THE ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL 2012 ~ FRIDAY 22nd - SUNDAY 24th JUN.
After celebrating a spectacular SOLD OUT 10th anniversary this year, the Isle of Wight Festival is back with a bang!
The Isle of Wight Festival today completes a trio of legendary American headliners, with one of the world's most influential bands Pearl Jam, who will take to the main stage in a UK Festival exclusive on Saturday 23rd June. The legendary singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band will take the top slot on Sunday June 24th & taking the top slot on the Festival main stage on Friday 22nd June is American rock and roll icon Tom Petty with The Heartbreakers at his side. This will be an extra special performance, as it marks the band's FIRST ever UK festival appearance and their FIRST major UK show in 20 years.
Also added to the bill are The Darkness headlining the Big Top on Sunday, Feeder opening the Main Stage on Friday while Professor Green, Wretch 32, Loick Essien and Clement Marfo & The Frontline all play the Big Top on Saturday.
Pearl Jam sold more than 15 million copies of their first two albums, leaping from obscurity to superstardom and will now take the headline slot on Saturday 23rd June at the Isle of Wight Festival 2012. Responsible for popularising the Seattle grunge sound and style, Pearl Jam continue to combine guitar-heavy Led Zeppelin-influenced songs with Eddie Vedder's charismatic impassioned vocals. This will be a UK Festival exclusive and so make sure you’re there to witness what will be an unbelievable performance!
The truly eclectic line up will see British glam rock band The Darkness take the headline slot in the Big Top on Sunday 24th June closing the Festival weekend. The band, who reformed this year are renowned for their elaborate stage performances, so expect a show you won’t forget in a hurry.
Since they started releasing records fifteen years ago, Feeder have never been far from the charts or strangers to the stage. After a crowd pleasing performance in 2008 the band will open the Festival’s main stage on Friday 22nd June.
On Saturday 23rd June, Hackney boy Professor Green will bring his slick rap lyrics to the atmospheric Big Top. After recently celebrating success with the number one single 'Read All About It’, Professor Green comes to the island for a not to be missed performance! Joining the Big Top bill is one of the biggest music success stories of 2011; Wretch 32. Sure to wow the crowd with tunes such as the chart topping, 'Don’t Go’, Wretch 32 is the perfect addition to the Isle of Wight Festival line up.
Loick Essien came to music almost by accident and now brings his sophisticated, smooth, accessible British urban soul style to the Big Top on Saturday 23rd June. Next up is Clement Marfo & The Frontline, whose inimitable sound comes from their deft ability to fuse hip-hop, grime and rock and pop in a brilliantly idiosyncratic fashion.
John Giddings, the Festival’s promoter, says, 'Pearl Jam completes our American trilogy for this year. They have been on our wish list for a long time and we are proud for them to come to the island for the first time. Meanwhile we intend to provide plenty of other entertainment in the Big Top and Garden Stage starting with contemporary urban entertainment of Professor Green and Wretch 32.’
Other exciting acts confirmed are Tinie Tempah, Elbow, Biffy Clyro, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Example, Noah & The Whale, The Vaccines and Madness all playing the Main Stage with The Christians starting the weekend for campers in the Big Top.
For one year only the Festival is moving from its usual weekend to Friday 22nd - Sunday 24th June, to make way for the Diamond Jubilee and half term celebrations.
John Giddings, Festival Promoter, says 'We have been advised by the ferry companies that to run the same week as half term and the Jubilee would be problematic for our audience and production infrastructure. We have therefore taken the executive decision to move, for one year only, to 22/23/24th June 2012 to ensure a smooth journey for everyone and to get the entire infrastructure on and off the island'.
