Ventnor Blog

This year, a bumper variety show is being organised for Ventnor and there is something very special for the kiddies too.

There are some great ‘variety show’ acts lined up for the performance such as the Jubilee Tappers, Christa’s Belles, the Wight Satin Ladies Barbershop singers, as well as a sing-along led by Ernie Jackson, Rosemary Hill and Marlene Cass.

During the interval there’ll be a disco of Christmas rock ‘n’ roll favourites, but topping the bill this year will be none other than Mr David Randini bringing you his very special brand of Christmas magic.

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Weaving a narrative crammed with glorious music, dance and song, A Life in the Year brings the rich diversity of traditional custom into full-throated and fine-fettled life at Quay Arts later this month.

A Life in the Year bathes the ordinary in a new light and stirs curiosity and surprise about the many secret elements of our year.

A Life in the Year is an ‘around the sun in 80 minutes (or so)’ romp through the wealth of glorious music, song and dance that marks and punctuates the English seasons.
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It’s that time of year again when, for a couple of quid a week you can polish up on or pick up a new skill.

Neighbourhood Learning each term offer a fantastic selection of short courses

How about learning how to make felt? Or try your hand at getting creative for Christmas?
Extend your Photoshop skills to make products that you can sell or give as presents, or maybe you fancy shaping up at the Fit-2-Funk sessions.

Whatever your interests, there’s sure to be something for you. Check out the full details and get in touch with Alison to book your place.

Only a few days to go until the first Ventnor StreetStyle Festival kicks off at the skate park on the eastern esplanade.

Organisers will be busying themselves on Saturday morning getting the site prepared with marquees etc, and the action kicks off from about midday.

A great day of activities are lined up and it’s free to get in. If you’re a budding young band or musician, maybe you can try your luck in Ventnor’s very own “Battle of the Bands”.

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It’s almost that time of year again when there is a very strong whiff of garlic in the air. Yes, it’s Garlic Festival time and this year there is a distinctively 70s feel to the event.

First up though, please be aware that if you want to take your pet dog, it will be allowed, so long as it is on a lead, well behaved (watch out for Bert) and cleared up after.

As far as musical entertainment goes, the main stage headliner on Saturday will be none other than Mungo Jerry. They’ve been going since the 1970s (and played at the 1970 Isle of Wight Music Festival) with an ever-changing lineup, but Ray Dorset has been the main thread, keeping the music going over the years.
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Yes, folks there are only five weeks to go until it’s time to pack up your tents and head over to Robin Hill for what is guaranteed to be the best weekend of the year.

As if the brilliant acts already confirmed weren’t enough to whet your appetite, Bestival HQ has just wired us news that even more of your favourite acts will be appearing at Robin Hill over the Bestival weekend.

First up, here’s one for all you electro heads out there, it is the mighty and wondrous Simian Mobile Disco.

Check out this excellent video by Wichita Recordings of The Hustler (probably NWS).

Don’t forget the FreeQuay exhibition at Quay Arts finishes today, rounding off with an evening of film shorts, animation and a live music jam.

Ergo Phizmiz will be in the cafe all day, his itinerary unconfirmed, but expect something ludicrous that you can get involved with.

There are some interesting pieces of artwork up in the cafe (photos to follow) and when I went along on Thursday, some hardworking chaps were in the middle of building a boat shed in the Michael West gallery. They have set up an area for people to make paper boats and decorate them, so you can get involved in the exhibition rather than just spectating.

Once the music jam is over, take a short walk around the corner to The Studio and get ready for a massive night of dance music, courtesy of the SlipDisc DJs, Lady J, Funkzati, Nathan Kyle, AB, Jam, PunchFace and Jakey! Rumour has it the boss man will be spinning some tunes too.

Doors open at 8pm and chucking out time is 2.30am. Should be a good’un.

Thanks to Dave for pointing us to this video of a storm topper dancing in different locations around Tokyo. I just love the way the people on the train try so hard to make it look like they’re not watching.

Now that Ryde Theatre’s has been given (up to) 24 months extension whilst business plans are considered, you’ll be glad to hear that all pre-booked gigs are still going ahead.

So, for Saturday night that means getting your best 60s togs out of the wardrobe and heading up to Lind Street for Hipshaker night.

As well as all the usual suspects, the special guest DJ for the evening is Dom Cater (no, I have no idea either but never mind).

Always guaranteed to get you on the dance floor, so if you don’t fancy heading over to Newport for the Free Quay event or SlipDisc’s Sciatica night, then this’ll be for you.

Doors open at 9pm and you can cut your shapes until 2am. Admission is £5 adv & £6 on the door. Tickets: 01983 568099 / 023 9286 3911

Check The Venue’s website for more info.

