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Isle of Wight Festival: Reunion of Legends
23 Aug
Summary
- Brothers organized 1969/1970 Isle of Wight festivals.
- Bob Dylan headlined the 1969 festival after a hiatus.
- The 1970 festival attracted 600,000 fans but lost money.
The reunion of artists and organizers from the iconic Isle of Wight Festival, hailed as the 20th century's largest music event, is now taking place. In 1969 and 1970, three Foulk brothers transformed their island into a global counter-culture center by staging two monumental music festivals.
The 1969 festival achieved a significant feat by convincing Bob Dylan, who had been absent from performing for three years following a motorcycle accident, to headline. The following year, the brothers organized a second festival, overcoming local opposition.
This 1970 event boasted 50 acts, including legendary musicians like Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, and Jimi Hendrix. It attracted an immense crowd of 600,000 people. However, a push for free entry led the promoters to concede, resulting in substantial financial losses.
Artists like Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues, Jacqui McShee of Pentangle, and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull are sharing their memories. Hayward found the crowd size overwhelming, while McShee expressed thrill at seeing Davis and Hendrix perform. Anderson viewed the 1970 festival as a somber end to the peace and love era.
