Ferry to the Isle of Wight

Posted by Hugo Rodallega on Sep 2nd, 2010 | no comments home title

As far as I know there hasn’t been a song written about a ferry crossing the Solent, as perhaps it doesn’t have the same ring about it as ‘the Mersey’. It is however closely linked to popular musical culture, and is not far across the water to the wealth of musical entertainment on offer.

I am, of course, referring to the festivals that are hosted on the Isle of Wight, notably Bestival and the official Isle of Wight festival. The festival on the Isle of Wight is the ‘big daddy’ of the pair, as it has been going for much longer since the days of the late sixties and ‘flower power’. Previous performers to the festival are legendary, and include some of the most famous names ever to have graced the pop music scene. Nowadays the festival is a good starting point for up-and-coming bands, which are able to taste the atmosphere of playing in front of a crowd that regularly exceeds 50,000 people.

The newest of the festivals is Bestival, which has only had a regular spot for less than ten years. Possibly its reputation is more concerned with the carnival atmosphere that is generated, with its importance attached to the sounds of the radio djs. Bestival organisers dream up a new theme each year for the fancy dress, allowing revellers to dream up there own inspiration. If you are the lucky winner of the fancy dress costume, you could win a life-time free access to Bestival. It’s a pretty good outcome for a little time spent making a costume from sticky back plastic and some old glue!

If you are intending travelling to one of the festivals next year, then you will have to make the trip via one of the available Isle of Wight ferries in operation. Portsmouth has two ferry terminals, one for foot passengers, and the other to transport cars to and from the island.

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Ferry to the Isle of Wight

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