And just like that, summer was over. You can put away the BBQ tongs for another year, wave goodbye to beach, and shed a silent tear as the sun sets on another incredible festival season. With Bestival kicking off on September 10th, there aren't many opportunities left to embrace our favourite national past-time of standing in a muddy field and bopping to a band you'd forgotten you ever loved.
The Isle of Wight Reunion Festival 2015
It's been a tip-top festival season. Starting with a bang back in June with the iconic Isle of Wight Festival, and the return to the festival circuit of the legendary Fleetwood Mac, over the last few months we've been treated to star-making headline sets, on-stage proposals, and one of the most controversial Glastonbury sets in recent times.
But don't cut off your entry wristbands just yet. There's still one last chance to let your hair down, and relive the heady days at the start of summer. The Isle of Wight Reunion Gig returns this September 15th in aid of Variety, the Children's Charity. The likes of THE
CARNABYS, TWIN WILD, JUDAS, NEW CITY KINGS, WE ARE Z, and VAMBO are set to take the stage of KOKO, London, raising vital funds to support the charity's goal of ensuring that neither disability nor disadvantage are a barrier to any child fulfilling his or her full potential.
The bands will be looking to recreate their winning sets, and round off the festival season in style with what is sure to be an intimate and unforgettable send-off to 2015! Tickets can still be purchased for the event at: www.isleofwightfestival.com/reunion.
And to celebrate the season, we're taking a look at our Top 10 Festival Moments of Summer 2015:
Coachella's 16th year brought two sun-baked weeks of unbridled desert hedonism, drawing in half of young Hollywood, and bearing witness to one of the season's most photographed moments, as legendary pop diva MADONNA locked lips with debut Coachella headliner DRAKE.
Making their first ever appearance at the legendary Isle of Wight Festival, the recently-reunited English-American quintet FLEETWOOD MAC stormed the Main Stage to deliver a performance that topped even BLUR's from the previous night. Christine McVie and company lapped up the acclaim in what may well be the highlight of possibly their final ever tour.
Proving unshaken by the petitions asking for his removal, KANYE WEST responded to the controversy of his Glastonbury headline booking by delivering a suitably unapologetic performance. Engulfing the Pyramid Stage in UFO-style floating lights, the tens of thousands of watching fans were treated to a daringly mad and electrifying performance featuring a whole host of autotune vocals, a touching ten minute track dedicated to his wife Kim, and a completely original arrangement of some of his most combustible hits all on top of a moving crane. Brilliant. Utterly bonkers.
And Glastonbury was host to another truly unforgettable moment of another kind on the Pyramid Stage, as PATTI SMITH - who has been earning rave reviews with her reprisal of seminal classic album Horses - introduced the Dalai Lama to the stage, and led the 100,000-strong crowd in a joyous rendition of Happy Birthday Your Holiness.
Hideout's 5th birthday celebration this year featured the mother of all queues for the UK garage maestro DJ EZ. As he masterfully chopped his way through all sorts of euphoric flavours the reason for the wait became obvious, with his set undoubtedly taking Croatia's crown for the most memorable moment.
No messing about this summer as T held host to the highly anticipated headliners THE PRODIGY. Illuminated by strobing coloured lights and timelessly danceable frenetic beats this fearless group shortly took top honours by delivering one of T's most memorable sets on the Radio 1 Stage.
The next generation dominated The Secret Garden Party this year with this arts heavy festival taking us back to basics with its 'Childish Things' theme. Highlights from this weekend of wonder included an incredible one man show by JACK GARRATT on the Main Stage and JUNGLE's explosive set that truly got the Friday night started on in the Dance Arena Stage. Both sets proved that there are few things more thrilling than seeing a young band elevated to bonafide headline status.
Returning to the Cornish coast for another full festival weekend of beach-side living, Boardmasters unleashed the majestic BASTILLE onto Main Stage. Responsible for perhaps the best moment of the festival, the band publicised their newest member's debut gig, sparking another spontaneous communal rendition of Happy Birthday from the crowd (there seems to be a theme developing here). A birthday and performance to remember for all involved!
Festivals are often the scenes of a tipsy first kiss, but it's not a common sight to see someone get down on one knee. But V Festival turned match-maker this year, staging LABRINTH's unforgettable live on-stage proposal to his girlfriend, Muz. With all those festival-goers eagerly watching, it's a good thing she said yes…
And finally, there's nothing better than a good rags to riches story. And the unstoppable rise of OLLY MURS is case in point. Murs shared a throwback image of him and his friends eating chilli beef tacos and enjoying the V Festival camping experience 8 years ago, oblivious to the fact that in 2015 he would be headlining its MTV stage, and delivering one of his best ever sets. A story to warm the heart, and highlight just how much these festival sets mean to each and every artist.
Tickets for The Isle of Wight Reunion Gig 2015 be purchased at: www.isleofwightfestival.com/reunion.