FEATURE
- life
The
Andrew Turner column
A dictionary definition of
‘festival’ is a “day or time
of celebration; a series of
musical performances held
regularly”. I looked it up
after chatting with some
friends from the mainland.
The conversation, naturally
enough, came round to the
Island.
“What is it like living on an island,”
asked one, who has lived in London
all his life.
Instinctively, I replied: “There
is real feeling of belonging, of
community spirit and looking out
for each other. You have to live
here to appreciate the very special
atmosphere.”
“But what do people do for
entertainment?” he asked.
“Well, festivals are incredibly
popular,” I said. He looked puzzled.
So I told my friends about the
three-day Isle of Wight Music
Festival in Newport, this year
with the Rolling Stones. Then,
in September, the unique childfriendly Bestival, complete with
fancy dress and boutique campsite.
To be honest, I am not an avid
festival goer – I don’t need to; I can
enjoy the music from the Festival
whilst sitting in my garden - but I
am assured by people more familiar
with the contemporary music
scene that both festivals attract
performers right out of
the top drawer.
This year’s Isle of
Wight Festival is set to
be the biggest and best
yet with 50,000 tickets
being snapped up in
record time. Now in
its sixth year, it is the
biggest Island event
of the summer having
been
successfully
revived
after
the
legendary festival in
1970. Full credit to
John Giddings for the
vision and commitment
to revive it and to get it
to where it is today.
Then in early September another
entrepreneur, Radio 1’s Rob da Bank
brings Bestival to Robin Hill, he is
delighted this year by how many
Islanders bought tickets, many more
than in previous years and it is now
sold out. The opportunity to sit in
the WI tent with a cup of tea and a
slice of Battenberg whilst listening
to the The Chemical Brothers or
Billy Bragg is clearly popular. I
am not so sure about the Cuban
Brothers, who, I am told, sometimes
indulge in naked breakdancing, but
I suppose it takes all sorts. I visited
Bestival one afternoon last year
and I must say that the atmosphere
there is fantastic.
How many people would have
believed a few years ago that such
world-class events would be held
here?
Then I told my friends about
some of the more home-grown
festivals, Jazz at Ventnor, Garlic at
Newchurch, Islandwide cycling
and walking events and of course
the new Folk and Blues Festival in
September. They couldn’t wait to
come and experience a little of the
‘Festival Island’ themselves.
The arts have always flourished on
the Island and artists enjoy a special
welcome. I wonder how long it will
be before the dictionary definition
for festivals will say: “See Isle of
Wight”.
Island Life - www.isleofwight.net
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