makes Isle of Wight stand out? “I just think we have a different combination of music, we have dance, rock, hip-hop, it doesn’t appeal to just one kind of people,” said Giddings proudly. He also attributes the wide range of ages that the festival attracts to “an eclectic mix of what’s in the charts today and what’s been previously successful. The one thing combining them all is that they’re all capable of performing to big audiences.”

However it’s not just the world-class music on offer, there’s much more than that to the festival that Giddings has built. “Even if there’s an act on that you don’t want to see there’s so much else to do. There’s the Beach stage, the Strongbow Garden, the Hard Rock Rising Stage, the hot tubs (Bathing Under the Sky), there’s the Cabaret Club, which has a casino in it. All year round people tell me things that happened at my event that I don’t even know about.”

It’s not surprising that the man can’t keep up with quite everything taking

Headline

“I THOUGHT THIS IS FOR ME, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO BE PART OF.” place given the sheer amount of activities and events on offer across the island’s fields.

He adds: “We’ve even got a pulpit where you can come and give a sermon if you’re religiously inclined. We have a sculpture who teaches you how to sculpt stone and this year I booked a lady who’s looking to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the largest bubble ever blown. That really appeals to me, I find that really amusing.”

With so much going on over the course of the weekend, it’s impossible for everyone to catch it all. It appears the only downside to the job is missing out on most of it. “It’s hard to see more than two songs by an act,” he says. “I often look forward to seeing the TV afterwards.”  James Barlow

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The opening day saw thousands of happy campers basking in the glorious sunshine as they filed through the gates for what promised to be another incredible Isle of Wight Festival.

All set up and ready to rock, they weren’t disappointed with incredible sets by The Doors Alive and From The Jam in the BT Sport Big Top. They were followed by Inspiral Carpets who kept the rock coming on strong leading up to the legend himself, Boy George.

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Thursday in Pictures

BOY GEORGE

T

he first headliner of this year’s Isle of Wight Festival, Boy George, had the Big Top crammed full with festivalgoers eager to get into the mood for the weekend ahead.

The Culture Club frontman has been making a comeback of sorts after a troubled few years with weight gain and run-ins with the law in 2009. Since then George has been performing DJ sets internationally and has released an album of dance records created between 2001 and 2009.

In the midst of his This is What I Do tour, George treated the crowd to his first original material in 18 years, including his new single ‘Nice and Slow’

Boy George

which was clearly enjoyed.

Fresh from May’s announcement that Culture Club would be reforming for a UK tour this December, George delivered with Culture Club hits ‘Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?’ and ‘Karma Chameleon’, sending the entire Big Top and its surrounding area into a frenzied singalong of the eighties classic.

George’s set continued with a cover of T. Rex’s ‘Bang a Gong (Get It On)’ and ended with ‘Bow Down Mister’ from his short-lived Jesus Loves You band.

With the upcoming release of a new Culture Club album next year, Boy George has proved he is back on top form with a festival set touching all areas of his career.  Adam Woodgate

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Did somebody order a heat wave? Alongside the blazing heat came a multitude of red-hot sets across the BT Sport Big Top and Main Stage.

Lawson kicked things off on the Main Stage followed

by Starsailor, whilst Chloe Howl delivered a stunning performance in the BT Sport Big Top. The Selecter followed her and had the whole audience skanking away to their amazing tones, and Rudimental shook the Main Stage crowd to their cores.

Biffy Clyro took it from there and the first Main Stage headliners delivered one of the best performances of the weekend, before Calvin Harris hit the scene for a big old dance party.

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Friday in Pictures

Friday in Pictures

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BIFFY CLYRO

SET LIST DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT GOLDEN RULE THE CAPTAIN SOUNDS LIKE BALLOONS FOLDING STARS LIVING IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE EVERYTHING DIES JUSTBOY

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SATURDAY SUPERHOUSE BIBLICAL VICTORY OVER THE SUN GOD & SATAN (SIMON SOLO ACOUSTIC) GLITTER AND TRAUMA WHO’S GOT A MATCH? MANY OF HORROR

biffy clyro

WOO WOO BLACK CHANDELIER BUBBLES ENCORE: MACHINES (SIMON SOLO ACOUSTIC) STINGIN’ BELLE MOUNTAINS

H

“

onestly, for a while I felt like a husk - like a hollow man,” Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil admitted. “Now we’ve become a bit more three-dimensional again, I’m more excited about the band now than I have ever been. We’ve been touring for about 12 or 13 years now – and it took us 10 of those years to figure out how to do it properly. I feel now the gigs are getting better.”

With six albums already under their belts, Scottish rock trio Biffy Clyro are constantly busy with never a moment to themselves. While this work ethic is essential to their success, Neil confessed that they might have pushed it too far recently. “After Only Revolutions we toured ourselves into the ground,” he said. “I think Opposites was the best album that we’ve ever made and I don’t want to rush the next one. I would rather disappear for a while and come back with the perfect record.”

Though not a follow-up to Opposites, the three-piece are set to release a B-sides album in July of this

year. Entitled Similarities, it’s an album that Neil is already proud of. “There’s a song called ‘The Rain’, and to me that’s one of the best songs I’ve ever written,” he said. “Every song happens for a reason, I’m proud of almost every song I write, I wouldn’t want people to hear something if I thought it was s***. I’m just proud that all the black sheep of the family have been put in a pen and are ready to be shown to the public.”

For Biffy Clyro, headlining a festival is nothing new as they closed Reading and Leeds Festival last year. However, they were still worried about their headline slot at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival. “Headlining Isle of Wight’s one of our really big shows this summer – for us to join that list of headliners is what’s freaking us out a bit,” Neil explained with honesty.

Still thinking of Biffy Clyro as an upcoming band he added: “You just look through the years and see who’s headlined it, and now our little band’s going to be squeezed in there, in the annals of history. Reading Festival made us really believe that we do belong on the big stages, I still think we’re a wee band but I feel that we belong.”

While the band’s success is almost guaranteed to continue in 2014, their path hasn’t always been so secure.

Neil is very modest about the band’s triumphs as he said: “I think we all get uncomfortable whenever we think

biffy clyro

about how far this band has gone – that’s why we still live in Scotland, because I like to forget. I think it’s important for us not to dwell on any positivity or negativity.”

Though his own belief in the band is certain, there have been times when the Scotsmen have had to convince others to feel the same. “I like proving people wrong,” he said with a smile. “I feel like that’s been one of the things that our band has had to do from the very start, from even having a stupid name on an independent label. We would not be headlining festivals if we hadn’t had the kind of chart success in the last few years, that’s just a fact.”

Biffy Clyro are enjoying unprecedented fame at present, but that’s not why the band keep going.

As Neil explained: “I don’t think I could exist without this band, and I know the boys feel the same. The reason we do it is because we enjoy it, not because of the f***ing accolades, but the actual act of doing it.”

Though the band have played all over the world, they still aim for intimacy in their gigs, wanting to make every second special. “Even in a field full of 80,000 people we can still take it down to this fragile moment where it feels like it’s just me and you at the gig,” Neil said earnestly. “And that’s where the wee bit of magic comes from."  Katie Vowles

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CALVIN HARRIS

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A

fter his fellow Scots Biffy Clyro demolished Seaclose Park with a victorious headlining set, dance maestro Calvin Harris took to the Isle of Wight Festival Main Stage to bring Friday’s proceedings to an almighty close with an electronic spectacle for the ages.

Although the days of Harris strutting onstage as a charismatic live performer singing songs about eighties’ etiquette are but antiquated memories of the past, those expecting an experience devoid of the same energy were very much mistaken. His set serves as an explosive highlight reel of his role as one of the 21st Century’s most prosperous producers – a career arc that’s earned him countless accolades including the prestigious title of Forbes Highest Paid DJ award in 2013 and a

Calvin Harris

Grammy that same year.

