The sun is setting on Isle of Wight Festival’s unforgettable 50th anniversary and the final day of The Hard Rock Stage drew to a weekend-defining close. Over the past three days, the stage, curated by Hard Rock Cafe and The Isle of Wight Festival, delivered a stellar line-up as the sun shone brightly. Hosted by actor and presenter Andrew Hayden-Smith, from Byker Grove, Hollyoaks and UK Top 40, festivalgoers were treated to stunning performances at the legendary Seaclose Park.
Sunday saw a spectacular first set by Bad Day Blues Band leading in to Toronto-born singer songwriter Chase Cohl and platinum selling Arno Carstens. To keep the fun vibe rolling throughout the day, lucky Hard Rock stage attendees were treated to free Hard Rock T-shirts being shot out via a T-shirt cannon in between artists.
Starsailor frontman James Walsh drew festivalgoers in droves as he packed out the Hard Rock Stage with a mixture of solo material, huge Starsailor hits including ‘Silence is Easy’ and ‘Good Souls’ and his rousing rendition of Coldplay’s ‘The Scientist’.
Glasgow heavy rock band Anchor Lane kept fans entertained in the gorgeous sunshine before the legendary Suzanne Vega took to the stage in front of the largest crowd of the weekend. Heralded as one of the most brilliant songwriters of her generation, Vega delighted crowds with hit ‘Tom’s Diner’.
Scouse lad Joe Slater and Londoners Romances kept the crowd entertained before the soaring vocals and swaggering riffs of DeVience took hold and frontman Giovanni Spanno of Bat Out Of Hell the musical fame strutted his stuff.
The penultimate band, Seattle-raised Asylums, performed their explosive live show as the sun began to set on a blisteringly hot weekend. Last but by no means least, Anavae brought the Hard Rock Stage to a rip roaring close with a thrilling performance from the female fronted UK rock duo.
Music has always been at the very heart of Hard Rock as what makes it unique, an institution which continues to support breakthrough acts, providing the Hard Rock Stage at Isle of Wight Festival as the perfect platform to get new music out there to thousands of festivalgoers.
