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THURSDAY GALLERY: Sophie Ellis Bextor, FooR And Scouting For Girls Rock The Isle Of Wight Festival Big Top

Seaclose Park welcomed the first Isle of Wight Festival goers yesterday (Thursday), with Are You Experienced?, Sophie Ellis Bextor, FooR, and Scouting For Girls all taking to the Big Top stage.

This Feeling, Electro Love, Hipshaker Lounge and Kashmir Cafe all helped kick off the weekend celebrations with an array of music and entertainment in the sunshine: from fresh emerging bands, to 80s and 90s DJs, as well as 60s and 70s funk, soul and disco - alongside site regulars and vibe creators Cirque De La Quirk, and Electric Ladyland’s Hunky Dory with live music, quizzes and cabaret.

Channeling the harmonious vibes of the 1970 festival, this year’s theme is “Peace, Love and Understanding”, with music lovers dressing in their colourful rainbow best to commemorate coming together on the island for the historic music Festival and two years away from live music.

Are You Experienced? launched the music for the weekend at the Big Top, now in their 24th year together, bringing the music of Jimi Hendrix to a new and eager audience alongside as those that remember him the first time around.

Sophie Ellis Bextor was next on, taking her acclaimed Kitchen Disco to the stage with sparkle, playing her chart hits ‘Groovejet’ and ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’ in addition to surprise covers of Hot Chip’s ‘Over and Over’ and Madonna’s ‘Like A Prayer’.

Switching things up with style, Southampton crew FOOR wowed the crowd with their infectious UK Bass, before indie pop pioneers Scouting For Girls closed the night with a career spanning set.

Confirmed to headline the festival is a quartet of iconic names gracing the Main Stage over the festival weekend, with Liam Gallagher as Friday’s headliner; Saturday headliners Snow Patrol and David Guetta; and Sunday’s headliner Duran Duran, who will close the festival.

Performing across the festival weekend will also be Tom Jones, The Script, All Saints, Ella Henderson, Example, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Imelda May, James, James Arthur, Kaiser Chiefs, Lawson, Lightning Seeds, Lucy Blue, Lyra, Maisie Peters, Maxïmo Park, Megan McKenna, New Rules, Primal Scream, Razorlight, Roachford, Sam Feldt (live), Sam Fender, Seasick Steve, Shed Seven, Sigma (DJ set), Supergrass, The K’s, The Snuts, Wet Leg and You Me At Six.

 

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