Ventnor Blog

The first heat of The IOW Short Film Festival takes place tonight at Quay Arts.

If you pop along tonight there will be a chance to view the best of the First Heat entries in the Anthony Minghella Theatre at Quay Arts who are kindly supporting this Festival.

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We see in Yachting Monthly today that BT Openzone and Reeds Online Almanac have got together to create a competition that might be of interest to our readers.

All you have to do is nominate your local marina and you’re in with a chance to win free installation of a BT Openzone wireless broadband (WiFi) hotspot, plus a year’s subscription to BT Openzone and Reeds Online Almanac publication.

You’ll also have a chance to meet Dame Ellen MacArthur at Cowes Week, on Thursday 7th August, as a guest of BT.

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With news just in from Bestival HQ that they’ve just sold out of weekend tickets for Camp Bestival, anyone who entered our Camp Bestival ticket comp but weren’t lucky enough to be picked out of the hat might be interested in this comp being run by The Times.

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Are you 4-11 years old?

Do you like to read?

Join in the ‘Team Read’ this summer at Ventnor Library starting Saturday 19th July.

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The time has come to announce the lucky winner of a family ticket for Camp Bestival which takes place in just over a week’s time.

Two adults and two under 16s will be enjoying free entrance and camping courtesy of those lovely folk at Bestival HQ.

The response to this competition has been unprecedented. We’ve had entries from all over the Island as well as the mainland, including such far flung places as London and Cardiff. (more…)

The Isle of Wight Film Network has launched its first short film competition and festival.

The Isle of Wight Short Film Festival is set to give a voice - and prizes - to the Island’s best filmmakers.

There are quarterly heats at the Quay Arts Centre, ending with a final festival in July 2009 where a Jury Award and an Audience Award will be presented for the best films.

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THE COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.

Those generous folk at Bestival HQ have given us a family ticket for the forthcoming Camp Bestival to give away.

As usual, the competition is open to all readers both on the Wight and ‘overseas’ (that mean you mainlanders) and given the festival takes place in just under three weeks, we’ll kick the comp off today and give you until Monday to send in your answers.

For the chance to win two adult tickets plus two under 16 passes all you have to do is answer the following question. (more…)

Don’t forget music lovers and Bestival fans, that tomorrow night sees the grand final of the Bestival Island Band and DJ Competition.

Rob Da Bank and friends will be making up the usual panel of music experts to decide which of the following acts cut the mustard for the Bestival audience in September.

The range, as always and just the Island itself, is pretty diverse, from the likes of The Guy Page Trio, to The Shanklin Freakshow. Magic Octagon (who recently played IW Festival main stage), The Steam Machine and The Kurves all join the lineup.

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Congratulations to the five bands and three DJs who have made it through to the Bestival Bands Competition.

After winning the votes of the public, next week playing in front of an esteemed panel of judges will be the Guy Page Trio, The Shanklin Freakshow (finalists in the IW Festival BOTB Comp), Magic Octagon (who recently won the IW Festival BOTB Comp, The Steam Machine and The Kurves.

Spinning the vinyl to win over the judges will be Jordan Peak (pictured), Mistubishop and Duvstar and DJ Steel. (more…)

As well as the various Island based Battle of the Bands to play Ise of Wight Festival this year, BT, the main sponsors also gave bands from around the UK the chance to win a spot on the main stage too.

There was a shortlist of 10 bands, who battled it out at the BT Tower in Central London.

The lineup on the night included; 3tl, A Day At The Movies, Elysium. Hreoes of She, Jellobox, The Low Lights, The Restaurant, The Tempus, The Velcros and We See Lights.

The seven-strong Edinburgh group, We See Lights, managed to woo the judges with their music, which they describe on their MySpace page as Black Metal/A’cappella/Chinese traditional. Well done to the band, we look forward to checking them out on the 15th.

Many thanks to Keith Wolton our ticket competition winner for sending in this review of Saturday night’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Revolution. If you went along, why not share your experience with our readers too? Ed

Well, I was delighted when I found that I’d won tickets for this event in the VentnorBlog competition, who could I take along?

The Mrs regards this type of music as only suitable for ‘old fogies’ and No.1 son is more into Metallica and turned down the opportunity, so I called on trusty friend and fellow guardian of good musical taste, Ricardo.

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Many thanks to everyone who entered the competition to win tickets to Saturday night’s performance of the Rock N Roll Revolution at the Ventnor Winter Gardens.

Congratulations to Keith Wolton, who not only answered both questions correctly but was the first name pulled out of the hat this morning. (more…)

As you heard earlier today, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Revolution is coming to Ventnor this weekend. The show features The TTs (see below) and The Shakers.

Music Promoter and the man behind the event, Peter Stockton has been in touch and kindly offered two tickets for Saturday’s gig to VentnorBlog readers. We know that there are many of you out there who appreciate music from this era, so are sure you’ll jump at the chance of a free night out.
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Thanks to everyone who entered our ticket competitions this week.

The winner for the Koolwaters competition is Christian Harrison from Ryde who gave the correct answer that Marc Vedo’s hometown is Bristol.