Reeling off chartdominating collaborations with the likes of pop phenomenons Rihanna, Florence and The Machine and Ellie Goulding, Harris proves to be a demanding but enjoyable host, rarely leaving room to breathe between each of his renowned works. With a vivid stage production comprising of lasers, bursts of multicoloured pyrotechnics and a seemingly endless stream of thick white smoke to accompany his exquisite archive of hits, Harris provided an audiovisual EDM extravaganza that packed the power to electrify even the most weary of festival-goers.

Ending on the seasonencompassing thrill ride that is his latest single ‘Summer’, there’s little doubt he will rule many festival stages for years to come.  Joshua Pauley

L A T N E M I D RU

R

udimental’s bounding arrival onto the Main Stage acts as a sharp injection of energy into the sun-drenched Friday eve.

Straight out of the gate Amir Amor, Piers Agget, Kesi Dryden and DJ Locksmith flew up and down the stage stirring the vast crowd into a fizzing frenzy, covering all of the young group’s already modest collection of hits.

While there were no special appearances from the voices of John Newman, Emeli Sandé or Ella Eyre, which lifted the group’s debut record, the guest singers the band did have on call more than filled the void. Each comfortably took their turn in the spotlight and never allowed the band’s stunning momentum to waver, even throughout tempo-slowers ‘Not Giving In’ and ‘Free’.

The Hackney band simply appear to have been placed perfectly in the day’s lineup to bridge the gap between the soft-rock ballads of Starsailor and Tom Odell, and the explosive sets that headliners Biffy Clyro and Calvin Harris will surely provide later on.

Locksmith encourages crowd participation throughout and he isn’t disappointed as ‘Waiting All Night’ incites far-and-away the largest singalong of the festival so far. “I’ll tell you what, I think football’s coming home this year,” he announced, as if he needed to do anymore to win over the raucous audience before him.

However, it wasn’t merely Locksmith carrying the performance - the whole band were on top form from Amor’s

Rudimental

impressive instrument swapping between guitar, bass and keyboards, to drummer Beanie’s jaw-droppingly busy chops. Locksmith even called for a round of applause specifically for trumpet player Mark Crown who then indulged in his own instrumental solo before the rest of the band burst in for a resounding rendition of ‘Feel The Love,’ sending the audience wild.

Finally, before reluctantly exiting the stage, Rudimental wrapped things up with an airing of a brand new track, which thanks to its pulsing rhythm and anthemic chorus feels like an instant classic and promises more good things from this gang in the future.  James Barlow

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TOM ODELL

S

eldom few have reached the lofty heights that 2014’s Ivor Novello Songwriter of the Year winner Tom Odell has off the back of one album. Then again, few possess such a magnificent penchant for writing songs that express both the rawest of emotions and a commendable degree of musicianship in such a captivating way.

With famous fans in the form of Taylor Swift and David Cameron, Odell has been lauded as one of the most respectable songwriters in the UK and has garnered praise from media institutions worldwide.

Onstage at the Isle of Wight Festival, Odell was surrounded only by the things instrumental to his performance – his piano and his bandmates. There was no cheap stage thrills, as such theatrics would only detract from what constitutes as the core of his appeal: the melodic delivery of his tales of relationships turned stale and love gone awry.

Between songs he was relatively shy and sheltered, offering little in the terms of small talk, but as he plunged into his top-tier balladry with the likes of the painstakingly honest ‘Can’t Pretend’ and the endearing ‘Grow Old With Me’, his voice became riddled with a searing sense of conviction that moved and touched all who cared to listen.

With the iconic opening piano notes of the crowning glory of his discography, ‘Another Love’ gave way to one last round of tremendous crowd uproar. The denizens of Seaclose Park were truly charmed by Odell and his prowess as a daringly honest and illustrious wordsmith.  Joshua Pauley

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tom odell

STARSAILOR A

fter mass success during the noughties, Starsailor are back. With a slot on the Isle of Wight Festivals’ Main Stage and a support slot touring the UK with James in November, the band have most certainly been given a second chance.

On the band’s earlier success, singer James Walsh said: “It was such a whirlwind. We were really young and we probably didn’t really appreciate how lucky we were to be in that position. When you’re young you think it’s cool, but when you’re older you appreciate that it’s not the norm.”

Starsailor have been given another go to relive the glory days and it seems they are definitely making the most of it. “I think one of the good things about festivals is you can attract a new audience. Obviously there are people there to see all kinds of different music and in that respect you have to kind of get them on side. I think that drives you on to do a really great performance,” Walsh says – and a great performance it was. Armed with a set list composed of some of the band’s greatest hits, Starsailor took to the stage with a matured grace.

Opening with ‘Poor Misguided Fool’, a track with dramatic piano flair and driving guitars, you can see just why this band was successful. Staple song ‘Four To The Floor’ made an early appearance, lifting spirits with a punchy piano and upbeat drums. ‘Good Souls’ sounded epic with Walsh’s emotive vocals, paired with reverb-drenched and acoustic guitars.

Walsh stated that the worst thing about festivals is that “they’re so weather dependent,” but luckily the boiling hot sun provided the perfect atmosphere for an afternoon of good music and Starsailor are certainly supplying it.  Zoe Coxon

Starsailor

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P

op rockers Lawson are no strangers to the Isle of Wight Festival, having performed in 2013. Fast forward to this year and the band opened the Main Stage on the Friday of the festival, something that drummer Adam Pitts was particularly excited about, he said: “Opening the main stage for the whole festival is a bit of an honour. We are the first band on that stage and the last band on the main stage is Kings of Leon, so that’s a cool way to look at it.”

Walking onto the Main Stage during their early slot, a crowd had already formed for the four-piece. So what is

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LAWSON the last thing the boys thought before they headed on stage? “We actually get angry,” laughed singer Andy Brown.

This anger soon turned to adrenaline as the band blasted into ‘Broken Hearted’. The sound of the full band was transferred well to their live setting, all members performing their own instruments with Brown’s vocals impeccable throughout the show.

When Lawson come into a league of their own, they did it spectacularly through pitch perfect harmonies, created by guitarist Joel Peat and bassist Ryan Fletcher, adding another dimension to the croons of Brown.

lawson

Setting the tone for the remainder of the weekend, the four-piece blasted through a cover of Swedish House Mafia’s ‘Don’t You Worry Child’ and Avicii’s ‘Levels’, the full band rendition bringing a fresh sound to the dance classics and received a sing-a-long from the growing crowd.

Not only have Lawson opened the main stage at the festival after “having been a band for years and toured the pubs and clubs,” pondered Brown, but they had also set the atmosphere and tone for the rest of the weekend.  Niamh Moore

B

iffy Clyro and Calvin Harris might have done a stellar job of closing the Main Stage, but Friday’s festivities were far from over. Those who stuck it out until the early hours of the morning were lucky to witness Katy B transform the BT Sport Big Top into a late night electronic utopia.

Igniting the stage with the pulsating groove of raging opener ‘Hot Like Fire’, Britain’s premier dance vocal powerhouse appeared in a state of zen as she whipped up immense feelings of euphoria as she blasted through select cuts from her chart-topping album Little Red. ‘5 AM’ melded pop’s most saccharine attributes into an insomniac’s rave anthem that incited waves of vigorous dancing.

Although her touching, synth-infused ballad ‘Crying For No Reason’ might seem

like a momentum-breaker on paper, in reality it was an undeniable set highlight that evoked the biggest of singalongs with its gargantuan hook.

Whilst Katy B seemed truly in her element as she performed that night, it’s been revealed that she’s also currently on a mission to satisfy another musical goal that she’s harboured deep inside somewhere down the line. “I want to have my own music show and be like Jools Holland,” she told Kiss FM. “I’d love to have loads of legends on it. It’s a real ambition of mine.”

Yet as she drew to a close with a tantalising rendition of her spirited early success single ‘Lights On’, you can’t help but hope that her concentration will stay on writing and recording rather than playing host to a music show.  Joshua Pauley

KATY B

Katy B

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R THE SELECTE 22 isla magazine

T

he Selecter are vastly regarded as one of the great pioneers of the ska genre. Led by the Queen of Ska herself, Pauline Black, the band first formed back in 1979. Multiple albums later, they made their Isle of Wight Festival debut at the BT Sport Big Top. “We’re all Isle of Wight virgins,” Black laughed, looking cool and collected wearing dark shades.

