10 Essential Acts At Isle Of Wight 2013 And Q&A With John Giddings

After torrential rain hit the festival with several setbacks in 2012, the festival organisers have responded by securing what looks to be one of the strongest line-ups of recent years. The Isle Of Wight festival is renowned for paying homage to its musical heritage by pulling in an eclectic mix of old and new bands that cater for the mainstream as well as the more leftfield, and the line-up for 2013 does not disappoint.

As well as attracting some real overseas big hitters (The Killers, Bon Jovi, Blondie) the line-up also boasts a collective of quintessentially British bands who have helped shape British music over the years (The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Paul Weller).

The sheer number of bands playing the festival's three days (and Thursday night!) makes it almost impossible to see every band you want to. So we've picked ten of the greatest acts that- if for some reason Isle Of Wight 2013 hosted only these bands- would still mean your pilgrimage to the mecca of Seaclose Park would be thoroughly justified...

10. Happy Mondays

Thursday night It€™s undeniable that there€™s a €˜Madchester€™ themed sheen to the line-up at Isle Of Wight this year: North West England indie veterans The Farm, Happy Mondays & The Stone Roses are all set to play a large part. Few bands would be better to kick off proceedings on Thursday night than a reinvigorated Happy Mondays. Their universally loved first three albums (released in 1987, 1988 & 1989) galvanised a flagging UK music scene left reeling after the acrimonious departure of The Smiths. Frontman Sean Ryder was the very antithesis of Morrissey- brash and bold. His raw brand of urban alt-rock, with its uniquely accented delivery, walked the perfect indie tightrope between sharp inspired imagery and manic incomprehensibility. Expect a funk filled set of the slickest and baggiest grooves to get you in the mood for the weekend. The thirty somethings will be pining for the €˜good old days€™ and those too young to know who the hell Bez is will be Happy Mondays fans come the end of the night. Maracas optional. Key track: Step On For fans of: The Stones Roses, The Charlatans