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Isle of Wight Festival 2005

Friday 10th to Sunday 12th June 2005
Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2DN, England MAP
w/e £75 or £90 with camping, £35 day, campervans £75 - SOLD OUT

Daily capacity: 35,000

They’re about to come on, lights suspend in front of mirrors and Michael Stipe slopes out wearing a blue face painted mask and pulls cat like shapes. The wind swings direction and the impending cold evening dissipates to be replaced with a warm breeze. ‘I Took your Hand’ starts and the crowd cheer and clap. Before REM start blowing us away with ‘What’s the Frequency Kenneth’ and we’re all ensnared, captured, delighted and overcome to see the headliners at last. ‘These Days’ follows with such passion.

‘The One I love’ starts and I realise this is REM at their best, I’ve been disappointed at Glastonbury before, but this is them at their blistering best. We’re all dancing like loonies. Then Michael speaks slowly “I’ve been an outsider ever since I drew my first breath, this is to all those who feel alien, to all the outsiders and a beautiful rendition of ‘Outsiders’ is delivered and we’re moved.

They work their way quickly under the waxing crescent moon with ‘Drive’, ‘Wanderlust’, ‘Animal’ and ‘Heron House’ before the huge ‘Everybody Hurts’ where everybody does indeed sing along, it’s a moment to remember.

Michael explains the next song is about a dream he had about a perfect drug, it’s called ‘Electron Blue’ and the blue lights in the mirrors and blue mask make it a surreal moment. ‘Me In Honey’, ‘Electrolite’, ‘Leaving New York’ all fly by. The later brings a realisation we have to leave and catch our ferry, it’s a long way home and we have work in the morning. We stay for ‘Orange Crush’ and leave to ‘Walk Unafraid’ none of us want to go it’s heart wrenching.

We just hear ‘Religion’ start as we pass the crowd gathered on the other side of the fence. It’s an emotional moment. REM are playing the best we’ve seen them and we’re driving away!

We miss the finale, I find out the next day it was ‘Imitation of Life’, ‘Get Up’, ‘Great Beyond’, ‘Night Swimming’ – oh god! And the wonderful ‘Man On The Moon’ And then the most fantastic fireworks drew IOW to a close. Once again a wonderful and worthy headliner and a terrific performance by REM on the night.