News reaches us today that the Tea Dance planned for Sunday afternoon as part of the Ryde Arts Festival will be kicking off at 12.30pm.

The weather forecast is good, so make sure you dress appropriately for the occasion and prepare to be whisked off your feet by the eclectic mix of ballroom music being spun by the music legend, Ergo Phizmiz.

Yes, it’s true, the one man musical movement will be gracing the decks with his incredible collection of vintage vinyl. Expect a few cheeky little new numbers to be slipped in too.

Make sure you take your camera, as the number of photo opportunities should be brilliant.

Watch out on Sunday for the Tea Dance in Ryde as part of the Ryde Arts Festival.

There are plans for a huge dressing up box for the great unwashed (do try to have a shower in the morning if you’re planning to get up close to someone for a tango) to encourage us to take part (and look the part) in the tea dance.

And as if that isn’t enough to get you excited, one bright spark has come up with the idea of Gilbert and Sullivan Karaoke! That will have to be seen to be believed.

Sounds like excellent fun and hats off to the organisers who seem to have lots of brilliant ideas popping out of their heads.

Details of time and location to follow.

[image courtesy of Favini Costume Design]

Next Saturday afternoon, Ryde will play host to what’s set to be a knockout costume parade.

There are expected to be over a thousand pupils and their families taking part (as well as community organisations) who will be showing off their carnival costumes themed around great artists and masterpieces.

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Please don’t forget that tonight is the opening night of the latest production by the Ventnor Theatre Group, ‘In the Spotlight’.

The group of over 70 performers of all ages, will be delivering songs from the West End and Broadway including Chicago (sizzling!), Jesus Christ Superstar (magical!), The Sound of Music (classy) Mamma Mia (for all you closet Abba lovers), Oklahoma (yee haa!) and many more, yes there really is something for everyone! So bring the children, grandparents, your visitors, neighbours and friends, and enjoy a wonderful night’s (or afternoon’s) family entertainment together.

Performances start tonight at 7.30pm, there are two tomorrow (Saturday 2nd) at 2.30pm and 7.30pm, and then Sunday at 2.30pm.

Tickets cost £7.50 for adults and £5.00 for children. You can get your tickets from the box office inside the Winter Gardens Bar or by calling the box office on 01983 857581. Tickets can also be purchased on the door, assuming it hasn’t sold out.

This is amatuer theatre at it’s very best. Please show your support for this local group.

The curators of Shopping Trolley are back on the scene, this time organising FreeQuay. Despite the name, there is nothing to be scared of about the week long event being held at Quay Arts in July.

Based mostly in the cafe area, FreeQuay brings an opportunity for you to showcase your most recent work. The curators are looking for “anything experimental, anything exciting, any medium, anything goes!” The deadline for submissions is 3 July, so there is still plenty of time to get creative.

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You will have read about the new multipurpose community venue for musical, artistic and healing based activities that is called …. the studio.

Well, you couldn’t open a swanky new venue like that without having a cracking launch, and they have a great one lined up for all you fun-loving Islanders.

The opening party will feature the Wight Light Orchestra. Those in the know will recognise some of the band members from their previous works. Heading it up is the cosmic Max Brennan, joined by Louis Soteriou, Jon McMullen, Jack Phoenix (VBs very own Bestival correspondent) tinkering with the ivories, with Al Gubbins and Dave Granshaw on percussion.

Support comes in the form of The Bees Sound Selection and Nick Name.

Kicks off at 8pm and closes at 2am. Entry will cost you £8.

Anyone going along who wants to submit a review (with pics) get in touch.

Some of you will already have heard about the revamp of ClubK in Newport.

And you might also have heard that the dark and (imho) dingey club is to be replaced with a new multipurpose community venue for musical, artistic and healing based activities.

It all sounds great and I look forward to having a look in person as to what they have to offer, but in the meantime, here’s some blurb from their press department.

Just in case you were wondering …. the circle with the dot inside “centers from which energy and communications emanate”.
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I will get around to adding these to the event diary over the next week or so, but in the meantime, have a gander through this list to see if there is anything you fancy so you can stick it in the diary.

10-11 May Macnaughton Howe - Arts & Crafts Festival
Entry schedules from 01983 853843
Open Thursday 10th May 1- 6pm, Friday 10- 5pm

20-24 May International Conference –
Landslides and Climate Change - Challenges & Solutions - see the website

25 May Beverley Craven in Concert
Back on tour, this beautiful woman singing beautiful songs 7.30 for 8pm
Tickets £14.50 or £12,50 in advance

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On Sunday there is a chance to join in some brilliant dance workshops at the Ventnor Youth and Community Centre (opposite Kia Cars on Victoria Street). Street jazz fusion dance is a breathtaking mix of fast, intricate footwork, graceful spins and acrobatic floor moves. I can think of a few Ventnor teens who’d be great at it.

