Legendary music agent and promoter, John Giddings has spoke to Absolute Radio’s Pete Donaldson ahead of the station’s exclusive coverage of this year’s Isle of Wight Festival.
Absolute Radio returns once again to the Isle of Wight festival as the official radio partner, broadcasting live all weekend with exclusive artist interviews and uninterrupted stage sets from the star studded line-up.
Pete Donaldson and Sarah Champion will bring all of the latest backstage gossip every day, taking to the airwaves on the Friday night and all day Saturday and Sunday with special inserts from presenters Danielle Perry and Andy Bush. Artist interviews will also be published right here on Island Echo.
Ahead of Rag N Bone Man’s appearance on the Main Stage tomorrow (Friday), John Giddings has revealed he did everything he could to secure the rising performer for the Festival, but that he’s only ever seen him perform on Youtube.
John said:
“You book them a long time in advance; I booked Rag’n’Bone man in November. And I was quoted a fee, and I offered them twice as much as they asked for because I took the gamble that it was going to happen. And now he’s getting three times what I’m paying him, so it’s a good gamble but it can go either way.
“I’ve only watched him on Youtube. I’ve never seen him live, but what an incredible voice. But it’s funny, he started off as a rapper and his dad said, “Why don’t you sing?” Quite a good tip, that. I’m looking forward to meeting him”.
It’s also been revealed that the late David Bowie tipped off John about Saturday night headliners, Arcade Fire.
“It took a bit of persuading really because they wanted to know what the festival was like, what the audience was like, what time they’d been playing, what time it got dark… They seem like really nice people but to namedrop, the first person that told me about Arcade Fire was David Bowie. Years and years and years ago. He said, “John, you should check out this band.” And, I mean, they’ve gone from strength to strength haven’t they? And they’ve just dropped a new single”.
Speaking about this year’s Festival offering, John said:
“This is our sixteenth year. But it’s always different every year because of the artists, there is always different demands and different things that go on and different vibes. This year is really entertaining because there is a real mix between young and old, and bands of past, present, and future.
“I’m really looking forward to Sunday afternoon in the big top with the Amazons and the Sherlocks”.
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