Ventnor Blog

As you will have heard on the podcast with Janet Harrison that we ran yesterday, the new Studio Cafe will be officially launching next Wednesday evening.

Everyone is welcome along to the launch which kicks off at 7.30pm.

It should be a great affair, with an opportunity to sample some of the culinary delights on offer from the cafe, whilst local folk musician Seb, will be providing musical entertainment.

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The Big Bike returns to the Wight in a couple of weeks time to help raise funds for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

The bike need 15 riders and every seat is sponsored. It’ll travel around various locations on the Wight, where the teams have their fun filled ride.

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Following the success of their debut night at Oakfield Football Club in Ryde last month, The Electro Magnetic Workshop will be returning tomorrow night.

They have been given a chance to host their own night of goulish entertainment at the football club every 2nd Friday of each month for the foreseeable future.

This will be a night of Goth and Industrial Rock.

Starting with some DJs and a live set with the Electro Magnetic Workshop. (more…)

As part of the Open Studio event taking place next week, Ventnor Artist, Teresa Grimaldi and her sister Catherine invite you along to an open evening at their studios in Madeira Road, Ventnor.

You might have caught Teresa at the beginning of the year at the Learning Curve Gallery at Quay Arts, where she took residency for a month.

It was a great exhibition and we’re looking forward to future exhibitions of Teresa’s work at Quay Arts next year.

As an added incentive, keep your eyes open for the Isle of Wight Arts Directory, which you’ll find scattered around the Island.

There are a number of them which have hand drawn illustrations under Teresa’s entry in the directory.

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It’s that time of year again when several gardens in Bonchurch will open to the public.

If you fancy a good nose around someone else’s pansies, then head over to Bonchurch on either Saturday or Sunday between 2-5pm.

There are usually around 11 gardens open and you can buy a programme from either the Post Office (that quaint little one opposite the pond) or from St Boniface Church where you can also stop for a cream tea - open between 2.30pm and 5.30pm.

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Acoustics at the Altar returns to St John’s Church in Ryde next month.

If you’re a Janis Joplin fan then you’ll want to check out Bex Marshall when she comes to the Wight.

Her music is described as an explosion of blue-hot acoustic roots rock poker twisted with a whippin’ of bluegrass.

Bex Marshall has character and her songs prove it.

An artist of jaw dropping talent; a guitarist with a unique melting pot of a voice Joplin Soul, Bonnie Rait slide and the originality of Memphis Minnie.

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It’s almost that time of year again, when the general public get a chance to tour around the studios of the Island’s talented artists.

Each year the Council’s Arts Unit and Quay Arts team up to produce the Isle of Wight Arts Directory, a comprehensive guide to artists, galleries and arts events on the Wight including Open Studios.

The dates for the Open Studios have moved this year and will take place over the last two weekends in July.

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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 Ryde Arts Festival kicks off tomorrow with an arts parade from 1.15pm.

The parade which leaves Dover Park School and proceeds to the Regatta site at the Eastern Gardens via Union Street will this year include Junkanoo Festival musicians and dancers from the Bahamas.

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Wight Balance Photography Plus has a DEBUT exhibition at Ryde Library for the month of July.

You may remember us reporting on the group previously.

They meet each Wednesday night at the Riverside, Newport Wednesday 7.30-9.30.

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This Friday (and every first Friday of the month) sees an opportunity to showcase yourself in front of a friendly audience at Dimbola Lodge.

Kicking off at 8pm and running til 10.30pm the evening, hosted by Catherine Cameron Martin, brings with it Music, Poetry, Readings, Short Stories or Jokes, alongside personal interpretations of covers.

Feel free to take a bottle with you to enjoy or share (depending how generous you are).

It’ll cost you £2.00 for the pleasure and there is no need to book in advance.

Image: hiddedevries

Glyn Taylor’s Live and Local show this coming Sunday will feature interviews with Max Edermaniger, Paul McCan and ExRacerboy.

The latter two played Making Waves back on 15 May, whilst Max took to the stage the following week.

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This month Quay Arts welcomes three star stand-ups to its Comedy Club on Friday 25th July. Come and hear the warm and witty (and deaf!) Steve Day, the mischievous Maff Brown and the engaging Aussie, Aaron Counter.

Steve Day
Steve Day is a truly unique comedian - warm, witty and engaging whilst dealing with the dilemmas of being a deaf man in a hearing world.

Described by The Guardian as ‘revelatory and very funny’ his stories of multiple children, wearing a suit and the problems caused by not knowing how words are pronounced will have audiences in raptures, and his uplifting tales of overcoming the obstacles in his path will leave crowds feeling inspired.

Steve is a favourite at many venues across the UK and abroad, and is quickly establishing himself as one of the most popular and respected acts on the circuit. (more…)

Everyone is welcome at the Ventnor Bonnie-Faces Pre-School Garden Party this summer.

It takes place on Friday next week in the grounds of St Boniface Pre-School, Ventnor.

