Sunday overview

Sunday morning is cooler, and we're slow to get packed up and into the festival site, by the time we do arrive the place is the busiest I've ever seen it this early in the day. The Delays are playing on the main stage and the music perfectly suits the festival, they're well received, the crowd are cheerful and the sun breaks out, lovely.



Newton Faulkner is a rapidly rising star, his songs are well received and there are a few songalong numbers, 'I Need Something' and 'Dream Catch Me' are the two stand out tracks, along with closer 'Bohemian Rhapsody' which receives a huge ovation. Faulkner's just played the biggest gig of his life and as he looks out over a sea of applauding arms, you can tell he's going to remember that moment forever.

Scouting For Girls have their own handmade back drop, this is their first festival of the summer, and with near enough a whole album to play, they have the crowd singing along to songs like 'She's so Lovely', and 'Elvis Ain't Dead'. Lead singer Roy Stride leaps and slides on his knees, they're likeable enough pop, and the crowd lap it up. I'm beginning to think everyone is going to enjoy this last day no matter what.

There seems to be more security and police about than ever before this year, but it seems to be working as I've still heard of no trouble over the weekend. after days drinking lager and cider, I really wish the festival catered for us beer drinkers, this fizzy stuff just doesn't do it for me, and I decide to pay cash at the smaller bars and not buy beer tokens today. There's plenty of opportunities to not use the beer tokens, thus making the whole system a bit pointless.



I head for Florence K, making her first UK festival appearance, the Canadian trio play laid back blues, and salsa infused songs. Florence plays keyboards or stands singing in French, Spanish, and English with acoustic guitar and bass flourishes burbling through her music. The music and the shade is soothing, there's benches in the tent and 'Lady sings The Blues' is emotionally charged.

Up at the bandstand Hugo Fruslinky are playing groovy dirty rock n roll. The five piece are headed up by a female lead in pink and blue and they have a good sized crowd watching them in the sunshine. They won the Bestival band competition and have the look of a future festival favourite.

Back in the main arena Starsailor are doing their best to make it rain, playing the occasional cover to relieve my boredom, the rest of the crowd are lovin' it. A sprinkling of U2's 'Where The Streets Have No Name' makes me consider liking them for a minute, but it soon passes. In case you hadn't noticed I don't care for the band who seem to play every year, and yet I'm in the minority, the audience are really enjoying it.



Sure enough the clouds have gathered, the food and drink is still flowing and the site is still remarkably clean. Some poor bloke bums out on Guitar Hero and there's an embarrassed silence as the crowd are unsure what to do. Fortunately there's a girl up next who rips through her song, and gets well applauded for her efforts.

The facilities are still holding up well, there's a bit of a pungent smell coming from the toilet areas, and some soggy mud appearing downhill of the loos. There's enough of them around the site, and they're all in good working order.

James are one of those festival bands that you know are going to deliver. They don't disappoint, with a trumpeter in a dress and Tim Booth doing some crazy dancing, the flages are out in the crowd, new songs sit well with old ones, but there's no 'Sit Down' or 'Cheapseats' and I'm amazed when as they leave the crowd around start to boo their dissapointment. 'Waterfall' and 'She's a Star' are two festival gems and the crowd are in high spirits for The Kooks.

With a fantastic sunset behind them The Kooks launch into a set of crowd pleasers with 'See the Sun' coinciding with the sun drenching a happy crowd. One of those magic moments.



Talking of magic, over at the second stage, The Music, sporting short cropped haircuts, are the band of the weekend. A monumentally powerful set, with glo sticks and plastic dinos being thrown at the stage, the lightshow perfectly enhances and absolute belter of a set. 'Get Through It, 'The People', and 'Strength in Numbers' have the crowd at the front deliriously happy. With Leeroy Thornhill blasting out The Prodigy from the Bowtime Bar it's one of those classic moments, where to be caught able to hear both beside an inflatable bus and some multi coloured telephone boxes, was the moment of the festival for me.

Back at the main stage, The Kooks are just finishing, and the atmosphere builds with anticipation for The Police, playing their penultiamte reunion UK gig, Stewart Copeland opens proceedings striking a large 'Rank' gong. Just two songs in 'Message In A Bottle' and 'Walking On The Moon' and already it's a classic festival set. They continue to play all the hits, their mastery of their instruments, and the crystal clear delivery, makes this a night to remember.



As we head for the ferry, it's clear that Isle Of Wight has become a proper festival now, it really has been the best one yet for having a festival vibe, and strides away from the gig in a field feel of a few year's ago, line-up wise I feel it's been a bit less diverse, although the headliners have been as good as ever, and all the old veterans were the big attractions of the weekend. I suspect next year to be an even faster sell out... and nobody appeared to miss Lily Allen.

A great weekend, the extra stage works although it does mean not everybody gets the same experience, contrary to the big screen commentary between acts, the advertising seemed less in our faces this year, and it appeared a little more organised. 50,000 people had a party, and didn't even leave that much of a mess.

Latest Updates