Stereophonics drummer Jamie Morrison loves the Isle of Wight "for many reasons" - and the beloved Welsh band are ready to headline the Isle of Wight Festival for the fourth time.
The band, who recently celebrated their ninth number one album, will close the Saturday night of the festival.
Jamie, who has been a member of Stereophonics since 2012, is ready for the show on the Island.
Jamie said: "I love the Isle of Wight for many reasons.
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"Stereophonics have a great history with Isle of Wight - I've headlined the place once in 2016, but as a band, this will be the fourth time.
"It's nice to come back - it's the Isle of Wight Festival, it's like Glastonbury or Woodstock."
Jamie knows the Isle of Wight Festival well. On top of his show with Stereophonics, he performed with The Noisettes in 2009.
Most recently, he played the festival's River Stage with 86TVs in 2024, with Felix, Hugo and Will White.
Last time Stereophonics played the Isle of Wight Festival, Jamie watched the sun rise on the beach.
He said: "The adrenaline after the shows were so intense that I wouldn't be able to sleep for hours and hours and hours.
"I remember going back to the hotel after headlining, and I couldn't go to sleep, so I was just walking around the Isle of Wight at 4am.
"I remember the sun coming up, and I was just walking and I ended up on the beach, in awe of the moment and processing what had happened. I'll never forget that."
Stereophonics are in the thick of their world tour, promoting new album Make 'em Laugh, Make 'em Cry, Make 'em Wait.
Their slot at the Isle of Wight Festival comes after a successful tour of the US and Europe, and before two huge shows at Cardiff's Principality Stadium in July.
Jamie and the band are enjoying the challenge of playing the new songs as they are incorporated into the band's muscle memory and identity.
He said: "They feel new, and the other songs are really bedded in and you can play them with your eyes closed - so I think it keeps you on your toes.
"I would say the new songs, you get butterflies when you see them on the setlist and you're still trying to find where it sits live.
"On this world tour, we've played 30 shows so far, and I'd say you play it 100 times to get there, so we're not there yet."
The Saturday night show promises to be a spectacular event from the beloved band, rising to the occasion of the iconic festival.
Jamie said: "There's a lot more pressure, self imposed pressure - you're more aware of the magnitude of the event when you're closing rather than when you're just part of the bill.
"I think the magnitude of headlining it will always be something that will stick in your memory, it's the top of the food chain, so to speak.
"It's the biggest it could be."
Stereophonics headline the Isle of Wight Festival on Saturday, June 21.
Also playing across the weekend (June 19 to 22) are Sting, Justin Timberlake, Faithless, Jess Glynne and The Script.
