As Sigrid finished her set on the main stage at 5:55 eyes turned to the skies in anticipation of the arrival of the Red Arrows. Bang on 6pm seven gleaming Hawks entered from the West. Their display proved to be a somewhat disappointing limited 15 minute show with two less aircraft this season
Later on, festival veterans Madness gave their usual assured performance with frontman Suggs linking the songs with banter and witticisms. All through the set the hits kept coming including their only number one single’ House of Fun’ now 40 years old.
Saturday afternoon saw The Proclaimers return to Seaclose Park. They had the large crowd singing along with them. Following the heatwave of Friday the heavy rain showers of Saturday did not dampen the spirits of the crowd.
Headliners Kasabian made a triumphant return to the Isle of Wight with Serge comfortable in his new role as the lead singer and with the crowd cheering him on.
An on- site viewing tower near the main stage, provided by presenting sponsor Cinch, proved popular and provided birdseye views over, not only the festival site but Newport and beyond. Rumour has it that their sponsorship will continue for two more years.
Local charities had stands in Strawberry Fields. Amongst these was the ever-popular Mountbatten with their sunflowers and, this year for the first time, knitted ponchos made by the knit and natter group that regularly meet at Mountbatten Hospice. The Mountbatten volunteers also traversed the whole site selling hundreds of their colourful sunflowers for the charity. Another local charity in this area was Dimbola, with visitors to the stand viewing the photos of the 1970 IW Festival held at Freshwater and showing much interest in the work of Julia Margaret Cameron.
As ever the rides and other attractions proved popular and it was stated that across the site there were 15 stages to cover all tastes. These included a ‘Platform One’ stage and the stage and garden area provided by Quay Arts.
Muse closed this year’s festival with their energetic set. A long runway out into the audience had been provided for Matt Bellamy. Of course, they had to end the set with their tour-de-force opus ‘Knights of Cydonia’. All three members then marched along the runway to watch, the now traditional, fireworks.
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