To my knowledge there isn’t a song about crossing the Solent on the ferry, as it may not have the quite the same aura as crossing the Mersey. It does, however, have close links to popular music and is only a short crossing to an Island offering great entertainment.
I am, of course, referring to the festivals that are hosted on the IOW, notably Bestival and the official Isle of Wight festival. The Isle of Wight festival is the biggest of the two festivals, and stretches back to the late sixties when ‘flower power’ was all the rage. The list of famous past performers is legendary, and includes a who’s who of rock and popular music culture. Nowadays the festival is a good starting point for up-and-coming bands, which are able to taste the atmosphere of playing in front of a crowd that regularly exceeds 50,000 people.
Bestival is the freshest of the Island festival attractions, having only been established for 8 or 9 years. It is perhaps better known for its carnival atmosphere, with a huge importance on radio djing and the special associated sounds. Bestival organisers dream up a new theme each year for the fancy dress, allowing revellers to dream up there own inspiration. The ultimate accolade for the best fancy dress costume is a lifetime free entry to Bestival. Quite a good return on a little bit of extra time spent developing an idea with sticky glue and old clothing!
If you are intending travelling to one of the festivals next year, then you will have to make the trip via one of the available Isle of Wight ferries in operation. Two ferry terminals are available for passengers to and from the island: one for foot passengers, and the other for those travelling with a vehicle.