“I’m just amazed to be playing here,” she continued. “My memories of the Isle of Wight Festival are when Jimi Hendrix played here so just to be at a festival where his hallowed feet have trod is pretty cool in my books.”

“Back in your school days you hear about the greats,” added co-singer Arthur ‘Gaps’ Henderson. “So it’s really an honour to be here.”

They certainly made the most of it, taking to the Big Top Stage in style and opening with ‘Danger’ to get the

The Selector

crowd skanking right off the bat with irresistible rhythms.

‘Train to Skaville’ followed just before they provided an amazing ska twist on super-spy James Bond’s iconic theme.

“There’s old, new and everything in between really”, said Black about their set list. “I mean we’ve got 35 years of tracks to choose from.”

It was no surprise then when three of their most iconic tracks, ‘Three Minute Hero’, ‘Missing Words’ and ‘On My Radio’ came one after the other.

They rounded things off with ‘Too Much Pressure,’ which used to get the fists flying back in the day. “Yeah, we used to stage a fight,” Gaps laughed.

“We wanted to demonstrate to the audience that fighting amongst each other really wasn’t a good idea,” smiled Black. “So the best way to show them it’s not a good idea was to have a good old ruck yourself.”  Andrew Yates

CHLÖE HOWL

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hen asked how she prepares for her shows, Chlöe Howl simply answered: “Oh god, I don’t prepare for anything – I just sort of turn up, eat the food and then go ‘Oh s*** I need to play a show.’”

If it’s true, it certainly doesn’t show on stage – Howl commanded the attention of the crowd as well as any seasoned performer. Her debut album is due out later this year and if it’s anything like the electro-pop perfection she’s released so far, then it’s an album to look out for.

After a crazy year that’s seen her shortlisted for BBC’s Sound of 2014 and also nominated for the BRITs Critic’s Choice award, Howl said the year hasn’t been too hectic: “It’s been really good.

It hasn’t been that whirlwind because it

Chloe Howl

happened at such a natural sort of pace, so it hasn’t felt too crazy. It’s been a nice progression - it’s been really fun.”

She also supported Ellie Goulding on her tour across Europe, ending at London’s O2 Arena.

Fun rather fittingly sums up Howl’s set. ‘No Strings’ sounded angsty yet upbeat, as Howl stomped across the stage in her Dr. Martens. Brand new single ‘Disappointment’ sat pretty among a mixture of previously released and future album tracks, including set highlight ‘Paper Heart’ - an infectious pop anthem with ethereal synths and a punchy drum track. Closing her set with her most popular track ‘Rumour’, Howl truly solidified her place in this year’s list of musical up risers.  Zoe Coxon

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With the sun still blazing down, the crowds warmed up with the dance and electronic line up in the BT Sport Big Top. Sets from Neon Jungle, Dappy, Cher Lloyd, Duke Dumont, recent number one band Clean Bandit, and Gorgon City had fans singing and dancing until the early hours of the morning.

The Main Stage saw Nina Nesbitt, The Pretty Reckless and John Newman put on special shows while The Specials brought their legendary ska sound to the isle and got the crowd warmed up for the one band everybody wanted to see - The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

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Saturday in Pictures

Saturday in Pictures

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H OT

I PE PPE RS

CHIL

RED

D

espite the England vs. Italy World Cup football match clash, legendary Californian funk rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers unsurprisingly drew perhaps the largest crowd of the weekend. The all-appealing nature of the group was showcased clearly by the wide range of ages that were seen adorning RHCP t-shirts and red chilli costumes, chanting some of the band’s most beloved choruses.

An extensive jazz saxophone solo signalled the punk funkers’ imminent arrival – when they did eventually appear, they were greeted with just the type of overwhelming reaction that you’d imagine for a band of their stature that haven’t performed at a UK festival in seven years.

Frontman Anthony Kiedis, last member to show himself, spun wildly across the stage as his bandmates jammed, displaying their renowned musicianship and telepathic chemistry. The improvisation then twisted and turned into By The Way highlight ‘Can’t Stop’ which was received with a roaring cheer as if thousands of dreams had just been realised.

“Welcome to the Isle of Wight, we’ve got Chad Smith and

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red hot chili peppers

everything’s gonna be alright!” rhymed Kiedis before long-time drummer – and well-documented Will Ferrell lookalike – Smith launched into a powerful drum solo which morphed into ‘Dani California’. Most of the crowd was then left confused when ‘Otherside’ wasn’t followed by another of the band’s classics, instead being subjected to the first in a trio of tracks from 2011’s I’m With You. While the execution of ‘Factory Of Faith’ was flawless, it unfortunately seemed like a dip in the set due to the majority of the audience’s unfamiliarity with it.

‘Snow ((Hey Oh))’ and the extended jam within ‘The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie’ quickly regained the band’s mojo before Blood Sugar Sex Magik oldie ‘I Could Have Lied’ slowed things down, showing that the band are capable of more than mere bootyshaking pop nuggets.

It was then some time until another

of the group’s hits appears but ‘I Like Dirt’ swiftly shrugged off the melancholy vibe of ‘I Could Have Lied’ and reintroduced the funk factor before their masterpiece’s title-track ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’ electrified the crowd with its seductive energy and dynamic riffery.

Flea acted as the group’s second frontman as aside from his incredible instrumental ability, he often proved the most fun ‘Chili to watch.

Occasionally he chimed in with a goofy joke such as when he confessed that “the whole time the Chili Peppers have been going, me and Chad Smith have been gay lovers” and that “every night after the show we go back to the room and cuddle naked in bed together.” The last few songs of the Chilis’ set saw the four hitting home run after home run with sure-fire crowd-pleasers ‘By The Way’ and ‘Californication’, which was preceded by a lengthy jam between

Flea and newish guitarist Josh Klinghoffer.  CAN’T STOP After the band disappeared for a  DANI CALIFORNIA couple of minutes, Flea  OTHERSIDE returned and proceeded  FACTORY OF FAITH to magnificently walk from  SNOW (HEY OH) one side of the stage to the  THE ADVENTURES OF RAIN other entirely on his hands. A DANCE MAGGIE well-deserved round of applause  I COULD HAVE LIED then turned into pure rapture once  I LIKE DIRT Smith’s iconic snare intro beckoned the  BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK freaky funk of ‘Give It Away’ and Kiedis  ETHIOPIA – clearly in his comfort zone – strutted  CALIFORNICATION around stage as he rap-sang in that oddly  BY THE WAY enjoyable way that only he can. “Isle of Wight,  ENCORE: we’d like to play for you for eleven more hours GIVE IT AWAY but unfortunately we can’t,” said Flea, seeming genuinely pained, a feeling his audience clearly shared too. One thing is certain though: neither left disappointed that night.  James Barlow

SET LIST

Red hot chili peppers

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THE SPECIALS

A

fter their long awaited return in 2009, The Specials took to the Main Stage on Saturday night ahead of Red Hot Chili Peppers to deliver an hour of toetapping, body-shaking ska.

Hailed as one of the greatest bands of the ska revival movement alongside Madness and The Selecter, The Specials first formed in 1977 in Coventry. Over the years they’ve released seven albums, had a multitude of hits, and delivered some of the most iconic ska tracks of all time.

A full line up of guitars, brass, drums and keys, joined by a small string section, kicked things off with ‘Do the Dog’. Offbeat goodness, fast paced rhythms and a funky bass line set the tone for the evening, and shortly after followed ‘(Dawning of a) New Era’.

“We’re gonna teach ya how to skank,” they cried, and launched into ‘Monkey Man’. If they weren’t already, everyone at the Main Stage was now skanking

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and singing away the cold that was creeping in.

“Can we have a massive boo for Luis Suarez please?” asked frontman Terry Hall, referencing the Liverpool/ Uruguay footballer, and was greeted by a thunderous “Boo,” from the England fans in the audience.

