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Rock Of Ages The Ray-Ban Story The History of Isle of Wight Festival Live From the Festival

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Often ranked with Woodstock in 1969, and boasting legendary performances from musical giants like Bob Dylan, The Doors and T-Rex, the original incarnation of the Isle of Wight Festival is a landmark in rock history. You may already know that Jimi Hendrix played his last ever gig there to over half a million people who had descended on the island in a radical celebration of the hippie spirit.

Promoter John Giddings is the man who revived the event in 2002 and helms the festival today, overseeing every detail and choosing the bands. Why did it take nearly thirty years for Isle of Wight to be revived? "I think a lot of promoters discounted the idea of re-establishing it because it's held on an island that can only be reached by boat,"explains Giddings. "I decided to head over for a day trip, and as soon as I stepped off the ferry I got these flashbacks to Hendrix playing in 1970. I decided there and then that it wouldn't be a bad idea to start up the festival again." The 1970 event was by far the largest and most famous in the festival's history.

"It was like a pilgrimage, we'd all come to witness the same thing. It was phenomenal."

At the festival that year, improvised communities were set up by the thousands of hippies who descended on the island. There was even a hippie wedding conducted at the local church by the vicar Robert Bowyer. But, mindful of the 600,000 people who lived permanently on the island, in 1971 the government passed the Isle of Wight Act, forbidding any festivals on the island for the next 30 years.

The event was finally revived in 2002 at Seaclose Park, a recreation ground on the outskirts of Newport, holding close to the original spirit. "When we started up again we decided to stick with the original name because it was so iconic. I mean, back in the day it really was the Woodstock of Europe."

The festival also now hosts many island-based acts, and Giddings puts the success of Isle of Wight down to the eclectic mix of artists who grace its stages.

This year's Isle of Wight sees the likes of The Cribs, Kate Nash, and The Duke Spirit sharing a stage with more established heavy-hitters, including a reformed Sex Pistols, which Giddings is particularly excited about. "I think the level of energy they'll bring to the festival stage will be phenomenal.

"We could put Procol Harum on the same stage as N.E.R.D; the only criteria is booking bands that people love."

So what's the secret of Isle of Wight's success? "It's a totally different experience to any other festival because you have to get on the ferry to go there," he says. "And of course it's got this amazing, unrivalled musical heritage."