Free for teens and £2 for adults, sounds like it’s well worth a visit, if not to take part, at least to spectate.

Sponsored by StreetStyle, Ventnor Community Projects and Ventnor Youth and Community Centre.

It’s the first Saturday of the month, so that means The Pink Pussycat will be beaming down from his home planet Ughgetupa! to the Castle Inn, Newport. His mission is to kindly remind us of the time when we humans got it right, THE SIXTIES!!

And the Pink Pussycat has sent us a very special message for you:

My dear Earth boppers,

As it is Easter, I intend to groove you so hard that each of you lay your very own egg!

Oh, and not one of those hollow substandard eggs, made of ‘cheep’ second rate funk, containing a measely portion of the manufacturers standard nuggets of grooviness.

I promise that you will all lay your very own rich, creamy, godfather of soul, solid EGG OF FUNK!!

So boppers, usual place, usual time, usual sexy 60’s fun!!

Castle Inn, Newport 9pm-1am, £3 entry

Pink Pussycat

Well, we promised it and here it is … a little earlier than planned, because we’ve just come off the phone from Bestival HQ (blimey - they called us!), and because they love the Island so much (especially Ventnor - and why not?) we’ve been given the exclusive and personal permission from the head honchos to tell the world before the embargo.

“Bestival promoter loves VentnorBlog … John Hughes” these guys really want Island people to be at the Bestival … I guess that’s why they gave Islander tickets when IOW Festival didn’t … and allowed you to buy your tickets over the counter instead of only through Ticketline or whatever ….

Wowser, wowser (whoops, showing my age now), unbelievable …. when I first heard who they were, I nearly fell off my chair, and these are only the first two headliners .. there’s still more to come, but you’ll have to wait a while for that one.

We’re talking old skool here folks …. I think I was still in gymslips at the time (don’t get ideas now), actually - I wasn’t really - just keep pretending I’m far younger than I really am … first up ……

Friday Night: Was just watching a video of theirs yesterday and in awe of how brilliant it was .. drum rolllllllllll …. it’s the Chemical Brothers. How mad is that? If you had to guess, bet you’d never have! The Chemical Brothers are coming to the Isle of Wight!

Here’s that video I was talking about ….

“We’re very excited to be playing at Bestival. It was the best party I went to last summer, I can’t believe we haven’t done it yet, we’re going to rock the house!â€?
Ed Simons, The Chemical Brothers

Just take a moment and allow yourselves to get over that one before I tell you who’s headlining on Saturday night ….

Ready now?

Sure?

OK ….

“Check your head” …

It’s the Beatsie Boys

Yes …

I said … The Beastie Boys

Just incase you’ve frazzled all your brain cells between the 80s and now … here’s a reminder

Delivering old skool and new …. they’re playing not once for your pleasure, but twice. TWICE!

How wonderfully mad (ooh, sound a bit posh there) that the Beastie Boys are coming to the Isle of Wight …. complete and utter respect needs to be shown to Bestival people for getting this lineup (and I’m not talking about the ‘rispekt’ nonsense that flies around the conversation of the youth of today … I’m talking REAL respect, Aretha Franklin style)

Others, Gregory Isaacs, The Levellers, The Orb (what? …. last time we saw them live was at Somerset House, in the pouring rain - watching the laser show through that was awesome), Billy Bragg, The Maccabees, The Cuban Brothers, Dub Pistols, Calvin Harris, Mr Hudson & The Library (last saw them at Newport Library - how rock and roll), Simian Mobile Disco, Bonde De Role, Cagedbaby, Horace Andy, Jah Wobble, Zion Train and Many More Live Acts To Be Announced.

DJs: Francois Kevorkian (ahhh, give me something to hold onto please I think I’m going to faint), Laurent Garnier (get the smelling salts), Gilles Peterson, Tim Westwood, Rob Da Bank, David Holmes, Justin Robertson, Erol Alkan, Ben Watt, Andy C and many more Djs Of the highest calibre.

As if that wasn’t enough, and you know they’ll bring you more … imagine the world’s biggest fancy dress party (I can, I was in the last one - and no-one outside of Bestival will ever beat it), Bollywood Cocktail Bar, Laughter Clubs (Bestival - you need to speak to Max Brennan about laughter therapy - he knows it all), Farmers Market, Kids Area, Morris Dancing (I want to learn this wonderful art, will there be classes?), Magical Moments and everything else you could imagine.

I feel exhausted …. we must’ve done something very good on this Island to be rewarded with so much bliss (all those good vibes at the TM retreat have paid off).

We will be bringing you the latest and the greatest on anything related to Bestival this year.

