Friday at the Isle of Wight Festival 2023

A few years ago, Friday night became the 'dance night' at the Isle of Wight Festival thanks to appearances from Calvin Harris (2014), Prodigy (2015), Faithless (2016) and David Guetta (2017).

That's shifted a bit more recently and we've seen a mix of big names headlining on the first Main Stage night at the Isle of Wight Festival. 

There's also a nice mix this year of pop and rock acts. As previously discussed, I think including a fair few pop acts is a clever move as it encourages whole families to attend the festival. On Friday, that included Sugababes and Sophie Ellis Bextor.

Other highlights on Friday included Human League in the Big Top, Isle of Wight band Plastic Mermaids and Pulp who headlined after previously appearing at the 2011 festival.

Here are a few photos from Friday, used with permission of Isle of Wight Festival 2023:

Isle of Wight band Plastic Mermaids played in the Big Top at the Isle of Wight Festival 2023

Human League, who previously played at the Isle of Wight Festival in 2009

Sophie Ellis Bextor returned to the Isle of Wight Festival two years after her last appearance

Friday night saw One Republic making their first appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival

Courteeners made their fifth Isle of Wight Festival appearance (2010, 2011, 2015 and 2019)

Pulp headlined on Friday night, 12 years after their other Isle of Wight Festival appearance