The Isle of Wight Festival

The Isle of Wight Festival was a series of music festivals held on the Isle of Wight, England. The festivals were held in 1968, 1969, and 1970, and featured some of the biggest names in rock and pop music.

The 1968 Festival

The first Isle of Wight Festival was held in 1968. The festival was organized by a group of young people called the “Free Festival Committee.” The festival was held at a farm called Wootton Common, and it attracted over 100,000 people.

The lineup for the 1968 festival included some of the biggest names in rock and pop music, including The Who, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. The festival was a huge success, and it helped to put the Isle of Wight on the map as a major music destination.

The 1969 Festival

The second Isle of Wight Festival was held in 1969. The festival was held at the same site as the 1968 festival, and it attracted over 150,000 people.

The lineup for the 1969 festival was even more impressive than the lineup for the 1968 festival. The festival featured performances by Bob Dylan, The Band, Joe Cocker, The Who, Santana, and The Moody Blues.

The 1969 festival was a huge success, and it cemented the Isle of Wight Festival’s reputation as one of the world’s premier music festivals.

The 1970 Festival

The third and final Isle of Wight Festival was held in 1970. The festival was held at a new site called Afton Down, and it attracted over 600,000 people.

The lineup for the 1970 festival was the most ambitious of all three festivals. The festival featured performances by The Who, The Doors, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Moody Blues, Joni Mitchell, and Miles Davis.

The 1970 festival was a huge success, but it was also the most controversial of the three festivals. The festival was marred by violence and drug use, and it led to the cancellation of the 1971 festival.

The Legacy of the Isle of Wight Festival

The Isle of Wight Festival was one of the most important music festivals of the 1960s and 1970s. The festival helped to launch the careers of some of the biggest names in rock and pop music, and it played a major role in the development of the counterculture.

The Isle of Wight Festival is still remembered today as one of the greatest music festivals of all time. The festival has been the subject of numerous books, articles, and documentaries, and it continues to inspire music fans around the world.