We caught up with the John Giddings (Isle Of Wight Festival Director) to discuss all things Isle of Wight, present, past and future on the day that he announced the chance for six unsigned bands to perform at the festival. 

When I interviewed you last year, the first thing that you said was that you were ‘the luckiest man in the world that the festival hadn’t taken place on the usual weekend’, did you still feel that way after the festival? 

Yes, the truth of the matter is there had been so much rain prior to the weekend it was originally planned for it would have been physically impossible to pull it off. The ground did actually dry up a bit before the onslaught of that bad weather, at one point we were advised to cancel it but we were not prepared to do that. We pulled through and made it happen and had the best event we’ve ever had so we’re really proud of it. 

What contingencies do you have in place in the event of bad weather again this summer? 

We’ve doubled the size of the car park, we’ve doubled the entrances and exits. My job is to work with the services to make sure it doesn’t happen again. People are used to queuing up for 12 hours to get in or out of Glastonbury but I don’t want us to be the same. Believe you and me we have systems in place to avoid a recurrence of that incident. 

Systems are go? 

Yes, systems are absolutely go, come on down! I don’t want to be pushing cars in car parks again! 

Did you feel let down at all by the Isle of Wight community? 

I feel I was let down by some of the services, but I’m in charge so have to be responsible. There was a license review called by one of the companies on the island which showed quite openly that we were let down by certain organisations, we do not intend for that to happen again either.

But we’re responsible and we are prepared to take it on the chin, we are going to improve it. 

Exciting day, you’re setting up a competition. 

Yes we’ve had nearly 200 entries in a couple of hours already it’s incredible. We were getting 10 to 15 applications a day just through Facebook and the website, so we thought well why don’t we run a proper competition.  My ambition in life is to benefit young musicians because once upon a time I believed I was actually capable of being a musician.

Thankfully I learnt early I wasn’t, I was better at booking the gigs than performing. But it would be great to enhance somebody’s career going forward, because we need headliners of the future. We need to help these people and I’d love to discover a new band that I really like and help bring them on. 

This is such a great opportunity, how are you going to get a shortlist, are you listening to it and judging it? 

Yes, we’re listening to a track from each one and then we’re having an inside panel judging the 12 best who come and play in London in March, at which point we will choose the 6 to perform at the festival. 

Who will be on this panel? 

I’m talking to people at the moment, we’re talking to James Walsh from Star Sailor. Jim Duguid who wrote the Paolo Nutini album and was the drummer. These are accomplished people who know what they’re talking about. It depends who’s available at the time. Probably a producer, a musician plus an A & R man. 

You said previously that last year’s headliners fell into place after years of trying to book some of those people. How did you go about trying to get your headliners for this year? 

The Stone Roses are one of my favourite groups of all time so as they are still together it was a no brainer. Bon Jovi came about because I thought, who the heck could give as much energy and performance as Bruce Springsteen did last year and it was obvious that Bon Jovi were right for that and they really wanted to play for the festival.

I saw The Killers last year and they really have risen to the plate now they’re up there with Coldplay and U2, they’re capable of that kind of stadium performance. 

How did you manage to get The Boomtown Rats to reform at the Festival? 

I used to be their agent and Bob was thinking about reforming them, I said well why don’t you come and reform on the Isle of Wight festival Sunday afternoon. I didn’t realise he’s mates with Bon Jovi and it all came together, it’s got worldwide press it’s extraordinary. 

What about Fleetwood Mac? If they hadn’t made their announcement so late in the day might you have considered them? 

Yes, I was attempting to get them before and I certainly have them on my target list for 2014. They would be a great act for us on the Sunday night. But we can’t have everything, as you complete the headliners for one year you start stressing about who you’re going to get for the next year, so the fact there are bands out there willing and available is good. 

You have a very diverse line up this year, something for all ages plus a strong line up for the Dance Tent? 

Yes because it’s about music and it’s to appeal to people that are ages 15-50 it’s not 1 genre of music like Leeds and Reading or the V’s. I believe good music projecting to an audience of young and old alike and everyone having the same enjoyment factor. That’s what kids want, Example in a dance tent. 

People always look at the headliners but you need to look deeper than that because we are primarily a music festival and we want music of the future to enhance it. 

Imagine Dragons are brilliant, I Am Kloot have been around for a long time but they’re beginning to happen. Kodaline are fantastic, there are 2 bands I haven’t announced yet that I’m really pleased and proud about. Jake Bugg obviously. Palma Violets obviously. Maccabees, Willy Mason. The list is endless you know and then there’s the dance tent. 

What kind of non-music related entertainment have you got happening this year? 

The beach is coming back! That’s turned into a really popular attraction with its cocktail bar and fire walkers and stuff like that on it. There’s the cabaret club which has burlesque in it, we’re going to have a pulpit where you can come and give us a sermon if you like. There’s going to be the bohemian woods, secret woods, there are lots of different things materialising. The hip shaker. 

And Finally? 

I’m really pleased and proud with our line-up this year, I think we’ve put systems in place to prevent the problems we had last year. But I mean, that Monday morning I went up to the car park and this punter walked towards me, I thought he was going to chin me and he shook my hand and said it was the best weekend of his life so thank you for the continuing support! Fingers, arms and legs crossed!

Isle of Wight Festival 2013 takes place at Seaclose Park , Fairlee Road , Newport , Isle of Wight , PO30 2EA Thu 13th to Sun 16th June 2013 Tickets on sale HERE.

Click here to read more about the Isle Of Wight unsigned band competition. Entry form Here for submission to the competition.