Prodigy kick off Nokia Isle Of Wight Festival

The have kicked off of the Nokia Isle Of Wight Festival by headlining the opening night (June 9).

The electro thrash veterans played a storming greatest hits set as the festivities began at Newport’s Seaclose Park.

Playing crowd favourites like ‘Firestarter’, 'Smack My Bitch' and ‘Breath’, the band pulled out an energetic performance which saw frontmen Keith Flint and Maxim flailing around the stage.

“First and foremost we have buzzy and fresh,” Flint told NME.COM. “It’s got to be exciting and we delivered that.”

Earlier the festival had kicked off with a commuter friendly half day at 5pm, with Morning Runner first on.

Following them were The Rakes who promised to “warm things up” despite the weather already being swelteringly hot.

Playing a typically edgy set, the London band included the likes of ’All To Human’, ‘Retreat’ and ’Strasbourg’ as well as playing new song ’On A Mission’ which frontman Alan Donohue introduced to the crowd as “some new shit”.

Completing the opening day’s line-up, Goldfrapp played a disco glam set including ‘Strict Machine’, which saw the singer flanked by a troop of cabaret dancers dressed in electric blue leotards.

Placebo’s meanwhile used their set to showcase recent album ‘Meds’, including new single ‘Infra Red’.

They also took a leaf out of The Futureheads’ book by covering Kate Bush’s ’Running Up That Hill’, before finishing on old favourite ’Nancy Boy’.

The Nokia Isle Of Wight Festival continues tomorrow (June 10) with Foo Fighters set to headline.

For more from the festival, plus Download 2006, including galleries and blogs check out NME.COM/FESTIVALS now.

The Prodigy tickets: