By Alan & Suzanne Whitewood
Several of the acts appearing at this year's Isle of Wight Festival have had great success in recent times.
In 2006, fans purchased 1.5 million units of Snow Patrol’s album “Eyes Open”. Having entered the chart in the coveted Number 1 slot in May, it was a permanent fixture in the rundown and returned to the top twice- in September.
Keane’s “Under the Iron Sea” hit the top of the album chart in June, staying there for two weeks. Come July it was the turn of Muse to hit Number 1 with “Black Holes and Revelations” which includes the outstanding “Knights of Cydonia” which was recorded in Milan.
Singer/songwriter James Morrison was top of the heap in August with his debut album “Undiscovered”. In September Kasabian’s chart topper “Empire” was preceded and succeeded by Irish rockers Snow Patrol’s two one- week stays.
After threatening to reach the summit for a number of weeks Amy Winehouse finally managed to dislodge Take That when her album “Back to Black” was the first new Number 1 in 2007.
Interestingly none of the aforementioned acts managed to repeat the feat in the singles chart. For longevity the Snow Patrol track “Chasing Cars” takes the honours, mainly thanks to downloads
Now sold out, the Isle of Wight Festival is in its sixth year. Tickets have sold out faster than ever before with 50,000 tickets being snapped up within days of being released.