Some of Gatwick Airport's short-haul destinations have been chosen as the unlikely inspiration behind a range of acts at this year's iconic Isle of Wight Music Festival.

For British Airways (BA) is providing a stage for emerging talent at the festival this year. Ten brand new acts from around the UK and Europe will be given the opportunity to play to crowds of up to 55,000 from Thursday, June 12, through to Saturday, June 14, on the #BAmusic Stage during the course of the event. The acts, selected by British Airways, have been chosen to represent some of the short-haul destinations the airline flies to from Gatwick.

The list will bring together artists from Spain, France, Italy and Croatia, as well as the UK.

Colm Lacy, British Airways’ head of commercial at Gatwick, said: “We have many loyal customers attending the Isle of Wight festival who fly with us each year, and the #BAmusic stage will give them the chance to see and enjoy exciting new talent from destinations across our network.”

He said: “We hope to see the artists we are showcasing flying with us in a few years, playing to crowds around the world.” The ten acts British Airways is showcasing will include Baunz from Italy, playing house music, Spain's DJ Tottie, playing Deep house and techno music from the clubs of Barcelona, and France's Xander Milne, playing French disco and house.

BA's British acts will include Bristol folk artist Rebecca Clements, soul performer Harleigh Blu and alternative indie-folk group Champs, who hail from the Isle of Wight itself.

A BA spokesman said: “British Airways staff will also be on hand with essential items to help keep everyone refreshed and feeling great. “Visitors to the #BAmusic stage and readers of Time Out magazine will also be given the opportunity to win tickets to see the acts performing in their own country and explore their local music scenes later on in the year.”

The event follows the success of last summers ‘#BABeachside’ event on Brighton beach.

Tickets to the Isle of Wight festival are available from: www.isleofwightfestival.com