Blossoms singer hails Oasis star for Isle of Wight Festival inspiration

The lead singer of Blossoms has said Oasis was his motivation to get into songwriting as he took to the main stage at the Isle of Wight Festival ahead of his inspiration Liam Gallagher.

Stockport-based band Blossoms played before the 50,000-strong crown on the Saturday night of the event, which is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its first incarnation.

Front man Tom Ogden of Blossoms, who have been touring with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, told Absolute Radio: “The reason why I started writing songs is probably because of Oasis and mine and Joe’s first concert was Oasis, Heaton Park in 2009.”

Liam Gallagher played a number of Oasis songs during his hour-long sundowner set starting with Rock ’n’ Roll Star, saying to the crowd: “Because there aren’t too many of us left”.

He ended his show with Live Forever and Wonderwall, which got the crowds singing along.

Depeche Mode took the Saturday-night headline slot, with other highlights during the weekend including The Killers,Travis and Van Morrison.

James Bay told Absolute Radio that playing the festival was the pay-off from playing many smaller, sometimes empty gigs.

He said: “Every day that I continue to get to do this is as important as the last one and as important as the next one.

“Because you’re trying to make the next one happen. I’ve played to empty rooms in my own hometown where I thought I might be someone, once upon a time.”

Actor Colin Firth was seen at the Hard Rock Stage watching his son Luca play in his band Wednesday and footballer Peter Crouch was spotted in the crowd watching Kasabian as well as kicking a ball around with friends on the festival site.

To mark the “golden jubilee” anniversary, thousands of people turned out in gold outfits and covered in glitter.

The first festival on the island was held in 1968 and went on to feature performances from legendary artists such as Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and The Who – before the event was cancelled following an invasion of 500,000 hippies in 1970.

This led to an act of parliament banning open-air gatherings of more than 5,000 people on the island without a special licence from the council.

Music agent John Giddings revived the event in 2002 and it has gone on to feature some of the world’s top artists including David Bowie, Foo Fighters, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Jay-Z, Coldplay and Fleetwood Mac.