SHOCK! Faithless rock.

Isle Of Wight Festival 2005



Unbelievably, the Isle of Wight Festival 2005 has been and gone already. After months of build up and anticipation, it speedily passed in a haze of Carling, Sun Tan Lotion, and notably, Hayfever tablets. But hey, its only 49 weeks till Isle of Wight 2006, so I should really get my arse in gear and write a piece about this years festival. So carrying on where Simon left off, here are my IOW 2005 memoirs…

The organisation was a million miles better than last years festival. Linking the campsite to the main arena, and including other activities made IOW feel less like a big concert, and more like a festival. Security was still a bit iffy, and there was some confusion over cooking utilities (although I think there’s more chance of a fire being caused by a cigarette than a gas stove,) but compared to last years scally scouse security, this year appeared professional at least.

MESSAGE TO CAMPSITE STEWARDS – you can try and make us camp where you’d like, but lets face it, that big giant empty field is gonna need filling at some point. So let us camp there. We will continue to defy you!

Getting there early on Thursday allowed us to watch the campsite take shape around us, rather than us squeezing in where we can. It also meant we could chill out most of the day with semi warm cokes and Carlsberg.

Anyway, music-wise there were plenty of good bands to see. It all kicked off on Friday afternoon with Idlewild, and finished on Sunday with some American Idlewild wannabes called ERM, or something like that.
Here are some classic festival music moments...

1) Idlewild walking onstage, cool as ever, picking up their instruments, but being forced to wait until some dozy person turned down the music from the PA. But it wasn’t a matter of seconds. It was a full cringe worthy minute until they could start. Doh!

2) Ok ok ok I’ll admit I was angry when Faithless were booked to headline the Friday night. And I was still angry when they came on. I quote myself “I only wanna see two of their songs.” But without doubt, Faithless were excellent. In the live arena, Faithless make sense to me. Christ, I think I even danced.

3) Sunday was the best day for music, although I found Starsailor hard to swallow (along with my Carling Extra Cold down my stoopidly sore throat.) The Magic Numbers were unfortunate not to have glorious sunshine during their set. The clouds rolled in, causing the sun to disappear altogether until...


4) ...right on cue it reappeared during Snow Patrol’s ‘Run.’ For me, that was the perfect moment of the festival.

5) But the performance of the weekend for me was by REM. A friend of mine claimed that during REM’s set, people near her were walking away due to them playing too many mediocre album tracks that no-one knows. Well maybe she was stood next to the bar or something because from where I was stood REM had the audience in the palms of their hand. The best way to end a festival is to put the legendary band on last. They did it last year with Bowie, and again this year. Next year I’m praying for the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney or U2.

So theres some of my memories of this years festival. Roll on next year. Lets hope they don’t try and re book Morrissey! I’m off now to continue sulking about not getting Live 8 tickets, and to carry on shaking the sand from my shoes!

If there’s one song you listen to today…

make it 'This Is the Dream of Win and Regime', by Final Fantasy.

Final Fantasy being a solo project by Arcade Fire collaborator and violinist Owen Pallett.
The track originates from his first solo album 'Has A Good Home'...(shown below)


This particular track is just something different and to me was instantly endearing, think one man, his violin and a sampler - sounds wierd? if you can find it give it a listen and try not to smile.

Sounds like?: if you've heard of him Andrew Bird; http://www.andrewbird.net/)

In anticipation of next weeks Isle Of Wight festival…

The one song you should hunt down and listen to today is Snow Patrol ‘An Olive Grove Facing The Sea.’ A beautiful little song, that thankfully remains untouched by continuous Radio airplay, ‘An Olive Grove…’ is taken from the bands second album ‘When Its All Over We Still Have To Clear Up.’ Hopefully with Snow Patrol taking to the Isle of Wight stage just before REM, they will time this song perfectly with the setting sun. That is, of course, if it isn’t p*ssing down with rain. Anyway, have a listen to the rather rubbish 30 second clip at this link, and let it take you there http://www2.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1&sku=10486 .