Ventnor Blog

Making Waves returns to Ryde Theatre this week with the best of Island Hip Hop.

Born in a Barn have been going from strength to strength this year and will be joined on stage by Ambush Tactics.

Julio Peculio will also be treading the boards on Thursday and welcoming Cooly Haste on stage.

As usual all bands will be interviewed and live sessions recorded for the IW Radio Live & Local slot on Sunday nights between 7-10pm on 102/7fm.

It’ll only cost you £3 to get in and action kicks off at 7pm. Be there to help support your local venue before it gets taken away.

There’s another mention of the Isle of Wight in the national broadsheets this weekend, as Liz Earle is interviewed for The Telegraph celebrity pages.

Liz moved to the Island back in 2001 and brought her hugely successful business with her.

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Island MP, Andrew Turner is not a happy man. Well, not happy with one particular business on the Island.

Everyone is well aware of the increased petrol/diesel prices at the moment and may have heard how some supermarkets have slashed their petrol prices.

Tesco are offering 5p off per litre, but you have to £50 in store first. What Andrew is not happy about it the fact that infant milk formulae is excluded from counting towards the £50 spend.

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If you’re not going to the FONStival, but still fancy some live music action on Saturday night check out Ryde Theatre.

Oasish, a five piece Oasis tribute group from London will be playing live with support from Stereotonics.

Tickets are £8, call the box office to book yours now on 568099.

There is still time to buy your ticket for the Barely Born Appeal Charity Dinner Dance

It takes place at The Ryde Castle Hotel, Esplanade Ryde and kicks off at 7pm.

For £25, you’ll be welcomed with a drink, followed by a three course meal, whilst listening to a live jazz band.

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The Island police have sent us this appeal to help with the knocking down of a cyclist on the Ashey Road near Ryde - Ed.

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Goodbye Stereo and Guy Page Trio will also be playing tonight in Ryde.

Join them at the Wight Rock Bar just down the road from The Venue, opposite Nat West Bank.

The Guy Page Trio were in Ventnor last Sunday playing the bandstand and we can definitely recommend checking them out tonight.

Free entrance and doors open at 7pm.

Don’t forget that Smoke and Mirrors, The Aviators and Me and My Sister will all be performing tonight on stage at Ryde Theatre.

As part of the Making Waves season, all bands will be interviewed by IW Radio and songs recorded for later transmission on the Live and Local Show which goes out on Sunday nights between 7-10pm on 102/7fm.

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Just spotted this great image on Matt and Cat’s Isle of Wight Eating Out Guide at the end of their review of Wimpy in Ryde.

It’s hard to understand how the Post Office got it wrong last year with their stamps, but even more confusing that those working in the restaurant wouldn’t have noticed by now and suggested it be changed?

More Island talent coming your way this Thursday with Making Waves at Ryde Theatre.

On stage for your pleasure (and theirs we’re sure) will be Smoke & Mirrors (pictured) featuring Brian Sharpe, The Aviators and female double act, Me & My Sister

It’ll only cost you £3 to get in and action kicks off at 8pm.

Book your pumpkins for 11pm.

As usuals, bands will be interviewed and recorded for IW Radio’s Live and Local Show that goes out on Sunday evenings between 7-10pm on 102/7fm

Many thanks to Cora Wade from The Park Centre for sending through news of events and services you can get involved with. Ed

New Park Centre Website
We have now launched our new website which covers everything the Park Centre offers, from minibus, to courses, to IT to carnival…it’s all there! All profits made on all of our activities got to our charity No. 1096459 and are ploughed straight back in to the community.

Carnival Workshops
Carnival workshops are now being held on Tuesday afternoons (12-2pm) everyone is welcome - we’re looking for performers and creators alike. (more…)

Lots going on tonight and this weekend on the Wight.

Friday Roundup
The Bonchurch Village Singers will be warming up their vocals chords this afternoon for their performance tonight at St John’s Church in Wroxall. Free entrance, with refreshments, but there will be a retiring collection at the end.

Over in Newport, Tommaso Starace will have the audience jazzing out with his spectacular sax appeal. Still some tickets left if you fancy it.

If you fancy something a little more alternative, then head up to Oakfield Football Club for The Electro Magnetic Workshop. Live performance by the band, DJ spinning the vinyl and Lady Phaedie hosting a game show with a difference.
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As we reported at the end of last week, photography group, Wight Balance Photography Plus currently have an exhibition on display upstairs at Ryde Library.

The collection has been pulled together by group member Tina Nicholls and features a diverse collection of 41 images from 15-20 of the club members.

It’s a fantastic collection and has been dedicated to the memory of John Lobb, who was a founding member of the group. (more…)

Start your weekend early and head down to Ryde Theatre tonight for Making Waves.

The lineup of Island talent features local hunk, Gareth Icke, Festival 2007 BOTB winners, Siniez, The Majortones, and MCMLVII.

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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…)

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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With less than two weeks until the ‘Barely Born Appeal’ Charity Dinner Dance if you haven’t bought your tickets, you’d better get a move on.

The Barely Born Appeal has been launched to raise funds for a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St Mary’s. To help raise even more funds, a Charity Dinner Dance is being held on Friday 18th July 2008 at The Ryde Castle Hotel, Esplanade Ryde. (more…)

If you were planning to catch the beach soccer game while you were attending the Ryde Arts Festival, sadly you’re going to have to find your sandy balls action elsewhere, as the soccer tournament has been cancelled due to concerns about the wind potentially lifting marquees, the inflatable pitch and TV towers.

It’s going to be re-organised and we’ll let you know when we hear more.

Thanks to Matt for the news.

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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Don’t forget that whether you’re in Newport or Ryde tonight you can enjoy great live music from Island bands.

Taking place in Church Litten in Newport is Band Nite. Brought to you with the help of the Churches of Newport, The IW Council and the Hampshire Constabulary a night of free entertainment for all the family - although the intention is for entertain the young people who normally hang out at the bus station. (more…)

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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We know, it’s only Monday morning, but before you make plans for the coming weekend, make sure you check out details of the Ryde Regatta.

Free live music over the entire weekend on Ryde Seafront featuring the likes of The Apple Beatles, Lady and the Tramp, Cozy Flashbak and of course the brilliant Wild Oats to name but a few.

VB favourites, The Chancers will be performing after the fireworks on Saturday night. This is the Island’s only Festival of Island Bands only and well worth checking out.

If you missed the posting last week about the Charity Dinner Dance for the ‘Barely Born Appeal’, it’s time to dust down your best tuxedo.

The Barely Born appeal hope to raise enough cash to build a new neo-natal unit at St Mary’s.

This is something that affects almost all of us.

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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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