BANANARAMA - FRIDAY NIGHT LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL

FRIDAY NIGHT LINEUP ANNOUNCED FOR ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL

The organisers of the Isle of Wight festival have announced the Friday night lineup for this year's event, with the Big Top stage taken over by all-female artists for Girl's Night Out.

The first night of the three-day festival from Seaclose Park, Newport, will be headlined by veteran girl group Bananarama, as well as performances from Ladyhawke, Alesha Dixon, Beverley Knight and Eddi Reader.

The festival, now in its eighth year, starts on Friday 12th June and expects to welcome around 50,000 music fans through its gates this year.

The Friday night will be kicked off by up-and-coming soul singer Pixie Lott, who will be followed by Fairground Attraction's former leading lady and folk singer Eddi Reader.

Beverley Knight is expected to follow up her sell-out 2007 tour with a performance of old and new hits, while indie rockers Noisettes and Comic Relief Kilimanjaro climber Alesha Dixon will play later in the evening.

New Zealander Ladyhawke is the penultimate act of the night singing Paris is Burning and Dusk til Dawn, before Bananarama top the bill with a back catalogue of over 25 years of hits to choose from.

The festival, which runs until Sunday 14th June, will also feature headline acts The Prodigy, Stereophonics, Razorlight, Neil Young and Pixies.