The Isle of Wight Festival hits 50, in 2018

Depeche Mode, The Killers, Kasabian and Liam Gallagher have all been named as the headliners for this year’s Isle of Wight Festival. The Script, Van Morrison, Blossoms and James Bay will also perform at what will be the 50th anniversary of the first event taking place on the Island in 1968.

The Great South Coast Bankholiday Pop Festivity took place on August 31 and September 1 at Hell Field, Ford Farm, near Godshill in 1968; and was followed in 1969 by the Wootton Festival with Bob Dylan, and in 1970 at the Afton Festival (site of Dimbola Museum & Galleries) with Jimi Hendrix. http://isleofwightfestival.com.

John Giddings of Isle of Wight Festival, says: “This year’s line-up brings together the best bands of the moment. This is a special year as it celebrates 50 years since the festival’s first incarnation so it’s fantastic to celebrate with returning artists and those appearing for the first time.”

Full details of ticket prices – starting from £65 per person for Friday, and £75 for Saturday and Sunday – can be found at http://isleofwightfestival.com/info/tickets.aspx.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary, Isle of Wight Festival organisers are asking anyone who attended the iconic 1968 event to come forward and share their experiences.  Whether pulling pints for T-Rex, or meeting the love of their life whilst watching Jefferson Airplane, all stories can be submitted via iowfestival@dawbell.com. Any festival goers whose stories are used as part of the celebrations will receive rewards relating to this year’s festival.

Fifty years of the Isle of Wight Festival is being linked to Visit Isle of Wight’s wider “Festival Island” campaign for 2018.

In addition to the Isle of Wight Festival, the Island will also be the venue in 2018 for the Isle of Wight Walking Festival in May, UK Pride in July, Lendy Cowes Week and Ventnor Fringe in August and the Isle of Wight Literary Festival in October.     For all the latest updates from the Isle of Wight, visit https://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk.

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact:

Sue Emmerson, Press Officer, Visit Isle of Wight, tel. 01983 521555, ext. 29/07766 705672, sue@visitwight.co.uk

 

Notes to Editors

Visit Isle of Wight:

Working in partnership with Visit England, Visit Isle of Wight Ltd (VIOW) is responsible for developing tourism and attracting more visitors to the Isle of Wight. As well as the consumer website www.visitisleofwight.co.uk the DMO also operates a small industry website containing recent research and tourism news along with links to Visit England reports and opportunities www.visitwight.org