Living up to its famously eclectic reputation, this year’s Isle of Wight Festival line-up mixes legendary artists with the hottest new acts. Headliners include Queen & Adam Lambert, The Who, Richard Ashcroft, Faithless, The Stereophonics, Sigma and Pendulum, but it’s not just about the Main Stage and Big Top.
Other areas and stages for you to consider this weekend:
STAND UP TO CANCER BEACH: Kick off your shoes and head over to the Stand Up To Cancer Beach, premiering this year at the Isle of Wight Festival. Stand Up To Cancer, in collaboration with Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK, is the Festival’s official charity partner for 2016.
Escape to the nostalgia of a traditional British seaside scene, filled with brightly coloured buckets and spades, beach huts, parasols and Aunt Sally boards for the all-important photo opportunities. Throughout the weekend, get ready to get sandy in one of the beach Zumba and Yoga classes, Bear Grylls Survival Training sessions, or if you’d rather chill out – relax in a deck chair to the summer sounds of our DJ, and wind down at the evening Glow Show.
BARGAIN BOOZE – CLICK AND COLLECT: Tired of lugging heavy crates of booze to the campsite for the festival? Why put up with warm beer when you can have it cold! Problem Solved! Bargain Booze in conjunction with the Isle of Wight Festival are pleased to offer this unique click & collect service to make your time at the Isle of Wight Festival even better. Pre-Order your chilled booze via Bargain Booze and collect it at the Festival campsite! They’ll even keep the rest of your order chilled to collect another day!
BA ACCESS ALL AREAS: Head to the BA check-in desk on Friday or Saturday and take a trip behind the scenes to discover the world of BA Access All Areas! Resident DJs including the Dixon Brothers will be playing until the early hours and flights from Gatwick to to New York, Peru, Cape Town and Costa Rica up for grabs!
BT SPORT FIELD OF DREAMS: If the unbelievable lineup of music around the Festival isn’t enough for you, there’ will also be world class football, as all the action from Euro 2016 will be screened live in the BT Sport Field of Dreams, fans can catch every kick, card and corner during the Festival on our big screens. Throughout the weekend you’ll also be given a chance to watch the now legendary 2004 Isle of Wight Festival performance from David Bowie; as well as highlights from other Festival acts who have played in previous years.
And Isle of Wight favourites returning this year are:
HARD ROCK STAGE & GARDEN – This year’s Hard Rock Stage line up of 30 awesome acts includes Starsailor’s James Walsh, singer-songwriter Ben Montague and Laurence Fox. With music at the heart of Hard Rock, it continues to support talented breakthrough artists, offering the Hard Rock Stage, curated by Hard Rock and The Isle of Wight Festival, as a platform to get the freshest new music out there. New for 2016, is Hard Rock’s Secret Garden, a unique VIP experience that see’s Hard Rock offering general festival goers opportunities to enjoy an upgraded VIP experience at various times over the weekend. Festival goers are encouraged to keep an eye on official social media channels to win their way in.
PLATFORM ONE STAGE – The Platform One Stage, is programmed and run by Platform One College of Music, the Isle of Wight’s very own independent, not for profit Music College. This unique stage highlights the wealth of talent that exists on such a small, yet musically vibrant Island. The stage will feature forty-eight acts over the duration of the Festival. With music from acoustic tunes through to full on metal bands and everything in between, there will certainly be something for everyone.
CIRQUE DE LA QUIRK – Following on from the success of last year’s Cirque de la Quirk stage takeover, it’s back – and this time for the whole weekend! From live body painting to strutting your stuff in their popular dance off, there is something for all ages, shapes and mental states at the Circus! To celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday and Queen + Adam Lambert’s headlining slot on the Sunday, Cirque de la Quirk will be hosting a special tongue-in-cheek, very English and slightly rowdy tea party!
TIM PEAKS DINER – SATURDAY & SUNDAY IN HEY JOE – The line up for the weekend has been put together by Tim Burgess and it’s as exciting as ever. This year indie legends The Nightingales are joined by Sunderland upstarts Frankie & The Heartstrings. Cabbage, one of the most talked about new bands will be putting in an appearance alongside the beautiful Welsh language post rock of Yucatan. Time Peaks Diner will be open until 2am with some of the best DJs to grace the festival.
BULMERS COLOURENA: The Bulmer’s Colourena is returning, after a fantastic year in 2015. Their compere will have you laughing and cheering on your mates in colourful challenges. Along with epic paint fights and a great line-up of DJ’s.
THE STRONGBOW TREE: After its spectacular debut at last year’s festival, the Strongbow Tree returns for 2016 bigger and very much bolder. With views over the festival it is the perfect place to meet friends in the day to enjoy exclusive DJs, live percussion and instrumental sets and stunning laser shows into the night.
JACK ROCKS WITH THIS FEELING: The specially curated Jack Rocks This Feeling stage will feature exciting breakthrough acts, headlined by Yak, a noisy post-punk London trio, Little Comets, an alternative indie rock band and the thunderous sounds of Broken Hands. There will be live music till late, then DJs will take to the decks to keep the party going until the early hours.
ELECTRO LOVE -Taking you on a trip down memory lane in the Electro Love 80’s tent, the ‘Wake Up Shake Up’ team will dust off your cobwebs and put you straight into the party mode with a full mix of 80’s music to dance to, DJ battles, power ballads, rock and pop Tribute Acts. Don’t forget to visit Electro Loves Tuck Shop to get your retro sweets, UV & neon merchandise for what is going to be the biggest UV party in the field.
HEY JOE ROCK BAR: Hey Joe is the perfect place for free-thinkers, visionaries and lovers alike to share ideas and relish in the love of rock music and everything beyond. Taking you on a Hendrix inspired musical journey that brought him to the Isle of Wight Festival over 40 years ago, savour everything from classic rock, to indie, alternative and everything in between and more in our liquor stained bar. Hey Joe has everything from the raw talent of new up-and-coming bands to Beats and Swing sessions and headline DJ sets!
KASHMIR CAFE- Now in its ninth year, Kashmir Café is a firm favourite at the Isle of Wight Festival. Kashmir Café is run by Island volunteers and all profits go to Quay Arts, the Island’s charitable Arts Centre. They pride themselves on featuring performances from the very best musicians from the island, as well as the highest quality acts from across the UK and beyond. Moon Hooch, Kashmir Cafe’s Sunday night headliners take to the stage just after Queen & Adam Lambert to conclude their show. Special Guests DODGY will also be taking to the stage.
KIDZONE – On the KidZone Stage this year is Channel 5’s hugely popular pre-school strand Milkshake! Milkshake presenters Jen and Derek, together with their friend Milkshake Monkey will perform their successful Bop in the Park show. There’s also Noisy Oyster Theatre with their spectacular show “The DaSilva Marionette Circus Troupe”, physical theatre from stunt clown and mime-artist Wolly, magician Huxley with his jam-packed Family Show, The Sparkle Fairies Hula Disco, Wonky Races with “Be a DJ” sessions and the kids themselves with our popular Kids Talent Show.
There’s also a craft Tent, face painting, a circus workshop, dressing up tent, and for little ones there’s a dedicated Toddler Tent where Creation Station will be running fabulous art and craft sessions, and Rhythm Time will be making music and singing songs.
To celebrate the Queen’s birthday and the fact that Queen are performing, the Isle of Wight Festival have launched a competition to find the best Queen lookalike. The winner will receive a royal picnic backstage and attend the Isle of Wight Festival’s own street party which will take place in the Octopus’ Garden with strawberry and cream.
