Ferry across the Solent

As far as I know there hasn’t been a song written about a ferry crossing the Solent, as perhaps it doesn’t have the same ring about it as ‘the Mersey’. Although it is linked to a popular music tradition of its own with just a short trip across the water to and island full of entertainment and promise.

I am, of course, referring to the festivals that are hosted on the IOW, notably Isle of Wight Festival and the official Isle of Wight festival. The festival on the Isle of Wight is the ‘big daddy’ of the pair, as it has been going for much longer since the days of the late sixties and ‘flower power’. The past performers list is vast, and includes some to the most famous artists to have ever played popular music. Nowadays the festival is a good starting point for up-and-coming bands, which are able to taste the atmosphere of playing in front of a crowd that regularly exceeds 50,000 people.

The most recent of all of the Island festivals is Bestival, with its history stretching back only as far as the beginning of the new millenium. It has a reputation for more of a carnival atmosphere, and has a large section devoted to sounds created by top radio djs. The organisers at Bestival create a new theme each year, allowing attendees to create their own fancy dress costumes. The ultimate accolade for the best fancy dress costume is a lifetime free entry to Bestival. Not a bad result for some extra time spent with the stick back plastic and spare glue!

If you are intending travelling to one of the festivals next year, then you will have to make the trip via one of the available IOW ferry in operation. Portsmouth has two ferry terminals, one for foot passengers, and the other to transport cars to and from the island.