SOUTHAMPTON indie stars The Novatones are returning to the Isle of Wight Festival in June for what could be their biggest show so far.

The local four-piece have been handed a highly-prized slot on the number two Big Top stage meaning they’re featured on the main festival poster beneath headliners The Who, Stereophonics, Queen and Faithless.

“It’s brilliant news” singer-songwriter Anthony Pitman told the Daily Echo.

“We’ve always loved the festival so see our name alongside such legends is a dream come true. We’re already counting the days until it starts!”

Frontman Anthony, drummer Sean Swift, guitarist Mackenzie Gordon-Smith and bassist Toby Hornby-Patterson are veterans of IoW and will be one of the very few bands to play three consecutive years.

But, as Anthony explained, for a moment it seemed as if their return in 2016 wasn’t going to happen.

“Festival supremo John Giddings had initially said we’d be able to return to the Hard Rock stage in 2016, so we were already buzzing.

“But when that line-up was published we weren’t on it so we thought we’d missed our chance. John confirmed that news, so we thought nothing more about it.

“Then minutes later he emailed to explain The Novatones had a place on the Big Top stage instead. We couldn’t believe it! We can’t thank John enough for his enduring support.”

The lads played a raucous Friday evening set on the Hard Rock stage in 2015 and were part of The Strongbow Garden Arena line-up in 2014. Their home-grown journey at one of the World’s most celebrated festivals is a fantastic story.

“We’re already working on ideas for our set, including some new tunes that we’re really excited about” said Anthony. “But we’ll be playing some older favourites too” he added.

The Novatones were famously the first band on the main stage at last year’s hugely successful inaugural Common People festival which returns next month. They also recently supported Welsh break-through band Pretty Vicious at The Joiners.

Next month, along with Southampton’s The Lost Boys, the band are set to be one of the first headline acts at The Hangar, a new music entertainment venue at Eastleigh’s Silverlake stadium.

Southampton's own cheeky cover band The Lounge Kittens are also on the Isle of Wight Big Top line up, alongside the likes of Australian indie-pop sibling trio Germein Sisters, multi-instrumentalist Simon Townshend, atmospheric rock ‘n’ rollers Bang Bang Romeo, powerful rockers The Carnabys and the BBC Radio 2 A-listed Kerri Watt.

The Isle of Wight Festival takes place at Seaclose Park, IoW from June 9 to 12. Tickets at isleofwightfestival.com.

RICHARD DERBYSHIRE