Musicians and fans flocked to the Isle of Wight on Saturday as Million Dollar Bash celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1969 IW Festival of Music – and the day was a resounding success.
All Wight Now organisers have immediately confirmed plans are in place to honour the legendary 1970 festival when guitar great Jimi Hendrix and a stellar bill attracted crowds of up to 600,000. The 2020 anniversary event will take place over the weekend of 5th/6th September.
Jonathan Bacon, All Wight Now chairman, said:
“We are delighted and want to thank all the music fans who turned out and all the great musicians who made the day so memorable. Now the work begins on celebrating the 1970 IW Festival in 2020…watch out for more details.
“We are also proud to have made the Million Dollar Bash the world’s first Dementia Friendly rock festival. Thanks to all who made that possible.”
One of the highlights of Saturday’s Bash at the County Showground, Northwood came towards the end of the evening when the man everyone came to honour – Bob Dylan, the iconic 1969 Island headliner – gifted a previously unreleased and unpublished poem for event director Ashley Hutchings to recite when his specially-assembled Dylancentric band closed out the festival.
They had been preceded with folk-rock royalty in the guise of Richard Thompson and there were fine early sets from folk-rockers The Ale Marys and Banter before Edward 2, a fusion of traditional English music, reggae and Celtic influences raised both the decibels and the atmosphere.
ITV’s The Voice 2019 star Deana Walmsley demonstrated the talents that saw her blossom throughout the show’s 8-week run while the Blair Dunlop Trio showcased a number of tracks from his recent – and appropriately titled – Notes From an Island album.
Jacqui McShee’s Pentangle brought a direct link to 1969 as her band had played that festival just a few hours before Dylan’s famous headlining set.
An interlude full of wit, wisdom and humour was provided by Liverpool poets Roger McGough, Brian Patten and Andy Roberts before the evening ramped up both in mood and expectation. Performances followed from the likes of Kosoff: The Band Plays on, Robyn Hitchcock, KTBPO and Wishbone Ash, amongst others.
I am amazed that in the entire article there is no mention of Julie Felix who played an amazing set in the Acoustic tent. At 81 her voice was strong.her witty anecdotes and rapport with the audience was absolutely brilliant.Younger artists could learn a lot from watching this incredible folk legend.