Oi oi! Weโve just about washed off the mud, found our shoes (in different counties), and regained hearing in our left ears โ which can only mean one thing: Isle of Wight Festival 2025 is over. And what a wild, messy, loud, emotional, sunburnt, beer-soaked ride it was. Whether you were front row for Coldplayโs confetti cannon or passed out under the ice cream van during Green Dayโs finale, one thingโs for sure: this year was one for the books.
Letโs break it down, shall we? Band by band, pint by pint โ hereโs the good, the bad, and the ugly from IOW 2025!
๐ Friday โ A Neon Night to Remember (Or Forget, Depending on Your Cider Intake) ๐
๐ The Good:
Pet Shop Boys
They turned the main stage into a full-on synth-pop church. โItโs a Sinโ had the crowd bouncing like we were all extras in an ’80s nightclub. Their visuals? A hypnotic swirl of lasers and fabulousness. And when they dropped โGo West,โ the entire field erupted in karaoke-style glory. Even the seagulls were vibing.
The Streets
Mike Skinner proved once again that heโs not just a poet for the pub lads โ heโs a bleeding legend. The set felt like a big, messy hug. From the rawness of โBlinded by the Lightsโ to the anthem that is โFit But You Know It,โ he had everyone bouncing, rapping, and tearing up in equal measure.
Courteeners
Big tunes, big crowd, big swagger. “Not Nineteen Forever” still hits like a crate of Strongbow to the jaw. Not everyoneโs cup of tea, but for the loyal lot waving their flares and singing their lungs out โ it was magic.
๐ The Bad:
Confidence Man
Look, theyโre fun, no doubt. But that early main stage slot swallowed them whole. The energy was there, but they needed a tent โ something more intimate to truly shine. Instead, it felt like a dance party in a field where only half the guests knew the words.
The Sound Mix for Early Sets
Several early bands suffered from muddy sound. Vocals lost in reverb, guitars too low. Itโs the usual Day One teething problems, but still… come on tech crew, tighten up mun!
๐ The Ugly:
- Portaloos by 10PM: A crime scene.
- Sunburned Lobsters in Bucket Hats: SPF exists, lads.
- That One Bloke Screaming โWonderwallโ at Every Acoustic Act: Mate. Let it go.
๐ฅ Saturday โ Punk Mayhem, Indie Gems & Umbrella Carnage ๐ธ๐ง๏ธ
๐ The Good:
Green Day
HOLY. MOLY. They still got it. Billie Joe had the crowd eating from his palm, even making someone in the crowd play guitar on stage. โAmerican Idiotโ nearly caused a mosh-pit tsunami. Fireworks. Confetti. Chaos. It was like being punched in the heart and kissed on the soul at the same time. โBasket Caseโ? Still an anthem for the broken and brilliant.
Jess Glynne
One of the weekendโs curveball hits. Smooth, confident, and absolutely note-perfect. “Hold My Hand” had the entire field waving like it was a Eurovision final. Extra love for giving a shoutout to NHS workers โ had us misty-eyed.
Nothing But Thieves
These lads are rising FAST. Raw emotion, tight as hell performance, and Conor Masonโs vocals hitting stratospheric notes. โAmsterdamโ nearly split the sky. Watch this space โ theyโre headliner material.
Arlo Parks
A set of poetic beauty. A pause from the madness. You could feel the love in every note. It was like being wrapped in a warm hoodie during a thunderstorm.
๐ The Bad:
The Kooks
Letโs be honest โ they phoned it in. Lukeโs vocals were tired, the crowd was distracted (read: queuing for burritos), and it just didnโt ignite. A shame for a band that once ruled indie nights.
Stage Two Lighting
Dark and moody is cool until you canโt see the band. Several acts looked like silhouettes performing from the shadows of Mount Doom.
๐ The Ugly:
- Umbrella Wars: The rain came hard and fast. Ponchos became prized assets. Umbrellas? Downright dangerous weapons in a crowd.
- Soggy Chips, ยฃ9 a Box: I was tamping, butt.
- A Man in a Tutu Arguing With Security Over a Banana Costume: I wish I was making this up.
๐ Sunday โ Big Feelings, Big Bands, and One Hell of a Send-Off ๐
๐ The Good:
Coldplay
Say what you will about them โ they closed the weekend in style. The visuals were biblical: fireworks, lasers, glow-in-the-dark wristbands. “Viva La Vida” felt like a collective spiritual awakening. โFix Youโ? Tears. Actual sobbing. They turned a field full of hungover goblins into weeping romantics. Power.
Suede
Brett Anderson: still a slinky, snarling rock ‘n’ roll sorcerer. The band sounded massive, like theyโd never left. “Animal Nitrate” slapped harder than expected. Proper throwback.
Catfish and the Bottlemen
Tight, loud, and dependable as ever. Not the most experimental, but they gave the people what they wanted: bangers. Crowd surfers galore.
The Last Dinner Party
An unexpected delight. Their blend of baroque-pop and glam confidence was perfect for the sunshine slot. Watch them soar.
๐ The Bad:
Sound Bleed From Nearby Tent
During acoustic sets, the thump of nearby DJs was a recurring issue. Hard to get lost in a ballad when thereโs a rogue untz untz coming from 50 feet away.
Hangover Town
Letโs be honest, half the field was running on fumes. Sunday mornings need coffee, not tequila shots.
๐ The Ugly:
- The โVIPโ Zone: ยฃ300 for a view barely better than general admission, and the toilets were still vile. Save your dosh, mun.
- One Bloke Passed Out Face-Down in a Glitter Puddle: Iconic or tragic? Bit of both.
๐ Food, Merch, and Marketplace Madness
- Top Vendor: โMac to the Futureโ โ Truffle mac & cheese that could cure heartbreak. 10/10, would sell a kidney for another bowl.
- Weirdest Combo: Sushi + halloumi fries = food confusion.
- Best Value: The legendary ยฃ6 meal deal zone! Burgers, wraps, and wedges. Saints of the festival, we salute you.
- Merch Stand MVP: A T-shirt that read โI Got Sunburnt at IOW and All I Got Was This Overpriced Shirtโ โ instantly sold out.
๐๏ธ Camping, Chaos & Crowd Legends
- Best Campsite Moment: A group brought a blow-up paddling pool and filled it with tinnies. Tidy!
- Worst Campsite Moment: Someone brought a full karaoke machine. At 4am. Doing Meat Loaf. Badly.
- Tent of the Weekend: The one shaped like a shark. Shoutout to whoever brought that โ youโre a hero.
๐ค Quotes From The Field
“I lost my shoe, my phone, and my voice… but found my new favourite band.”
โ Some lad near the front at Nothing But Thieves
“I havenโt cried this much since Bake Off.”
โ A woman during โFix Youโ
“That seagull just stole my hot dog.”
โ Man with tears in his eyes and mustard on his chin
๐ Final Thoughts: Was It Worth It?
Absolutely. Despite a few soggy moments, overpriced chips, and the usual festival faff โ Isle of Wight 2025 was lush, chaotic, and unforgettable. The music brought people together. The crowd was buzzing. And the memories? Well, theyโll live longer than the smell of that Sunday-night portaloo.
So, here’s to muddy boots, band tees, and singing your heart out with strangers. Isle of Wight โ we love ya.
See you next year. Pintโs on me. ๐ป
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