Be sure to make this your first port of call. Bestival rules.

Ventnor lass, Laura Careless will be travelling to New Orleans in March to help victims of the horrendous hurricane, Katrina.

Laura is currently at the Juilliard School for the performing arts in New York (wowser!) and got involved when a colleague of hers, Caroline Fermin started the project.

About 20 students from the school will be joining Caroline and Laura as they expect to give hands on help for part of the day and then run after school programmes for the kiddies in the afternoon.
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Update: Have just been informed by Rosa that she will not be in this actual production - apologies for the incorrect information (I was going on what was given to me by Quay Arts).

However, Rosa will be performing with another Island dancer in April - details to follow shortly.

Ventnor girl, Rosalind Noctor will be flying the flag at Quay Arts in Newport next week, joining Darkin Ensemble for Fleur Darkin’s adaptation of Augustine.

Paris,1890. Le Salpetriere – a notorious Parisian Asylum. 4000 patients.

He is the world’s greatest living doctor, studying bodies to discover a new science of the mind. She is his favourite case. Admitted to the Salpetriere for paralysis in the right arm and severe attacks of hysteria, her name is Augustine. She is fifteen.

Jerwood-nominated choreographer Fleur Darkin formed the company in 2003. With an emphasis on rhythm and story, Darkin Ensemble creates intricate choreography through a theatrical approach to story, music and humour.

Former student of the Gillian Cartwright School of Dance in Shanklin, Rosa gained her Dance and Performing Arts diploma at Bird Theatre College, after which she was awarded the Frank Cook Bursary. In 2003 she joined London Contemporary’s Performance Company ‘EDge’ and has worked with the ‘Trisha Brown Dance Company’ and took class with Merce Cunningham.

Anthony Minghella Theatre, Quay Arts, Isle of Wight
Ticket Price: £10 / £9
Box Office 01983 822490

The Events diary is down at the moment as we’re in the middle of upgrading the software, so here’s a quick reminder that tomorrow (Friday) night you have another chance to catch Hedgehogs and Honeybeads … this time at the Ventnor Winter Gardens.

The film created by Ventnor lovelies, Martha Moopette and Rosalind Noctor, explores the growth of identity through innovative intermedia pathways and is bursting at the seams with colours, ideas and experiment. Blimey!

The installation at Quay Arts in September proved highly successful, so if you missed it then and spent the next day kicking yourselves, then head down to the Winter Gardens on Friday night - starts at 8pm in the downstairs bar.

Ventnor Winter Gardens, Friday 13 October 2006, 8pm £3 entry

Support local artists and support the Winter Gardens (before it becomes the target for ‘luxury’ seafront apartments).

If you missed the first event in September at Quay Arts, fear not, you have another chance to catch this amazing event on Friday 13th October when Hedgehogs and Honeybeads visits the Ventnor Winter Gardens

Everyone begins as an uncarved block…

How have you become who you are? We all have an identity but how is it formed?

Multimedia artists Martha Moopette and Rosalind Noctor explore the growth of identity through innovative intermedia pathways culminating in an installation, using film, dance, animation, photography, sound and costume, to create a multi-sensory exploration of identity bursting at the seams with colours, ideas and experiment.

Supported by Arts Council England, this is an opportunity to witness exciting and adventurous new work from two of the Isle of Wight’s most ambitious young artists.

Ventnor Winter Gardens, Friday 13 October 2006, 7pm £4 entry

The weather forecast for the weekend is hot and sunny, so give the kids (or yourself) a treat and head down on Sunday to the Ventnor Botanic Gardens for The Big Day Out.

This fun event marks the launch of the Isle of Wight’s Children and Young People Trust, which brings together all of the services on the Island that are working to help children and young people.

There’s the chance to watch this year’s FREE entertainment which is themed ‘Around the World’ and includes Island band Kody, a recycled fashion show, a young people’s dance marquee, arts and crafts activities, face painting, giant sumo suits, gladiator games, sports coaching and tournaments, assault courses, circus skills, art workshops, storytelling, gyroscopes, samba bands, food from around the world, magic shows, bouncy castles and much, much more.

Even if you don’t fancy any of that, a walk in Ventnor’s most beautiful garden is enough to make your day.

It’s all happening between 10.30 and 3.30, and although it’s free, you’ll need a ticket which you can pick up from all public libraries and youth centres on the island, as well as Connexion information points in the High Schools and the College. Don’t forget to pick one up for your mates - they’re going fast.

If you’re driving, only disabled parking will be allowed at the Botanic Garden, so shuttle buses are being run between the gardens and the middle school in Upper Ventnor, where you can park.

For details of how to find the Botanic Gardens (if you’re from far afield), visit their Website