Saturday 21st June – aka “the day your feet give up but your soul keeps dancing.”
🎤 MAIN STAGE – Singalong Central
11:55 am – 12:25 pm: 5 Degrees North
Kickstart your day with an up-and-coming act that’s all sunshine vibes and good-time tunes. Don’t be late – they’ll warm your ears better than your first coffee.
12:55 pm – 1:35 pm: Emmanuel Kelly
An inspirational performer with powerhouse vocals and a story to match. You’ll be weeping and dancing before lunch, tidy.
2:05 pm – 2:45 pm: Mae Muller
She’s TikTok gold and stage dynamite. Expect catchy hooks, confident sass, and more bops than your group chat memes.
3:15 pm – 3:55 pm: The Saw Doctors
Irish legends armed with melodies and madness. You’ll be yelling “I Useta Lover” while holding a sausage roll aloft like it’s the holy grail.
4:25 pm – 5:15 pm: Razorlight
Mid-noughties indie icons ready to remind you why you fell in love with jangly guitars in the first place. Expect America and In The Morning to spark a field-wide karaoke session.
5:45 pm – 6:40 pm: Busted
Yes mun, it’s the year 3000 and they’re still smashing it. Whether you’re here for the pop-punk bangers or the pure nostalgia hit, Busted will deliver the goods.
7:10 pm – 8:10 pm: Paul Heaton ft. Rianne Downey
One-half of The Beautiful South and Housemartins fame, Paul brings wit, warmth, and wisdom to every set. Add in Rianne’s lush vocals, and this is one for the soul.
8:40 pm – 9:40 pm: The Script
Emotional? Yup. Crowd-pleasing? Absolutely. Will Danny walk into the crowd and serenade a granny in a flower crown? We wouldn’t rule it out. Break even with them, live and loud.
10:25 pm – 11:55 pm: Stereophonics (HEADLINERS)
WALES REPRESENT! 🏴 The ‘Phonics close out the main stage with timeless riffs, soul-drenched vocals, and that unmistakable Kelly Jones growl. Expect “Dakota” to level the field and your voice to vanish by midnight. Proper job!
🎪 BIG TOP – Indie Bounce & Late-Night Bangers
2:35 pm – 3:15 pm: The Clause
Slick, stylish, and swaggering – think Arctic Monkeys on holiday in Ibiza. Get in early, this could be the breakout set of the day.
3:45 pm – 4:25 pm: Matilda Mann
Soft-spoken indie magic with heartbreak in every harmony. Perfect for lying in the grass, cider in hand, contemplating your third-year uni mistakes.
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm: Arthur Hill
Undeniably charming, Arthur’s a genre-blender with an ear for melody and a cheeky grin to match.
6:20 pm – 7:10 pm: Pale Waves
Emo-pop royalty. Black eyeliner meets neon lights. If you ever cried to Avril Lavigne or dyed your fringe in rebellion, this is your band.
7:50 pm – 8:40 pm: English Teacher
Gritty, sharp indie with lyrics that bite and twist. For fans of Fontaines D.C. and post-punk with a brain.
9:25 pm – 10:25 pm: Yard Act
One of the most buzzed-about bands in the UK. Expect dry wit, fierce grooves, and more observations than a WhatsApp group full of dads.
11:40 pm – 1:00 am: Supergrass (HEADLINERS)
Alright! Yes, they are. This late-night indie rave is your reward for making it through the day. Classic hits, singalong madness, and pure feel-good fuzz rock to carry you into Sunday.
🌊 RIVER STAGE – Fresh Finds & Late Surprises
1:20 pm – 1:50 pm: The Rizz
Kicking things off with style. Think groove, funk, and guitar faces galore. Early birds get the boogie.
2:20 pm – 2:50 pm: Raquelle Gracie
Glossy alt-pop with bite. Expect catchy choruses and future-radio dominance.
3:20 pm – 3:50 pm: The Deckchairs
They might sound like furniture, but they’ll have you jumping, not lounging. Riotous fun and local buzz.
4:20 pm – 4:50 pm: Pronghorn
Banjo-fuelled cowpunk chaos. You read that right. Absolute mayhem in the best way.
5:20 pm – 5:50 pm: QueenBees
All-female punk-pop powerhouses with choruses that sting and stage presence for days.
6:20 pm – 6:50 pm: Neckbreakers
Mosh-friendly madness. Warning: the name’s not a joke.
7:20 pm – 8:00 pm: The Blue Water Giants
Atmospheric rock with stadium-sized dreams. Big sounds from a band that’s going places.
8:30 pm – 9:10 pm: The Molotovs
Snotty, speedy, and totally electric. Think The Hives if they grew up in Margate.
9:40 pm – 10:40 pm: Tom Meighan
Back again! The ex-Kasabian frontman closes the River Stage with swagger and fresh solo material that slaps harder than a dodgy tent zip at 3am.
🧠 Riff Report’s Cheat Sheet
📌 Must-See Sets:
- Stereophonics – It’s a Welsh law.
- Supergrass – Your indie-mates will thank you.
- Yard Act – Smart, savage, and danceable.
- Busted – Lean into it. No shame.
- Tom Meighan – Kasabian fans, rejoice!
🧃 Good to Know:
- The River Stage is stacked with rising stars – trust your instincts and go discover your next obsession.
- Big Top is the perfect escape if the main stage gets too mad.
- Sunset during Paul Heaton’s set = guaranteed festival moment 🧡
💡 Saturday Survival Tips
- 🍟 Snack early, rave later – you’ll need the fuel.
- 🎩 Hat game strong – it’s gonna be hot.
- 🧻 Bring bog roll – always.
- 🕶️ Power nap optional – but worth it if you want to make it to Supergrass.
🔥 The Verdict
Saturday is where it all explodes. The line-up blends nostalgia and discovery, indie sweat and pop glitter, rock royalty and punk misfits. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll lose your sunglasses.
But most of all – you’ll be yelling “YESS MUN!” at the top of your lungs, pint in one hand, setlist in the other. That’s what the Isle of Wight Festival is all about 🤘🍻🎶
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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