Isle of Wight Festival 2021 - who's in, who's out (and who's shaking it all about)

Liam Gallagher at the Isle of Wight Festival 2018 - image from Isle of Wight Festival

Good news everybody, the Isle of Wight Festival 2021 lineup hasn't changed beyond all recognition. Let's all put on our masks and take a collective sigh of relief.

Of course, many people will complain about X being replaced with Y but I have already expressed my views about these whinge bags.

So, who is in and who is out compared to the June 2021 planned lineup? This will read like a football transfer deadline day summary, but stay with it.

Thursday

Thursday is the campers' night at the Isle of Wight Festival, when the festival has sort of started but not completely. The lineup has changed significantly with The Happy Mondays and Natasha Bedingfield being replaced with Scouting for Girls and Sophie Ellis Bextor. 

Friday

Friday's Main Stage lineup has probably had the most changes with the three main acts changing.

Lionel Richie and Lewis Capaldi have been replaced with Liam Gallagher and Tom Jones. So, you can still throw your knickers at a legend if you really want to.

​I'm a bit disappointed that I won't see Lionel Richie but we'd been warned that it would mostly be British acts performing. Liam Gallagher has played the festival before, most recently in 2018 but Tom Jones hasn't appeared since 2011.

Spare a thought for Jess Glynne fans, as she has disappeared from the lineup. I suspect that a tabloid newspaper journalist is furiously bashing away at their keyboard right now to make this into a story, even if the most likely reason is that she had something else booked.

James has taken Jess Glynne's place. Personally, I like James a lot so I don't mind although they have played at the Isle of Wight Festival before in 2008, 2010, 2015 and 2019.

The Big Top lineup is mostly the same, except for a couple of the opening acts changing (Joy Crookes and Donna Missal have been replaced with Lucy Blue and Charlotte Jane).

Saturday   

Saturday night on the Main Stage looks pretty similar. Pete Tong has been replaced with David Guetta so there's still a massive dance act. Apart from that, it is just the opening acts which have changed - Rothwell and Asylums have been replaced with Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly and The Ks. 

The Big Top on Saturday night is exactly the same, except Stone has been added to the lineup.

Sunday

Sunday's Main Stage lineup hasn't changed much, except Carly Rae Jepson has been replaced with Chinchilla. 

Sunday's Big Top has changed a bit. Mavis Staples has been replaced with Imelda May. Balcony has been replaced with Jasmine Jethwa, Lawson and er, Wet Leg.

All in all though, the changes to the lineup are not as major as I was expecting. I'm sure some people will be disappointed but there are still lots of acts I'm keen to see and as long as I get a bit of sunshine and a ride in the big wheel I'll be happy.

You can buy tickets here:

If you're interested, here are the two lineups next to each other.

□Our huge #IOW2021 line-up is here□
Join us & celebrate the end of summer with @liamgallagher @snowpatrol @davidguetta @duranduran @RealSirTomJones @thescript @samfendermusic @SophieEB and many more!
Tickets on sale now: https://t.co/ftiOXn2ezK pic.twitter.com/VBhLajXEKp

— Isle of Wight Fest (@IsleOfWightFest) March 26, 2021

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□ Our huge #IOW2021 line-up is here □
There's a host of 2020 names joining next year's bill as well new additions @thescript, @JessGlynne, @carlyraejepsen, @mavisstaples and more! Tickets go on-sale at 9am Monday 15th June. pic.twitter.com/Hh0TsaDXqa

— Isle of Wight Fest (@IsleOfWightFest) June 12, 2020