List of Isle of Wight bands

This is a list of bands and musicians from the Isle of Wight, as well notable music venues and festival on the Island.

Bands

• Level 42^[1]
• The Bees (a.k.a. A Band of Bees)
• Get Shakes
• Champs
• The Operators
• Grade 2^[2]
• Wet Leg^[3]
• Coach Party^[4]
• The Pill^[5]
• Plastic Mermaids^[6]
• Five Degrees North^[7]
• The Optimists^[8]
• ugly ozo^[9]

Musicians

• Mark King, Level 42, Re-Flex
• Jet Harris, former member of the Shadows, died 2011
• Antony Harding, drummer of Hefner
• Andy Booth, drummer of Go:Audio
• Jon Thorne, session bassist, played for Lamb (band), Jools Holland, Robert Miles, Love Amongst Ruin and Robert Fripp
• Stu Fisher, studio engineer and session drummer, performed with Hole (band), Ozric Tentacles and Courtney Love
• Sarah Close, singer-songwriter and YouTuber
• Dick Taylor^[10], guitarist for the Pretty Things and early bassist for the Rolling Stones
• Lee Downer, singer and guitarist for the Defiled
• Razzle (Nicholas Dingley) Drummer for Hanoi Rocks
• Fugo Kid^[11], stage name of rapper Jack Portuito
• Snowy White guitarist in Thin Lizzy 1980 to 1982
• David Steele, Fine Young Cannibals
• Lauran Hibberd^[12], also known as Favourite Daughter^[13]
• Stormtrooper, 1970s punk band, reunited in 2025^[14]
• Rhian Teasdale, singer and guitarist with Wet Leg
• Peter Banks^[15], member of After the Fire

Isle of Wight music scene in national media

In August 2022, NME reviewed Lauran Hibberd's album Garageband Superstar, giving it 3 stars.^[16]

In October 2022, Plastic Mermaids were featured in The Guardian as One to Watch. Journalist Damien Morris said the group produce "playfully ambitious songs that wander from bouncy pop and orchestral psych to indie folk and electro."^[6]

In February 2023, pianist Jay Eatwell featured on Channel 4 show The Piano. Eatwell was praised by judges Lang Lang and Mika and performed at the Royal Festival Hall.^[17]

In January 2026, BBC Radio 6 Music DJs Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens broadcast live from local venue Strings Bar and Venue as part of Independent Venue Week.^[18] The show featured music by local artists including Coach Party, Paul Armfield, Five Degrees North, Wet Leg, The Bees, Level 42 and The Pill.

Isle of Wight music festivals

Current Festivals

• Isle of Wight Festival, (1968-70, 2002-present). Takes place in June at Seaclose Park, Newport. The festival has hosted acts including Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, Paul McCartney, The Who, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Florence and the Machine, Jay-Z and Neil Young.

Past Festivals

• Bestival (2004-18), moved to Dorset in 2017. Organised by DJ and record producer Rob da Bank, headliners included The Cure, Duran Duran, Outkast, Snoop Dogg, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, The Prodigy, Massive Attack and MGMT.
• Rhythmtree Festival (2009-22), formerly DidgHead Radio Festival.^[19] Headliners included Ginger Baker's Jazz Confusion, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Skinny Lister, Stereo MC's, Morcheeba, Saving Grace feat. Suzi Dian And Robert Plant, The Zombies, The Wailers and The Fatback Band. In 2023, organisers announced the festival was postponed^[20], with the Sundown Sessions^[21] replacing the main event that year. The festival then never returned.
• The Great Wonderfest (2019).^[22] Held at Duxmore Farm, the festival was hosted by TV duo Dick and Dom and was headlined by The Vamps, Busted, Conor Maynard and Becky Hill, Musical Youth and The Blow Monkeys. The 2020 event announced Ella Eyre, Faithless, HRVY, Terry Hall and Lauran Hibberd but was cancelled by organisers.^[23]

References

1. Morley, Paul (12 September 1981). "Wight boys on funk". New Musical Express. London: IPC. p. 22. ISSN 0028-6362.
2. "Island punk band returning home for first gig in over a year". Isle of Wight County Press. 26 December 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
3. Edwards, Matty (17 March 2026). "Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed first three guest hosts of UK Saturday Night Live". The Guardian. USA edition. p. 44. ISSN 0261-3077. The first three music acts to launch the new show will be Isle of Wight indie band Wet Leg, Brit award-winners Wolf Alice and rock legends Kasabian.
4. "Indie band Coach Party and sporting stars among Red Funnel's 2026 sponsors". Isle of Wight County Press. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
5. "National radio plays for The Pill's debut single Bale of Hay". Isle of Wight County Press. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
6. Morris, Damien (29 October 2022). "One to watch: Plastic Mermaids". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
7. Kureen, Dominic (2 April 2026). "Isle of Wight Band Five Degrees North Drop New Single 'Red River' and Announce South Coast Tour". Isle Of Wight Radio. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
8. "Island rock band The Optimists release new single". Isle of Wight County Press. 2 March 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
9. Magazine, Dork (31 March 2026). "ugly ozo has dropped 'jackpot', a flirty new cut from upcoming EP 'dive'". readdork.com. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
10. "Dick Taylor: From Rolling Stones to Ventnor legend!". Isle of Wight County Press. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
11. "Island rapper launches new EP blending hip-hop with jazz influences". Isle of Wight County Press. 26 March 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
12. Richards, Will (8 August 2022). "Meet Lauran Hibberd, a new grunge hero from the Isle of Wight". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
13. chloegudgin (13 March 2026). "Favourite Daughter Discusses Reinvention, Comedy In Tragedy, And More". Clunk Magazine. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
14. Kureen, Dominic (9 March 2026). "Isle Of Wight Punk Pioneers Stormtrooper Reuniting For First Gigs In 50 Years". Isle Of Wight Radio. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
15. "Meet the Island man who toured with Queen and formed band that "inspired U2"". Isle of Wight County Press. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
16. Hunt, El (17 August 2022). "Lauran Hibberd – 'Garageband Superstar' review: pop-punk vibes, via the Isle of Wight". NME. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
17. "Meet station pianist Jay who's set for Royal Festival Hall performance on TV". Isle of Wight County Press. 25 February 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
18. "Isle of Wight music scene spotlighted on BBC Radio 6 Music show". BBC News. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
19. "Rhythmtree Festival | Eve's Tipis". www.eves-tipis.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
20. "'Difficult decision' made to POSTPONE Rhythmtree Festival 2023". Isle of Wight County Press. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
21. "RHYTHMTREE PRESENTS SUNDOWN SESSIONS – A SPIN-OFF FROM THEIR CANCELLED 2023 FESTIVAL". Isle of Wight News - Island Echo. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
22. "First Great Wonderfest wins plaudits of Island public". Isle of Wight Observer News. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
23. "GREAT WONDERFEST CANCELLED FOR 2020 CONFIRM ORGANISERS". Isle of Wight News - Island Echo. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2026.