Isle of Wight Festival 2013: Sun shone on Bon Jovi despite forecasts of a wash-out

The sun kept shining on revellers as they enjoyed the final day of the Isle of Wight Festival, headlined by Bon Jovi.

Despite forecasts for heavy rain, the crowds have stayed mostly dry at the four-day event which is the first major music festival of the summer.

Proceedings kicked off on Thursday with Happy Mondays and The Farm playing for campers.

The North West theme continued on Friday night with Manchester's The Stone Roses playing all the fans' favourites including She Bangs The Drums and I Am The Resurrection.

Last night, The Killers performed a high-adrenaline set backed by pyrotechnics and confetti cannons.

The band went straight into massive hit Mr Brightside but as well as their popular tunes they threw in a couple of covers including I Think We're Alone Now made famous by Tiffany.

Brandon Flowers also did a version of The Beatles' When I'm 64, changing the lyrics to: "We could see The Killers on the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear."

Dan Smith, lead singer of Bastille, who performed yesterday, admitted that the band had bought tickets for Glastonbury Festival before they were booked to perform there.

He told Absolute Radio: "I know, I know, I feel like a bit of an idiot now.

"But yeah, I love it and it's such an amazing weekend and I've been for the last four, five, six years and even though some were like, 'you might be playing', I said, 'well I'm not going to risk it. I'm not going to risk not going'.

"So yeah, it was a massive waste of money."

The band also revealed they once sneaked into Glastonbury without paying.

They explained that they went in a friend's van and hid inside a sofa when the vehicle was checked at the gates.

John Giddings, promoter of the festival, has created new attractions away from the main stages for this year's event with additions including the Bohemian Woods, cabaret club, extended dance tent and a bigger beach.

The Bohemian Woods has featured a range of alternative bands including dub-reggae band the Resonators playing into the early hours this morning.

The luxury side of the festival has also expanded with hot tubs and barrel saunas being available in a new spa area and in the campsite Tangerine Fields have been providing hundreds of campers with pre-pitched tents with extra luxuries such as a pamper parlour and phone charging.

Other acts performing at the festival held at Seaclose Park, Newport, have included Paul Weller, Emeli Sande, Jake Bugg, Everything Everything, Blondie, Imagine Dragons, Ellie Goulding, Rizzle Kicks and Republica.

Problems experienced last year as campers faced lengthy queues to get into car parks because of heavy rains were not repeated this year with improvements to the entrances and traffic systems helping ease arrivals.

Sir Bob Geldof roared on to the main stage with The Boomtown Rats which reunited for the first time in 27 years to appear at the festival.

He told the crowd: "We are The Boomtown Rats, we are marvellous, we are magnificent, we are the living Mount Rushmore."

He played the band's hits including Like Clockwork, She's So Modern, and Someone's Looking At You.

And an emotional rendition of I Don't Like Mondays brought cheers from the crowds.

Sir Bob told the crowd: "When we started playing these songs again it was sad because it wasn't nostalgia, it was like it was 30 years ago, not being able to get a job, the banks ripping you off."

After finishing Rat Trap, Sir Bob said to the crowd: "Thank you very much, it's been the best fun in 27 years."

Speaking after coming off stage, Geldof said that he believed his songs, with themes of school shootings and unemployment, were as relevant today as they were when he wrote them.

He said: "If I was 20 as I was then, I would write exactly the same songs, I guess that's why they've endured."

And in an unusual move for a mid-afternoon band, The Rats came back for an encore.

Newton Faulkner also got the crowds singing with his early-afternoon slot which he finished with a version of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

Mr Giddings said: "The spirit of the festival has continued this weekend with the biggest party on the south coast with people coming from all over the world to enjoy themselves.

"Judging by the way they've reacted to the acts on stage, we have delivered for them.

"My highlights include the Palma Violets opening on Friday, Bastille in the afternoon on Saturday and headliners The Stone Roses and The Killers.

"Also a very special mention for our unbelievable festivalgoers who have made this weekend a roaring success - thank you."

The Script guitarist Mark Sheehan and drummer Glen Power have told how they feel sorry for lead singer Danny O'Donoghue because of his fame since becoming a judge on The Voice.

Ahead of their main stage appearance, Sheehan told Absolute Radio: "We feel sorry for him you know. We can go out into the festival, get some food and go out on some of the rides but Danny wouldn't be able to do that.

"He's been catapulted into the limelight.

"He really can't go anywhere. I almost hate going to the local with him.

"He often turns to disguises. He's got this flat cap that he wears a lot but that doesn't work. He's like Godzilla - he's too tall."

Meanwhile The Voice finalist Andrea Bagley told the radio station, which is broadcasting from the festival, that she was overjoyed to be mentored by O'Donoghue.

She said: "It hasn't quite sunk in yet. It was quite phenomenal. Probably one of the best nights of my life to put a cliche on it but it definitely has been the best, getting up and performing with Danny for the first time was just fantastic."

She added: "There's no doubt about it, I've definitely grown every week.

"The nerves were really hard to shake with thousands of people in the studio and millions watching at home.

"All that pressure can affect you but I really feel towards the latter half of the competition I've improved week on week and hopefully I can take that through to the final."

PA