Bob Dylan at the Isle of Wight Festival 1969

2019 marks the golden anniversary of the mass musical gatherings that saw the hippie generation at their 1969 zenith. Two events stand out, staged with days of each other that magical August: in the United States, there was Woodstock, and in the UK the Isle of Wight Festival of Music. Woodstock drew 400,000 fans and a quality bill that was a ‘Who’s Who’ of contemporary talent – all bar Bob Dylan – whom the organisers hoped to lure on the doorstep of his home.

Instead, Dylan opted to headline at the Isle of Wight, in front of close to 200,000 adoring fans.

‘There were people as far as the eye could see, it was surrealistic to just look out and not be able to see where the crowd ended. Dylan was waiting to go on outside his caravan and we talked for a long time. I consider that one of the little islands of memory I will always cherish.’ – Julie Felix, 1969 IoW Festival co-star.