Do come along to enjoy the fun, cakes and chat.

You don’t need to have children in the pre-school to come along.

Image: Czuczy

With Lil Wight Lies playing the Ventnor Bandstand this coming Sunday, we expect you’re wondering who’ll be on the week after?

This is definitely one that we’ll be laying our blanket on the grass for, because one of our favourite young Island bands will be playing.

The Guy Page Trio have been busy lads over recent months, playing in lots of competitions, taking their place on the bandstand at the Isle of Wight Festival and confirmed for Festibelly in August and White Air in September.

As usual the gig is free, but if the band pass round a hat at the end, do show your appreciation. Gig starts at 2.30pm and ends at 4pm, so don’t be late!

Slipdisc DJ Funkzati (aka Jules Dent) will be teaming up Power FM DJ, Ben Glover next week, as they head to Chicago Rock in Newport.

Jule is one half (along with Sam Woodford from Goodbye Stereo) of the fresh electro/punk sound of Council Estate Supermodels, winners of Pete Tong’s Bedroom Bedlam on his Fasttrax Show for their electro anthem track “Travolta Fever” which managed to gather 48% of the votes.

Action kicks off at 8pm and you’ll be kicked out at 2am. It’ll only cost you £4 to get in, whatever time you arrive.

You might remember last year reading about plans for a new Guide to the Isle of Wight, the focus being on what’s on offer for Kids.

Well, after many months of information gathering, the new guide, published by Brill Books, the publishing arm of registered charity Island 2000 Trust, is about to launch.

The content of the guide, for children and their families who visit the Island, has been written and illustrated by Island children and it’s launch takes place at Quay Arts on Saturday 12 July.

So what can you expect to find in this new guide? (more…)

Island Professionals – The “Enjoy Being Single” No. 1 social group for single people on the Isle of Wight is celebrating their 20th year on July 19th at Gurnard Pines.

Members, former members and their family members (over 18) are invited to attend what promises to be a great reunion of old friends and the opportunity to make many new ones.

Non member singles will also be warmly welcomed to what promises to be a fun and enjoyable event. Expect live band entertainment, a Magic Circle artiste and buffet. (more…)

A lovely garden providing the setting for its delightful 18th century house, the Ventnor Botanic Garden Friends’ Society have been invited by Mr and Mrs Taylor to visit Friars Cottage, Church Lane, Northwood on Saturday morning, 5 July, from 10.30 a.m. until noon.

The garden is made up of different rooms with varying themes and plants.

There is a large pool room (handy if it rains) with a large raised deck outside that gives glimpses of the sea.

Coffee/tea and biscuits are included in the entry fee of £2.50.

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Tonight’s offering for local history buffs will be a talk by Joanna Jones title “Where Did The Parson Live?”

As usual it’ll be held in the Masonic Hall in Grove Road and everyone is welcome. They normally last about an hour.

Non members will need to pay £1 for entrance.

These are fantastic meetings well worth every one of the 100 pennies.

Image: The Parson’s Brandy by Stephen Macphail©

With 1875 vessels now registered to take part in the JP Round The Island Yacht Race this Saturday, make sure you find a good spot to watch the boats pass by from.

As well as all the establishments along the seafront, don’t forget that Ventnor Angling Club in Wheelers Bay will be hosting a sumptuous seafood buffet.

Tickets are just £10 and all proceeds will be going to The Fishermen’s Mission. Tickets can be picked up from The Volunteer, Crab & Lobster or the Ale & Oyster.

Cockney knees-up geezers, Chas n’ Dave return to the Ventnor Winter Gardens tonight.

Regular readers might remember that we had a chat with Chas Hodges before their last show at the Winter Gardens in November last year (podcast below).

He’s a smashing guy, very happy to talk about his history in the music industry and how he a Dave (Peacock) got together to form Chas n’Dave. We seem to remember him saying that they do 3 gigs a week, so they’re clearly still pretty popular. (more…)

The Studio might be up for sale, but there are still gigs running at the event.

Chorus Management and Promotion present The Playlist.

Featuring music from two mainland bands, who will be dishing up a mix of ska, funk, punk and reggae will be Junction27 and Shoot The Moon. The second slot on their UK tour sees both bands on the Wight, after entertaining the good people of Newquay the night before. (more…)

After a short break due to the Isle of Wight Festival, Ryde Regatta etc, Making Waves returns to Ryde Theatre on Thursday nights.

The next session takes place on 10 July and performing for your delectation will the Festival 2007 BOTB winners, Siniez.

Ex-Helen Keller/Kody front man, Gareth Icke will also be gracing the stage.

The hunk himself recently made it through to the National final of the Live & Unsigned music competition after being voted ‘Best solo male’ in the Southern Regions.

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Don’t forget that Age Concern will have their usual information and advice session taking place tomorrow at the Ventnor Library. Everyone is welcome to pop and discuss any problems they might have with the Age Concern team.