Half way through the set they slowed things down with a track everyone knew: ‘Ghost Town’. The spooky keys, eerie vocals and deep brass filled the air as the skies darkened and clouds rolled in, creating the perfect mood. After that they kept the pace relatively slow for a while, with tracks including ‘Man at C&A’ and ‘Do Nothing’.

Near the end the harmonica came out and everyone knew what was coming next. With its unmistakeable brass line, ‘A Message to You Rudy’ got the whole crowd singing once again before they rounded off their rollercoaster set with another fast-paced, skank-worthy great, ‘Too Much Too Young’.  Andrew Yates

The Specials

THE 1975 I

t’s difficult to pigeonhole Manchester band, The 1975 into one genre. They seamlessly manoeuvre between pop to R&B, rock to eighties melodies. Their mix of instruments and atmospheric synths has enabled them to create and mould their own sound. With such a broad sound, it is understandable why the four-piece draw in a large crowd wherever they perform.

A bottle of wine in one hand and a cigarette in the other, frontman Matt Healy embodied the frontman persona. Mysterious and intriguing, the singer took to the stage amidst a simple set design, and it is the simplicity and slickness that was reflected in their music.

Slick is the word that personified The 1975’s live experience. Opening with the brooding synths of their self-titled intro, the booming drums of ‘The City’ echoed throughout the Main Stage before being weaved

into ‘Settle Down.’ Their attention to coherency made for a polished set from introduction to conclusion.

Songs such as ‘M.O.N.E.Y’ with its plodding melodies and ‘Heart Out’ complete with a saxophone solo, provided a breather throughout the set while Healy commanded the stage, flicking his mopped mohawk back while taking a swing of wine from the bottle in his hand and tumbling across the stage.

Their latest single ‘Robbers’ provided one of the spectacles of the night, the ballad-infused track allowing Healy to show off his vocals and the vulnerable side of the band.

Climaxing with undoubtedly their two biggest hits, ‘Chocolate’ and ‘Sex’ the four-piece performed them with lifeaffirming intensity. As arms clambered in the air, hands clapped in appreciation and beer was raised skywards, it was certain these were the hits that Isle of Wight longed for.  Niamh Moore

The 1975

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JOHN NEWMAN

W

earing the biggest grin in the whole arena, John Newman stepped onstage during the thorough roll-call of influences that introduce the titletrack from his debut record ‘Tribute’.

The young London singer already covered every square inch of the stage by the conclusion of this opening song as if worried that he would lose his enthusiastic audience if he were to stop even for a second.

Newman maintained this sense of urgency throughout his early evening set, which saw him and his white-shirt, back-bottomed band charge through most of the retro soul cuts from Tribute.

While most of the crowd were clearly anxiously anticipating one particular song that they would have to wait for, they certainly were up for it, helping Newman and co. to lift ‘Losing Sleep’ to the garish heights that the song deserves.

Between songs Newman largely kept banter to a minimum, instead only addressing the crowd via comeons such as “Are you still with us Isle of Wight?” to which

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john newman

the exact desired roaring response was evoked. ‘Cheating’ again got the people moving and proved one of the set’s highlights with its wild climax of blistering guitar and vocal acrobatics from Newman and his backing singers.

Newman then took a minute aside to thank drum and bass group Rudimental for his recent skyrocket to fame and fortune. “It was two years ago that I played my first performance with Rudimental here in the Strongbow Garden,” he reminisced before launching into the band’s song ‘Not Giving In’ on which he guests. Despite only hearing the song played from the very same stage the day before, the crowd responded just as excited as ever.

Finally, the singer’s set ended the only way it could: with the inevitable mass sing-along of ‘Love Me Again’ until he was satisfied every last person was giving it as much as he was.  James Barlow

S

aturday afternoon saw exuberant singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt take to the Main Stage to dazzle festivalgoers with her potent blend of punchy pop rock and singer-songwriter stylings.

“It was a little bit scary, as it was our first festival as a band,” Nesbitt shared with ISLA. “But the crowd was really enthusiastic, so it ended up being really good.”

Nesbitt's set was full to the brim with tantalising tunes, her personal highlight having been the rambunctious 'Brit Summer', “a track about festivals in which we all jam out together at the end,” which whilst ironically bringing with it a brief spout of reliable British summer rain, was anything but a dampener for audience and artist alike.

Amongst the choice cuts Nesbitt played from her debut album Peroxide came a curveball cover in the form of a jaunty rendition of Madonna's eighties dance classic 'Into The Groove'. “I wanted to pick a song the people wouldn't expect me to pick, and I can't dance to save myself so I thought it would be quite funny,” she shared with a grin on her face. “It's my favourite Madonna song, it's a real feel good song.”

With a few months having passed since the release of Peroxide, Nesbitt's had valuable time to reflect on her first full-length offering, which narrowly missed the top 10 after facing tough competition from BRIT award winners. “It's really weird when I listen to it now, it's a chapter of my life that's finished and when you go to play it, it takes you back,” she reminisced. “It's really cool to have it all stored there in a musical diary.”

Ever the prolific musician, Nesbitt's already started work on her next project. “I'm already midway through writing the next one, creating a new sound through new inspirations,” she proclaimed.  Joshua Pauley

NINA NESBITT nina nesbitt

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RIVAL SONS A

fter releasing their fourth studio album Great Western Valkyrie this year - which entered the UK album charts at number 14 – Californian blues rockers Rival Sons have brought their often chaotic blend of rock and roll to the Isle of Wight Festival. Speaking to OC Weekly, lead singer Jay Buchanan said: “Every time we go in to make a record, it's going to determine the next year or two of our lives. How good of a record you make will determine your career.” Considering the success of the new album, it seems their career is set to be a good one.

The band’s most obvious comparison is Led Zeppelin and it’s not particularly hard to see why. Sweltering distorted guitars, twinkling drums and the unbelievably colossal vocals of Buchanan make this band an almost current day Led Zep replica, but they certainly do it with their own unique flair.

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They’ve opened for rock giants such as KISS and Aerosmith so it only seemed fitting for them to take the spotlight this time.

‘Electric Man’ opened the set in classic rock style – the track is a carefully constructed wall of distortion, that wouldn’t be complete without a climactic guitar solo. Drum rolls a-plenty kicked off ‘You Want To’ from the band’s previous album Head Down, “I’m so sorry/This time I mean it,” howled Buchanan in a chorus so explosive it might have just knocked you flat on your back.

However, ‘Wild Animal’ offered something a little more reminiscent of The Black Keys – stomping drums, laid back vocals and catchy guitar riffs. Set closer ‘Keep On Swinging’ combined the best of blues and classic rock and roll, thus making it the perfect end to a performance of truly epic proportions.  Zoe Coxon

rival sons

W

hat do you get when you take a string quartet, layer it with dance beats and throw in some synths for good measure? Have a think. That’s right: Clean Bandit.

This four-piece from Cambridge have taken the world by storm with three Top 40 singles and their debut album Clean Eyes, that came out at the start of June. Their latest two singles ‘Rather Be’ and ‘Extraordinary’ both reached the Top 5.

“It’s been completely amazing,” smiled violinist Neil AminSmith. “Six months ago a Top 5 single wasn’t even something that was on our radar, so it’s been a mad year for us.”

Making their Isle of Wight Festival debut at the BT Sport Big Top on Saturday night, they opened with ‘A+E,’ a track which is packed with electronic synths and features an incredible string breakdown.

Most crowds go nuts when the beat drops in dance tracks, but here it’s when Amin-Smith and cellist Grace Chatto show

CLEAN

their stuff. “There's something about a festival audience that can never be equalled in an ordinary gig,” Amin-Smith said.

Later on they’re joined on stage by Love Ssega for the “Couple of skip beats/A couple of movements” that is Mozart’s House – house beats blended perfectly around one of Mozart’s Quartet.

They ended big on ‘Rather Be’, which held its number one slot for four weeks running, and the already electrified air was filled with singing from the packed out tent.

After conquering the Isle of Wight Festival with an amazing performance, what’s next for Clean Bandit? “Well we are still honing our festival set for this summer so there were a few last minute tweaks,” Amin-Smith admitted. “But it feels we're nearly there.”

