IT’S the summer of 69 again on the Isle of Wight as preparations for Saturday's Million Dollar Bash festival go into overdrive.

The bash will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bob Dylan’s iconic appearance at the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival of Music.

On Tuesday, folk legend Julie Felix led a gathering on the 1969 festival site in Woodside Bay, Wootton.

Julie – who played shortly before Dylan hit the stage half a century ago – was joined by IW artist Alex Williams, who has just completed a new oil-on-canvas painting of Dylan performing on the Island, and rock’n’roll sculptor Guy Portelli with two works inspired by the festival.

They came together in front of a backdrop of original 1969-70 IW Festival sound gear and mixers presented by CH Vintage Audio, including a larger-than-life backdrop of Dylan performing at the festival.

Julie sang several songs including Dylan’s Chimes of Freedom.

She said: “It’s incredible to think I am back on the site where I performed all those years ago alongside some wonderful artists, including Bob Dylan, of course.

"And, incredibly, I am playing through the same sound system, too.

"I’m looking forward to playing at the bash on Saturday. It should be a lovely anniversary event.

"I’ve said the Isle of Wight in 1969 was the aristocracy of festivals.”

The bash was given the seal of approval on Tuesday from the man who revived the IW Festival in 2002, promoter John Giddings.

He said: “It is great to honour the 1969 IW Festival. Without Bob Dylan, the Isle of Wight would not be so famous worldwide.

“His appearance helped create an iconic event which we are proud to follow in the footsteps of.

“Come gather round people. Good luck to the Million Dollar Bash.”

To complete the scene, Chris Hewitt, of CH Vintage Audio, had his musician son Tom Hewitt on hand, dressed as Bob Dylan in white suit and yellow shirt, chipping in with a Dylan song or two.

Also on the bill on Saturday are folk-rock legend Richard Thompson, rockers Wishbone Ash, Jacqui McShee’s Pentangle and Phil May and Dick Taylor from the Pretty Things.

The bash is being held at the County Showground, near Cowes.