ONCE the residence of King Charles I, Carisbrooke Castle was home to another king at the weekend – Paul Weller who headlined this year’s Summer Madness Festival.

Taking place in the sweeping fields outside the castle walls, the one day festival is set in one of the most picturesque spots on the Isle of Wight, although we hadn’t turned up for the vistas on Sunday.

Instead we’d come to see a modest line up of bands followed by the Modfather himself, who arrived on the island hot on the heels of a new album release, Wake Up The Nation.

His set therefore was far the hit parade it could have been..

Affirming his latest release was a return to his best, new material seamlessly slotted into a set peppered with classics – and it sounded great.

Yet while new songs like Moonshine (and even tracks off his previous album, 22 Dreams) sounded like future classics, it was the old stuff that made us sing loudest.

That’s Entertainment sounded as fresh as the day it was born and although Shout To The Top didn’t, it got everyone dancing.

From The Floorboards Up, the Changingman and set opener, Peacock Suit were also highlights from his encore-less set.

Earlier in the day local lads, The Bees, distracted us from the threatening clouds with an easy listening set of reggae and jazz infused rock.

A lively jazz blues set from Imelda May convinced me to go and buy her albums – an incredible talent with a great band.

The Brand New Heavies helped us get our groove on with some acid jazz before The Coral delivered their brand of folk rock – Pass It On and Dreaming Of You the highlights.

However, the night belonged to Weller who sent a lot of Vespa drivers home very happy.

Many thanks to Wightlink (0871 376 1000/wightlink.co.uk) who delivered and returned Gavin to the IOW.