“Right now, the future is bright. And busy,” added Chatto.

“We are just really excited to see what people think of our debut album.”  Andrew Yates

BANDIT

clean bandit

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D

D E K U

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M U

T N O

T

he state of dance music across Britain is without question at its prime as of 2014. With the previous year having birthed a new generation of hot-shot producers that have continued to shape and reconfigure the UK’s electronic landscape. With London-based DJ Duke Dumont, you have one of the new wave of dance movement’s most influential ringleaders.

Although his early career was largely centred around the reconstruction and remixing of hits from the likes of Lily Allen and Missy Elliott, 2013 saw the producer finally achieve his breakthrough with the house juggernaut ‘Need U (100%)’, a track that

Duke Dumont

rapidly became a mainstay staple in the clubs and on the radio. The track also earned Dumont a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording at this year’s edition of the awards.

Taking to the BT Sport Big Top stage with a packed-out tent of ravers to enthusiastically greet him, the 60 minutes that ensued played out like a master class on how to deliver a phenomenal fast-paced festival set.

Dumont’s set might not have been rife with the relentless, adrenalinepumping tenacity that this weekend’s previous EDM dwellers had injected into their shows, but by creating a mix that showcased a diversity of electronic genres, he demonstrated both his flair for performance as well as his admirable ability to shape mood and atmosphere with his song choices.

With the inevitable appearance of ‘Need U (100%)’ whipping up a late set storm of energy and elation, Dumont curated a dynamic show that was both exhilarating and interesting in equal measure.  Joshua Pauley

CHER LLOYD A

fter a lengthy absence from our shores spent amassing a huge following over in the States, former X Factor contestant turned fully-fledged pop star Cher Lloyd graced the BT Sport Big Top at the Isle of Wight Festival to deliver her first UK performance in two years.

With her second album Sorry, I’m Late due out later next month, her set was rammed with renditions of fresh material, including the bombastic pop ‘I Wish’ and her newest single ‘Sirens’, a haunting yet delicate track that saw Lloyd traversing into much more sentimental territory whilst capitalising on her tremendous vocal capabilities.

“It was fun. It was good to walk out on a stage to an audience that was really nice,” Lloyd gushed following her performance. “I know that the people here haven’t heard my new album yet

and I was singing most of those tracks from the brand new album and just to get the response that I got from them was amazing because they didn’t know any of the songs, so yes, it was really great.”

With the intention of always wanting to “make sure my crowd enjoy my music and my presence as well” when on stage, Lloyd fully embodied the larger-than-life aspects that define pop superstars throughout her performance whilst appearing genuinely humble and gratuitous towards her audience between songs.

Ending on the explosive one-two punch of old favourites ‘With Ur Love’ and ‘Want U Back’, Lloyd’s set was all the assurance needed to prove that she still reigns triumphant as one of the UK’s brightest modern pop performers.  Joshua Pauley

Cher Lloyd

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THE VAMPS S

triding offstage after performing in the BT Sport Big Top, The Vamps’ guitarist, James McVey, can only describe the experience as “awesome.”

Taking on the BT Sport Big Top, pop rockers The Vamps appeared as the screams of pre-teen youths resonated through the tent.

Opening with a triple threat of their latest singles ‘Wild Heart’, ‘Last Night’ and ‘Somebody To You’ from their debut album Meet The Vamps, piercing screams mixed with a chorus

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of singing was enough to drown out vocalist Bradley Simpson’s vocals for the majority of the opening.

However, the welcoming response to the four-piece only added to their dynamic stage presence, demanding the growing crowd to jump and sing as young fans clambered onto the shoulders of their parents.

As short and sweet as their set may have seemed, surprises were sprinkled between their singles to the delight of the fans. A pop rendition of Jason Derulo’s ‘Trumpets’ resulted

The Vamps

in a mass singalong and was almost unrecognisable amidst the guitar work of Simpson and McVey. The Killers’ indie anthem ‘Mr Brightside’ was also enough to shake the foundations of the tent with the teens’ dancing.

Concluding their set with their own reggae-infused rendition of Simon & Garfunkel ‘Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart)’, hands were raised in the air one final time as the memorable chorus had the crowd echoing each word by the end.

McVey adds: “The live shows are all about fun,” and through the smiles evident on both the faces of the crowd and band, fun is what the four-piece does best.  Niamh Moore

NEON JUNGLE

N

eon Jungle have taken the music scene by storm. Ranging from ages 17 to 21, Shereen Cutkelvin, Asami Zdrenka, Jess Plummer, and Amira McCarthy pack a great vibe with kickass attitude.

They formed in 2013, and since then have had two Top 10 hits in the UK Singles Chart with ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ at number 7 and ‘Braveheart’ at number 4. Not bad for a band who only formed last year?

“We haven’t been together that long and have only had three singles out so it’s crazy,” says Asami. “I think [our new single] ‘Louder’ has the potential to go

even higher than ‘Braveheart’ – we all have good hopes for it.”

If their set at the Isle of Wight Festival’s BT Sport Big Top is anything to go by then we’ll certainly be seeing the girls topping the charts in no time. Opening with their debut single ‘Trouble’, they took the spotlight with the crowd roaring from the get go.

‘Welcome To The Jungle’ provided bass-filled synths and catchy vocal lines that pounded throughout the tent and ignited the atmosphere. The crowd were then treated to signs of great things to come - tracks from their new album Welcome To The Jungle which is

Neon Jungle

due July 28th. The tracks included ‘Fool Me’, ‘Can’t Stop The Love’, and ‘Bad Men’.

Unsurprisingly they ended on new single ‘Louder’ followed by ‘Braveheart’ which got the crowd fired up for a big finish. The stage erupted with singing in the chorus and “Ichi, ni, san, kaesu” signalled the drop that made everyone jump.

“It was such an exciting feeling,” Asami said afterwards. “We had a few rehearsals as it was a longer set. It was different because it was a proper festival, and performing in the big tent felt intimate but still energetic and very cool.”  Andrew Yates

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With the festival coming to a close, Sunday brought some killer acts for a big finish.

It was indie rock galore in the BT Sport Big Top with the likes of Swim Deep, Peace and The Horrors. Headliners Travis serenaded the crowd and even though it was cloudy skies for most the day no one was left asking “Why does it always rain on me?�

Passenger took his loveable attitude to the Main Stage and was followed up by a spectacular surprise aerial display from The Red Arrows, before Fall Out Boy did what they do best and rocked out hard.

Suede then delivered some good old rock and Britpop and paved the way for Kings of Leon. The Tennessee boys closed the festival with a rollercoaster set complete with a huge fireworks display to end another great year at the Isle of Wight Festival.

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Sunday In Pictures

Sunday In Pictures

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KINGS OF LEON H

eadlining the Main Stage on Sunday night to bring the Isle of Wight Festival to a climatic close were none other than Kings of Leon. Playing to a crowd of 50,000 people on the closing night, they returned to the Isle of Wight Festival after headlining in 2011, and it’s safe to say they rocked it like only they could.

Comprised of three Followill brothers – lead vocals and rhythm guitarist Caleb, drummer Nathan, bassist Jared – and their cousin of the same surname, lead guitarist Matthew, the rockers from Nashville, Tennessee formed in 1999.

Since then they’ve had whirlwind success with six studio albums, nine UK Top 40 singles and three number one singles

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in the US with ‘Sex on Fire,’ ‘Use Somebody’ and ‘Notion.’ Their sixth and latest album, Mechanical Bull, came out in 2013 and went straight to number 1 in the UK Album Chart.

Starting a bit later than planned, the quartet wasted no more time and started big with ‘Supersoaker’ followed by ‘Taper Jean Girl’ – there were air guitars flailing all around.

The up-tempo beats got the crowd rocking and rolling, and smooth transitions that lasted throughout the set soon took them into ‘Family Tree’. All of this was accompanied by neon Vegas-like swirling visuals on the big screens.

