Isle of Wight music success from Wet Leg to Isle of Wight Festival

For those who somehow haven’t already heard of them, Wet Leg is an Island-born band that is making some serious waves.

Today (Friday), they’re in Paris, playing to 80,000 people alongside Harry Styles.

As Islanders, it’s certainly thrilling to have such home-grown talent on the big stage.

We should be proud, we should be excited, but there’s one thing I don’t think we should be: surprised.

Personally, I’m not shocked that our Island has played a part in Britain’s latest musical success.

Music feels like an integral part of growing up here. It’s a talent that is nurtured, and the chance to make a career of it doesn’t feel far-fetched or a pipe dream — it feels tangible.

Every Saturday morning, my sister and I headed to Medina for Music Centre, where we first experienced the buzz of playing alongside other musicians.

We played our electric guitars at a special concert at Ryde Town Hall — Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water featured prominently, as always with young guitarists — and became hooked on the thrill of playing to an audience.

As a teenager, I was envious as my more-talented friends joined Platform One, the top-notch music school where the Wet Leg frontwomen Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers first met.

I watched those in bands play at venues like the Blacksheep Bar and Strings.

We weren’t turned down because we were under 18. Instead, the nights felt cool and adult, and the performers became even more determined to make a living out of their music.

As far as I’m aware, this hasn’t changed. In fact, to see young bands playing at Strings these days, sometimes you need to queue for hours to get in.

The queue to get into Strings for a recent Platform One Saturday Rock School gig. (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

Bands from Platform One featured in the Island’s Coronation celebrations.

Then, of course, there’s the festivals.

The Isle of Wight Festival is obviously the most famous — and it’s especially fun to tell Overners the exceptionally cool fact that Jimi Hendrix played his last gig in England in west Wight — but Rhythmtree and the Jack Up events also give young Islanders unrivalled access to live music.

This was especially true when Bestival was here, too, with its slightly smaller feel and free tickets for children under 12.

And it’s not just rock or indie music.

Islanders who performed musical theatre songs every Sunday at Shanklin Theatre’s Spotlight have gone on to perform in the West End.

Millie O’Connell, now 26, was nominated for an Olivier award when she was just 22 for her performance as Anne Boleyn in the musical Six, for example.

So while we’re rightfully famous for our festivals, they are actually only part of the Island’s great music scene.

I won’t be surprised if the next big British band is inspired while watching Wet Leg headline the Isle of Wight Festival in a few years’ time.