More about: Arcade FireDavid GuettaRod StewartRun DMC

If you need to escape all the election mania, fear not, the Isle of Wight hosts its legendary annual music festival this weekend, with gates opening on Thursday 8 June until Sunday 11 June. and not a polling booth in sight.

Held once again at the fittingly titled Seaclose Park — headline acts including David Guetta, Arcade Fire, and the evergreen Rod Stewart are set to spearhead the three-day line-up from Friday, alongside eight other stages.

The festival is set to pay homage to its rock history — epitomised by The Who’s 1970 live album from the event, by featuring The Pretenders, Bastille, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man joining Clean Bandit and many others to the bill.

Dance music fans will also be able to enjoy the likes of Example + DJ Wire, alongside Zara Larsson.

But there’s also space afforded to some worthwhile up-and-coming acts, including guitar revivalists The Amazons, The Blinders, Superfood, and The April Rainers — the new band of Libertines bassist John Hassall.

A busy line-up then, and something for everyone.

Here’s what to look out for….

Fire, young-upstarts, and, er, Rod Stewart?

Arcade Fire undoubtedly stand as the biggest draw. The Canadian indie rock band, fronted by husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, have again defied expectation with their Abba inspired comeback single ‘Everything Now’ — the title-track of their forthcoming album.

A decade on from the much-loved Neon Bible LP, which spawned indie-rock classics ‘No Cars Go’ and ‘Keep the Car Running’, it will be interesting to see how they meld the transition toward their disco-influenced current form — introduced on 2013’s Reflektor — during Saturday’s headline set.

Alongside these quirky titans stand more traditional rock revival outfits, such as Brit Award Winners Catfish and the Bottlemen, who continue their rise from small-town Welsh obscurity to mainstream success, cemented by the post-punk solidity of 2016’s second album, Ride.

Away from the expanse of the main stage await hungry outfits like The Amazons, a rowdy four-piece from Reading who made headlines after torching their tour van — affectionately known as ‘Big Suze’ (Peep Show fans, perhaps) — for the cover of their self-titled debut album.

Stomping guitar riffs on tracks such as 'Black Magic' and 'In My Mind' will undoubtedly cause heads to turn toward the Rock The Big Top stage, spurred by the vocals of Matt Thompson, before Clean Bandit headline.

Just accross from the Big Top sits the Jack Rocks stage, which may be smaller in size, but it's louder in attitude. Highlights of the weekend there include The Blinders — with their Jack Daniels-soaked cool channelling Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison all in one. And the up-tempo beats of the mighty Superfood, who headline ahead of the release of their much anticipated new album.

But for those seeking more familiar, gentler comforts, there is the prospect of Rod Stewart on Sunday night over on the main stage. Perhaps one for the parents, but nevertheless it is nice to see this household name still performing at festivals aged 72. Better still, it keeps him, and us, from having to suffer further bizarrely ill-judged ISIS prank videos. Yes, you read that right — the crooner was forced to apologise earlier this year after appearing in a mock terrorist execution video.

The 90s are back!

Setting guitars aside, revellers can turn back the clock and enjoy 90s rap icons Run DMC, before the thumping assault of David Guetta on Friday.

Elsewhere throughout the festival you can catch former Spice Girl Melanie C, playing all the songs you remember from decades ago — potentially including Trance tinged hit, I Turn To You.

Who said things could never be the same again!

So is 00s indie….

Do you predict a riot? If so you can join the Kaiser Chiefs at the main stage on Friday evening.

You can also join the Kooks on Saturday night at the same place, all while donning your skinny jeans, as you join Luke Pritchard is singing the line in the chorus of Naïve that no-one can quite understand.

(If you’re interested it was “not fond of asking”, not “I’m from Nebraska”)

Skanking opportunities

Example and his irresistible club tunes define the Pop Goes The Big Top line-up on Saturday. But preceding act Zara Larsson, with her funky pop candy, is sure to get people moving and grinding in ways that would make a nun blush.

Let’s be honest, in these dark times, this is just the tonic needed.

Equally as tempting is the Cirque De La Quirk tent, with the summer vibes of the Dub Pistols.

Let’s not forget their single, 'Ganja'. Just saying….

Giant Rubix cubes

Team Electro Love 80s allows revellers to take a trip down memory lane, done florescent colours and party the weekend away to a full mix of 80s music, DJ battles and power ballads.

Apparently there will also be giant Rubix Cubes and Bubble parties, and plenty of ultra violet lights.

Well that’s a strong and stable weekend, eh!

(Sorry).

FRIDAY 

Main Stage
David Guetta 22.30 – 00.00
Run DMC 21.00 – 22.00
Kaiser Chiefs 19.30 – 20.30
Rag ‘N’ Bone Man 18.15 – 19.00
Nothing But Thieves 17.00 – 17.45
Sex Pissed Dolls 16.00 – 16.30

Big Top

The Pretenders 21.35 – 22.35
Alison Moyet 20.10 – 21.05
Ward Thomas 18.50 – 19.40
Lucy Spraggan 17.40 – 18.20
Paradisia 16.40 – 17.10

SATURDAY

Main Stage
Arcade Fire 22.30 – 00.00
Catfish and the Bottlemen 20.35 – 21.35
The Kooks 19.05 – 20.05
Texas 17.45 – 18.35
Jack Savoretti 16.25 – 17.15
Tom Chaplin 15.10 – 15.55
The Slow Readers Club 14.05 – 14.45
My Baby 13.00 – 13.40
Nakamarra 12.10 – 12.40

Big Top
Example & DJ Wire 00.00 – 01.00
FooR 22.40 – 23.30
Zara Larsson 21.15 – 22.15
Melanie C 19.35 – 20.35
Space 18.20 – 19.05
The Showhawk Duo 17.05 – 17.45
Elle Exxe 15.50 – 16.30
Bang Bang Romeo 14.45-15.25
Alex Francis 13.45-14.20
The Germein Sisters 12.50 – 13.20
Victoria 12.00 – 12.30

SUNDAY

Main Stage
Rod Stewart 21.00 – 22.50
Bastille 19.30 – 20.30
George Ezra 18.00 – 19.00
Imelda May 16.40 – 17.30
The Shires 15.25 – 16.10
The Vamps 14.15 – 14.55
Scouting For Girls 13.10 – 13.50
Jon Stevens 12.15 – 12.45

Big Top
Clean Bandit 22.45-00.00
Liz Cornick 21.15 – 22.15
The Strypes 20.00 – 20.55
The Understones 18.35 – 19.30
The Sherlocks 17.15 – 18.05
The Amazons 15.55 – 16.45
Asylums 14.40 – 15.25
Judas 13.45- 14.20
Wild Front 12.50 – 13.25

For full set times download the below Isle Of Wight app developed by Second Screen

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More about: Arcade FireDavid GuettaRod StewartRun DMC