The pace began to slow with tracks including ‘On Call’ and ‘Closer’, which Matthew played the opening riff of with his

kings of leon

SET LIST SUPERSOAKER TAPER JEAN GIRL FANS FAMILY TREE RAZZ ON CALL CLOSER THE IMMORTALS BACK DOWN SOUTH WAIT FOR ME THE BUCKET TEMPLE PYRO

teeth in true rock star fashion. The echoing chords of ‘The Immortals’ came next followed up by ‘Back Down South’.

Frontman Caleb then wished the crowd a “Happy Father’s Day,” as the tempo began building back up mid-set with ‘The Bucket’.

Without warning, fans in the crowd began to get naked to the delight and encouragement of the band. An audience member stripped completely nude during ‘Sex on Fire’ at their show at Birmingham’s LG Arena last year, and the band were so impressed they invited him back stage for a beer.

“We are all married, all very faithful and kind of boring now, so it wouldn’t hurt to see a little nudity at a concert, but it never happens,” drummer Nathan said in an interview with Q Magazine.

“We’re up there pouring our hearts out and if someone wants to show us a little skin, then that will only add a little variety to our show,” added Caleb.

TONIGHT RADIOACTIVE DON’T MATTER MOLLY’S CHAMBERS FOUR KICKS BE SOMEBODY USE SOMEBODY ENCORE: CRAWL BLACK THUMBNAIL SEX ON FIRE

Things drove forward to the set closer ‘Use Somebody’, with the number 1 track receiving screams of delight from the crowd and uniting the entire Main Stage in song. With encouragement from the band for even more audience members to throw off their clothes, nude fans were hoisted above the crowd as the epic guitar solo belted out.

Kings of Leon didn’t finish there, returning to play a three song encore of ‘Crawl’, ‘Black Thumbnail’ and the one song everybody wanted to hear: ‘Sex on Fire’. Anticipation was in the air as the opening guitar riff played and the stage erupted with voices when the massive chorus hit home.

Followed up by a spectacular fireworks display, it was an incredible end to a fantastic set that rocked the Isle of Wight Festival to its core. What better way to end the 2014 festival than with a kickass rock band?  Andrew Yates

kings of leon

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A

ppearing between American rock giants Fall Out Boy and Kings of Leon on the Main Stage guarantees a sizable audience but could prove a hard crowd to keep happy. It’s a good thing then that Suede seem up to the task as they dived into their collection of glammy Britpop anthems to win over everyone within hearing distance.

Fittingly opening with Dog Man Star highlight ‘Introducing The Band’ vocalist Brett Anderson and co. showed no signs of rust considering they haven’t long properly reformed. However considering bassist Mat Osman’s take on playing shows again since the reunion: “We

didn’t do shows until we were certain that it was going to be something special,” this makes perfect sense.

“We’ve never acted like we deserve it. We were massive in the nineties but that doesn’t guarantee any success now,” Osman explains of the band’s approach to their second life whereas Anderson states “The one thing that Suede never ever did was take anything for granted.” That appears to extend to every one of the band’s live shows as their slot found the quintet relentlessly vying for their audience’s full attention as opposed to merely going through the motions.

Curiously however, despite Osman

believing that “Bloodsports is a really good record, up there with our best stuff,” the day’s set featured only ‘For The Strangers’ from their 2013 comeback record as they instead chose to prioritise their first three albums. ‘The Wild Ones’, ‘Trash’ and ‘Animal Nitrate’ all got early airings and sounded fantastic before a swooning acoustic version of ‘She’s In Fashion’ stole the show. However, as it has many a time before, ‘The Beautiful Ones’ concluded their set beautifully, ensuring everyone went home at the end of the weekend mimicking Anderson’s squawky “la la”s.  James Barlow

SUEDE 42 isla magazine

SUEDE

FALL OUT BOY B

efore taking to the stage, Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump describes the feeling of waiting to perform as being on a rollercoaster, “There is always that feeling at the top of a rollercoaster when you think, ‘Alright, I’m all strapped in.’ That’s really all you can do because after that you ride it wherever it takes you.”

It seems that Chicago punk rockers Fall Out Boy are on a rollercoaster that’s heading in the right direction. Their quest to save rock’n’roll after their four year hiatus has lead them to the Isle of

Wight Festival, a festival bassist Pete Wentz speaks fondly of, “It is pretty exciting that we get to play a super massive heavy festival [Download Festival] and then one that is more family orientated. It’s very exciting and cool to do both and play with those different vibes.”

As the band took to the stage with the cinematic opening of ‘The Phoenix’ resonating around the festival, it was clear the four-piece already had the crowd in the palms of their hands. A chorus of voices echoed lyrics sung by Stump, hands clapped in unison and

fall out boy

screams pierced through the arena.

Keeping their hour long set energetic, the band interweaved songs from their newest album Save Rock And Roll around the hits they’ve amounted over their decade long career including ‘Sugar We’re Going Down’, ‘Dance Dance’ and a cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It.’ After writing one of the best comeback stories of the past decade, Fall Out Boy leave the stage triumphant, thanking the crowd and leaving a trail of pop punk anthems behind them.  Niamh Moore

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PASSENGER M

ichael Rosenberg started performing at only 16, founding Passenger the band in 2003.

Their first and only album was released a few years later, before the band broke up in 2009.

Rosenberg then decided to pursue a solo career with the same name and began busking for a living and he’s just released fifth album Whispers. He said: “I had a credit card debt to pay so I thought I’d try some busking while I figured out what to do next, never realising that would be the start of things.”

Now all of that is behind him as his solo career is reaching new heights every day. His modesty, however, is still very much present. “I’m still not over the fact I’ve got to this stage,” he admitted.

“It’s more than a dream come true. ‘Let Her Go’ has blown me away, and to see this success in the UK means the world to me.”

Having opened for Ed Sheeran countless times,

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Passenger

Passenger is everywhere now, most recently on the Main Stage at the Isle of Wight Festival. The charmingly honest ‘I Hate’ was a set highlight, met with mass singalong and raucous applause as it calls out the modern world and its flaws.

His distinctive vocal and comedic delivery gave the crowd something to hold onto, creating a very intimate connection between artist and audience.

Crowd-favourite ‘Let Her Go’ was also an obvious peak in the set as everyone echoed back the chorus assuredly.

“Someone told me that it was more important to be a successful human being than to be a successful musician – I just try to remember that every day,” said Rosenberg. The singersongwriter is sure his fame will never go to his head as he guaranteed: “I try to be humble and generous and a nice guy first and foremost.

That won’t change however many records I sell.”  Katie Vowles

E

experienced performer.

Possessing a flawless, powerful vocal, Eyre toured as Rudimental’s lead vocalist in 2012, guesting on their massive track ‘Waiting All Night’ which proved to be an obvious highlight in her set on Sunday. Bouncing around the stage with as much energy as a kid on a sugar high, Eyre couldn’t be faulted for enthusiasm or technical performance.

As she belted out newest single ‘If I Go’ and well-loved track ‘Deeper’, it was clear that everyone watching was under Eyre’s spell.

Sure to be picked up for many guest features in the future, as well as the imminent release of her debut album through major label Virgin EMI, Eyre has definitely secured her space in the public eye. “I want my music to be ballsy; I want everything I do to be powerful and full of energy,” Eyre said, her determination as clear as her talent.  Katie Vowles

ELLA EYRE

lla Eyre is known nationwide, yet she’s only released a handful of her own songs. Speaking to KISS FM UK at the Isle of Wight Festival, Eyre, 20, said: “I’m like a lion, I’m quite animalistic, I wear a lot of cat suits on stage and jump around a lot. It’s just my thing.” Having already attracted the attention of the likes of Professor Green, Tinie Tempah, Bastille and Rudimental, the West London singer and songwriter was able to hold her own on stage exceptionally well.

Having come second in the BBC’s Sound of 2014, and the BRIT Critics’ Choice Award – beaten only by Sam Smith both times – Eyre’s talent was recognised early, leading to her slot on the Isle of Wight Festival’s Main Stage. Though she only has an EP to her name, her set was engaging and felt as good as that of any more

Ella Eyre

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Edie Lawr e

nce

DELA YS

S

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outhampton-based indie band Delays have played the Isle of Wight Festival numerous times before, making this performance nothing new for the band.