Terry Watkis from Gunnard gave us the correct answer to the question for the DJ Format comp.
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The SQ2SQ 2008 team are group of firefighters who will be cycling from St Thomas’ Square in Newport to the Vatican Square in Italy this coming September. The purpose of their marathon cycle is to raise funds and awareness for the Wessex Cancer Trust.

Recently, John Giddings, the organiser and promoter of the Isle of Wight Festival donated a pair to Festival tickets to the group and they are today launching a prize draw that anyone can enter. (more…)

Fancy going out for free on Friday night? Well you can with our two ticket competitions.

We have something for everyone with Hip Hop in the shape of DJ Format and Mr Thing in Ryde and house music with live percussion, vocals and saxophone supporting Marc Vedo (Koolwaters) in Newport.

The questions are pretty simple (hint if you use wikipedia or google) and you could bag yourself two tickets to either event. Follow the links and enter tonight - we’ll be choosing winners at lunchtime tomorrow.

Well done to Magic Octagon who wowed the judges sufficiently last night to gain themselves a place on the Bandstand at the Isle of Wight Festival next month (yes, it’s only six weeks away).

Commiserations to the other finalists, The Kurves, The Shanklin Freak Show, Siniez and Kids Will Be Skeletons who we hear put in fantastic performances, making it all the harder for the judges to come to a decision. (more…)

If a classical recital or bumping hip hop were not your thing, but you’re feeling lucky and fancy a damn good dance this Friday night, listen up, because Hold on Tight Promotions are giving away two tickets for what’s set to be a bonkers night (a few tickets still available).

They’ll be hosting a Koolwaters gig at Chicago Rock and have none other than Marc Vedo (checkout his tunes) gracing our shores with his tight set and live percussionists in tow.

Once again the Isle of Wight has been chosen by promoters to be included in a European tour. Other dates on his current tour include Seoul, South Korea; Heart Club, Russia; Italy with Boy George; Jakarta, Indonesia; Eden, Ibiza, Spain, the list, as they say, goes one.

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It’s that time of year, when there are competitions galore to play at the Isle of Wight Festival and this weekend it’s the turn for the Wightnoize Auditions.

Although we don’t have a full programme of who is playing, we do know that you can expect to see The Emily Jane Band, Skyline Heroes and Goodbye Stereo amongst others.

With industry experts on the judging panel, offering constructive feedback to the bands, this is a great opportunity for talented Island musicians, with the potential prize of playing at the festival being an added bonus.
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This Friday, Ryde Theatre will be welcoming the rather incredible DJ Format to the stage for a bonkers four decks, two mixer show with Mr Thing.

Yet another coup for Ryde Theatre in managing to attract such a big name in the world of Hip Hop and with local support in the guise of Wills O’Steel and DJ Mewtant, this should be a night to remember for all hip hop lovers.

Those lovely people at Happyfeet Productions have kindly donated two tickets for the gig on Friday night which you could win if you enter our simple competition.
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It’s nail biting stuff, last week Battle of the Bands winners, Kosmik Debris were announced, tomorrow night sees the finals of the Live Wired competition and this coming weekend sees the Wight Noize finals.

Up on stage tomorrow night will be Siniez, Magic Octagon, The Shanklin Freakshow, and in change to the line due to Goodbye Stereo being signed by IOW Music (nice one Rodders), Kids Will Be Skeletons and The Kurves will be taking their place.

Kicks off at 8pm and will cost thee only three quid to get in. Tidy.

(oh yeah, it’s at The Studio, behind the bus station, Newport)

Many thanks to everyone who entered the competition to win a pair of tickets to The Ventnor Recital taking place this Saturday night.

The answer to the question …

“Where did composer Edward Elgar stay when he visited Ventnor in 1889 for his honeymoon?”
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This is the time of the year that arty type people in the town and around, finish of their works of art and craft and get ready for the MacNaughton Howe Arts and Craft Festival in the Winter Gardens.

This year it is on 15th May 1-6pm and 16th May 10-5pm.

Schedules are available in many shops in the town such as Rainbows, Seasons etc

Entries are still being accepted - ring 853843. With so many classes to compete in, there is still time to rustle up a quick gem!

[We can’t wait to see what the Dolls House people have created this year! Ed]

As you may have read earlier, Island musical celebrity and world class violinist, Richard Studt (don’t worry that’s not him on the left) will be gracing our town once again next week and bringing two musical chums with him.

Richard Studt, horn player Michael Thompson and pianist Tim Carey will be playing a recital at St Catherine’s Church on Saturday night.

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Many thanks to Sandy from the IOW FIlm Network for reminding us about this great new competition and film festival. It was launched a couple of months ago, but reminders are going out again as the deadline for entries draws closer.

The Isle of Wight Short Film Festival will be taking place in July 2009 with quarterly heats at Quay Arts kicking off this summer.

The Festival will be an opportunity for the Island’s best filmmakers to have a voice and a chance to grab not only a Jury Award but also an Audience Award, which will be presented for the best films.
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