Isle of Wight Festival to return

The Isle of Wight Festival is to return in 2002, with 2 weeks of music in June.

Although not a attempt to re-create the legendary events of 1968-1970, it's aiming high, hoping to attract 100,000 over the two weeks that it will run.

Starting with the largests event (on 3rd June, from 2pm-10:30pm) - an outdoor concert for 25,000 with 4 or 5 major bands plus a few high-profile local bands, it's to be followed by 2 weeks of music at as many venues as possible (including the beaches), featuring genre's such as world, blues, jazz, folk, samba, opera and funk. There's also plans to re-create the 1970 line-up using tribute bands.

Negotiations are currently taking place with bands, and the headliner is hoped to be of a profile that would be suitable to headline any of the established major festivals.

As well as the live music, there's also to be lectures and workshops to encourage young people into the world of music. There is to be no central accomodation (such as a campsite), with attendees encouraged to use the local facilities.

A true attempt to recreate the festivals of the past would of course be a non-starter as entertainment and health & safety laws wouldn't allow that sort of mayhem now.

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