Consisting of brothers Greg and Aaron Gilbert, Colin Fox and Rowly, the indie fourpiece’s first three albums made the Top 30 in the UK Albums Chart, and with their fourth set to be released this year, the band are hoping for another victory.

You’re a local band from Southampton. An Isle of Wight Festival regular?

Greg Gilbert [lead singer]: “Well this is our fourth time playing here. I think today we became the band that’s played the main stage more than any other band. I’ve only been to one festival as a fan and that was Glastonbury in 1995… that was enough. [laughs] I don’t do the whole camping thing, I’m not very good with that.”

What do you think of the line-up this year?

“It’s great. The band on after called The Move… they’re one of my favourite bands for song writing.

They’re incredible. That was a real buzz for me to be on stage just before them…

We were talking about who

the delays

would be a great headliner. I’d have Prince for the Saturday, reform Abba for the Sunday and put Queens of The Stone Age on the Friday.”

How was your recent tour celebrating the ten year anniversary of your debut album Faded Seaside Glamour?

“It was one of my favourite tours, we haven’t toured for about four years… Once we were up on stage it just felt natural again.”

Do you get nerves just before you go up?

“Massive nerves. I’ve had a bit of a headache for about three days leading up to this… but generally people are friendly in the crowds but you just want to deliver what you know you’re capable of doing.”

Describe your typical fan?

“Emotional, empathetic, mostly dreamers I suppose!”

What’s been the highlight of your career so far?

“The last London gig on the last anniversary tour was amazing but Elton John invited us to his house for tea and cakes because he was a big fan of our music and we didn’t know until then. We had a lovely chat with him and he was very complimentary about us as songwriters.” 

I

between the first record and the second, when we were still finding our feet, but since then you just go where the songs take you.”

What can Travis bring to the table that you didn’t have when you first started?

“Beards and children.”

Having been together for almost 25 years, do you feel like you’ve accomplished everything you set out to achieve, or do you have more still to give?

“No, the moment I feel accomplished, I'll go and find a new challenge. That's not to say I'm not incredibly proud of our body of work up until now, but there's always room to grow.”

What’s the best thing about performing at a festival?

“Catching up with old friends, checking out new bands, getting the chance to play, what's not to like?”

What’s your favourite album of all time, and why?

“Brian Eno - Music For Airports (for mood), AC/DC - Back in Black (for energy), and Joni Mitchell - Blue (for songs).”

What are you most looking forward to right now?

“Lunch.” 

es Vowl

Travis

Katie

IS TRAV

t’s been almost 10 years since you headlined the Isle of Wight Festival in 2005, how does it feel to be back?

Andy Dunlop [lead guitar]: “It feels great, I like festivals on islands, there is something liberating about getting away from the mainland.”

What is your favourite song to play live, and why?

“It changes constantly, and at the moment it's probably the newer ones as they are still very fresh and constantly changing live. But ‘Why Does It Always Rain?’ is always great to play because it gets such a great reaction from the crowd.”

What’s been the most exciting thing to happen to you in your career so far?

“Getting to meet some of our idols, [Paul] McCartney and [David] Bowie were real highlights, and getting given a Brit award from Lou Reed was pretty amazing.”

Do you feel that you’ve adapted your sound to fit into a certain market?

“We never really give thought to how we sound, it just kind of evolved. The biggest leap I suppose was

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THE HORRORS

W

hile everyone at the Main Stage was using somebody, having sex on fire and partaking in other activities that Kings of Leon endorse, The Horrors calmly took to the stage amidst the icy atmosphere that their performances so often create.

Blinding white lights contrasted against the Essex quintet’s ever-present black aesthetic as the band blasted through the wall of sound ‘Chasing Shadows’ which kick-starts their latest album Luminous – a record that has enjoyed a “sunny” reception “with bursts of rain,” according to synthesiser player and keyboardist Tom Cowan.

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The band’s set leaned heavily on Luminous tracks as the throbbing beat of ‘In And Out Of Sight’ followed, showcasing the smooth tone that the record employs. “As William Onyeahbor says: ‘Smooth is good’,” Cowans states, explaining the inspiration behind the shift in sound.

None of the spiky cuts from Strange House were performed – and good thing too as they would have caused quite a shock amongst the group’s collection of slow-burners they paced through. The uneasy synth melodies of Primary Colour track ‘Who Can Say’ made for an early set highlight before fan-favourite ‘Sea Within A Sea’ once again stole the show, slowly

the horrors

unravelling into its cathartic ending.

“This next song is for those who don’t want to hear ‘Sex Is On Fire’ ever again in their life,” muttered vocalist Faris Badwan, with deadpan delivery in a rare instance of addressing the audience, upon which Cowan began the synth loop to Luminous standout ‘I See You’.

The set then came to a close with the breath-taking one-two punch of the band’s finest single ‘Still Life’ and ‘Moving Further Away’ which is stretched out to a captivating ten minutes of feedback-ridden guitar noodling and a powerhouse rhythm section. Few bands today can conjure up such an atmosphere.  James Barlow

B

irmingham quartet Peace took the baton from friends Swim Deep to continue Sunday evening’s binge of up and coming indie rock in the BT Sport Big Top and they certainly did not disappoint as those resisting the giants on the Main Stage were treated to a mix of material both old and new.

While they don’t seem to have disappeared at any time following the release of debut record In Love last year, the group are already in fullfledged second album cycle mode, with frontman Harrison Koisser clad in a white jacket with ‘Money’ – the title of their latest single – scrawled across its back.

Peace’s summery pop felt perfectly at

home at the festival given the weekend’s ambush of unbashful sun and early on the choruses of ‘Follow Baby’ and ‘Money’ really hit the spot. ‘Higher Than The Sun’ was delivered with the type of energy to put a smirk on everyone’s face while ‘California Daze’ – fast becoming the band’s signature anthem – drew the biggest reception and singalong from the crowd. Doug Castle’s guitar solo in the song is one so explosive that it seems it will forever remain a live favourite too.

Two more tracks expected to be on their heavily anticipated second album were aired also, with ‘Lost On Me’ proving that the band aren’t ready to completely shun their simple

guitar pop-rock sound just yet, but it is penultimate song ‘World Pleasure’ that unquestionably proved the peak of the set. Easily the most ambitious song they have written thus far, it also doubles up as a gem when played live thanks to its solid funk groove and Primal Screamlike outro that was extended for what felt like forever. It also appeared to still be an enjoyment for the band also, as they were all smiles during Koisser’s ‘rapping’ and brother bassist Samuel Koisser’s slinky solo.

The band then ended on oldie ‘Bloodshake’ from their Delicious EP but it is most likely ‘World Pleasure’ that pushed the band’s set to unforgettable status.  James Barlow

PEACE

peace

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INTRODUCING...

BIGTOPP KASHMIR CAFE

M

aking their Isle of Wight Festival debut on Saturday night was eight-piece ska band Bigtopp. Made up of horns, keys and guitars played by eight energetic guys from across the South Coast, Bigtopp took their rising success to the headline slot of the Kashmir Café.

The band’s origins head all the way back to 2006 when four mates entered and won their school’s Battle of the Bands. Since then they’ve grown and developed their skank-tastic tones supporting the likes of Zebrahead and Emeli Sandé, and received airplay from

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BBC Introducing in 2012.

Their debut album Mischief hit the scene in 2013 and was a great success, so much so that their second album is on the way for 2015.

Filling the Kashmir Café to the brim, the band brought “a plethora of old tunes and new tunes to give us the mischievous vibe from our first album and the new vibe for the untitled album,” explains front man James ‘PM’ Parsons. “I don’t think there’s a better buzz than to play a festival.”

Leading up to the festival they’ve been working around the clock to improve

introducing...

their sound: “In the build up we’ve done more collaboration with The Ohmz,” says keyboardist Martin Parsons. “We’ve sorted out a cover of a popular song, that hopefully a lot of Reggae heads will know, that will actually be released. So we’ve done a lot of things like that.”

Maybe we’ll see Bigtopp returning to the Isle of Wight in the BT Sport Big Top within the next five years? “I would love to see Bigtopp in The Big Top,” James laughs, “But I’d love to see it in the next two years. And how do we do that? A little bit of faith, a little bit of magic, and hard work. That’s how we’ll get there.” 

THE ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL ISN’T ALL ABOUT THE MAIN STAGE. HEAD OUT AND YOU MIGHT JUST SPOT THE NEXT BIG THING. HERE ARE SIX ACTS TO LOOK OUT FOR ... AND REMEMBER WHERE YOU SAW THEM FIRST.

S

outhampton-based quartet The Novatones took to the Isle of Wight Festival’s Strongbow Garden stage on Saturday, but little did they know they’d gain quite a following by the end of their set.

“We’ve had such a good response from it,” frontman Anthony Pittman said. “We had people come up to us saying they loved it – I think that’s the best feeling, when strangers come up to you, shake your hand and tell you they loved it.”

But how did the fledgling band end up playing the Isle of Wight Festival?

“I was at work on a crappy Monday morning, hating my life as you do, and

this email came through asking if we’d like to play the Isle of Wight Festival 2014,” Pittman recalled. “I obviously replied with a very buzzing ‘yes’.”

It hasn’t always been plain sailing for the unsigned four-piece as their lineup took a beating recently. “When the old line up went sour, me and Sean [Swift, drums] thought about giving up, but it was The Novatones or nothing for us,” Pittman admitted. But the re-jig of the band seems not to have fazed them as he says: “We had our eye on Toby [Horny, bass] and Mackenzie [GordonSmith, guitar] from seeing them in previous bands, and the change

couldn’t have gone any smoother.

All the new tunes still sound like The Novatones just with a bit more power.”

Not taking their opportunity lightly, Pittman said assuredly: “We’ve been lucky to do some great things in recent years with The Novatones but the buzz of being on that stage on Saturday will never leave our memories for sure. It’s not really a festival that a lot of bands can say they’ve played if they haven’t got a record deal or management in place.”

The first part of The Novatones’ EP Sunday Romance will be released at the end of August. 

THE NOVATONES STRONGBOW STAGE introducing...

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OLIVIA SEBASTIANELLI HARD ROCK RISING

A

nglo-Italian singer-songwriter Olivia Sebastianelli may be fairly new to the music scene; however her achievements are anything but little. Having toured the UK with Nina Nesbitt after releasing her debut EP Perfect Getaway, Sebastianelli has gained a following already, securing herself as more than just a fledgling act.

Talking about her songwriting, the 19-year-old singer said: “I like to give the songs a deeper meaning once you dig beneath the surface. I have a very individual lyrical

style. People say it seems older than its years - I guess that’s because I read so much, especially poetry.”

Sebastianelli’s band - Sam Rothon (bass), Sam Hopper (lead guitar) and Aaron Graham (drums) - gave a rock edge to her charismatic vocals. Her luxurious sweet singing style gave way to hugely powerful soaring melodies on her enormous choruses, with ‘Despite the Day’ showcasing this perfectly. Olivia Sebastianelli is heading for high places without a doubt, as her honest songwriting and alluring character will make sure of it. 

THE OHMZ

I

KASHMIR CAFE

sle of Wight based reggae-ska band The Ohmz hit up the Kashmir Café alongside headliners Bigtopp on Saturday night. Formed in 2010, they rely on vocals, guitar, bass, drums, saxophone and trumpet to get crowds jamming out to their covers of ‘Seven Nation Army’, ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ and a multitude of their own great tracks.

“It’s nice being able to perform at a festival because performing is why we do it,” said trumpeter Bob Harrison. “The festival vibe is what we love. Especially for ska-reggae.”

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They take influence from Bob Marley and Groundation, but what if they could collaborate with anyone? “I’d like to say Julian Marley just to say spot the difference between our bassist,” joked frontman Oly Rivers. “But our bassist recently cut off his dreads so he doesn’t look anything like him anymore.”

The Ohmz are hoping to take their amazing tones to Europe within the next five years. “The reggae scene in Europe is massive,” said Harrison. “That’s where I really see us: loads of trips into Europe. That’s where I want to be.” 

introducing...

BEASTS HARD ROCK RISING “

T

he crowd seemed to dig it,” said guitarist and vocalist Joe Mallory-Skinner modestly of his band Beasts’ performance on the Hard Rock Rising Stage on Saturday. It seemed quite the understatement, given the horde of curious passers-by that were drawn to watch the group’s succinct set of grungy alternative rock.

With a simple goal of being “able to make music full time and see the world,” the Twickenham trio can already reel off a list of impressive accomplishments and they only seem to be just getting started.

They have already worked with ex-SikTh guitarist and producer extraordinaire Dan Weller, while their 2013 selftitled EP garnered acclaim from Rocksound and Kerrang! and newer track ‘Annie’ was even selected as Zane Lowe’s Next Hype.

While the Isle of Wight Festival was the band’s first major festival appearance, this summer will also see Beasts tackle a host of others that will more than likely win them over some more devotees. After that? “A single in September and then a tour,” Mallory-Skinner said. It’s all up from here. 

JJ ROSA BRITISH RED CROSS STAGE

O

n Thursday night you may have heard an incredibly groovy sound coming from the British Red Cross Stage.

What was that sound, I hear you ask? It was none other than JJ Rosa, a fantastic singer-songwriter and guitarist specialising in soul, funk and disco. Originally from Manchester, JJ pelted out some incredible guitar solos alongside her fantastic voice with her backing band supporting her all the way.

“Any Mancs in tonight?” she asked, and was pleasantly blown away with the size of the response. The small tent had audience members pouring out the door, yet everyone still found the room to dance. One group of people even jumped on stage to join her.

Her set included some incredibly funky tracks including a mash up of two of her biggest inspirations, Prince and Michael Jackson, with Daft Punk titled ‘Kiss Billy Jean to Get Lucky.’

We’ll definitely be hearing more in years to come. 

introducing...

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TWEET ALL ABOUT IT! Cher Lloyd @CherLloyd Amazin day today!!!! Isle of Wight festival was incredible!!!! Loved it!!! #isleofwightfestival #sirens #gladtobeback

Jesse Clegg

@Jesse_Clegg Thank you @IsleOfWightFest & @JohnGiddings01, that was absolutely incredible! #MuchLove #rocking #isleofwightfestival

Chad Smith

@RHCPchad Jk serenades the Isle of Wight swans pre show.

A real honor to play here tonite.

Gorgon City @GorgonCity @isleofwightfest that was incredible thanks to everyone in the crowd amazing!

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section/story

Passenger @passengermusic @IsleOfWightFest yesterday was the biggest crowd i’ve played to & you were absolutely perfect thank you !!!! xxx The Strypes @The_Strypes Enjoying IOW festival today here we are with Danny Wallace and David James...good lads :)

thespecials

@thespecials We had an amazing time @IsleOfWightFestand want to say thanks to the incredible audience for making us so welcome!!

Nina Nesbitt @ninanesbitt Thanks Isle of Wight x

Rudimental @RudimentalUk The @IsleOfWightFest was emotional we played our first ever gig here 2 years ago today! #thankful

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#selfies Portrait of Odell

Thnks fr the slfs

Meeting The Vamps - literally

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Nothing to Howl about

selfies

Cher-ing a selfie

THE NAME OF A NINA NESBITT SONG, AN OFFICIAL WORD IN THE ENGLISH DICTIONARY AND SOMETHING WE ALL TAKE ON A DAILY BASIS. AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL, THINGS WERE NO DIFFERENT. HERE ARE ISLA’S VERY BEST STAR SPOTTED SELFIES.

Taking pictures of her self, self, self

Ohm my god – it’s The Ohmz!

Anything but horrific – quite pleasant

Topp stuff

A fleeting moment with Flea

selfies

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SAVE THE DATE 11-14 JUNE 2015

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