If you’re a reader of Joe Blogs, our Chief Exec Joe Duckworth’s blog, you’ll understand that this is one that’ll get his adrenalin racing (and hopefully his legs too).
Each year, the Isle of Wight plays host to one of the UK’s largest and best loved cycling festivals and 2007 will be no exception.
The festival is being launched with a “sink or swim” fun race on the 15th September. Teams of bonkers bike riders will cross the River Medina on “aquabikes” (illustrated in the picture opposite) and attempt to get across without completely submerging. (more…)
If there are any Kody fans out there still crying into their pint glasses since the band broke up earlier this year, pass them a tissue to wipe those tears away right now.
For Gareth Icke and Tim ‘Tippers’ Pritchard will be playing an acoustic show at The Solent Inn in Ryde on Friday this week.
Should be a lovely little set, with new material to check out.
Action kicks off at 9pm.
If anyone fancies writing a review, we’ll be happy to share it with our many readers.
Clearly you will have already read parts one, two, three and four of my Bestival Island Bands and DJ Competition.
Here’s my final instalment, hope you’ve enjoyed reading the review as much as I enjoyed watching the bands. Roll on September is all I can say!
So, last up on the band list were The White Room …. wow, talk about stage presence. Sadly, they were only act of the night that we didn’t get a shot of - so you’ll have to make do with one from their site. (more…)
Another of our favourite Island bands, The Chancers have been busy in an underground Ventnor studio for the last couple of days, hopefully laying down some kickass tunes for us to delight in.
It’s just over a year since they first played live and they’ve performed some excellent gigs since then.
In a couple of weeks time, you can see them supporting a rather excellent four piece funk band called The New Mastersounds.
Hailing from Leeds in the late 1990s, The New Mastersounds have notched up some pretty impressive collaborations over the years with DJs, musicians and producers such as …
It has been nearly a year since I last saw Puzzle Muteson play at The Liquid Lounge.
With the little’un away and no need for a babysitter, when I saw that he was going to be playing alongside Becky Entwistle on Sunday night, despite feeling hugely exhausted after a brilliant wedding party on Saturday night (congratulations T&S), we managed to defeat the buttery hills of Ventnor and head up to the sparkling lights of Ryde.
If you’ve missed parts one, two or three of my review of the Bestival Island Bands and DJs Competition, follow the links to catch up.
Another surprise to hit the stage was one of VentnorBlog’s oldest favourites (not because he’s old, just because we’ve been following him for ages) Puzzle Muteson.
I said in my promo for the night that I couldn’t find Shadow Fly on MySpace and that’s why. It seems that entering the competition under a pseudonym is all the rage this year. (more…)
If you’ve read part one and two of my Bestival Bands Competition review, reading on should make sense …
Keeping the Ventnor vibe going, Hugo Frusslinky followed next. Having listened to their handful of tracks on MySpace, I was itching to see them perform live.
And boy, they didn’t disappoint. Kicking off with Holiday, it was clear that these guys (and gal) had an excellent rapport with each other.
The dynamism on stage was electric, and that wasn’t just the guitars (strike me down if I get too cheesy).
Heather is blessed with an incredible voice. I was going to say that she certainly knows how to play the crowd, but I don’t think she was playing, I think it all comes naturally.
Since the Lake Working Mens Club closed earlier in the year, Shoom has been doing a tour of the Island and in August will be presenting ASBO Part 2 at Ryde Theatre.
The promo bulletin claims that live comedy will be performed by Lottie Bowater, Ross Noble and Bill Hicks. Quite a line up they’ve got there, goodness knows who they can afford to pay Ms Bowater and what they said to convince her to perform at Ryde Theatre! (more…)
Following the part one of my review of the Bestival Bands Competition yesterday, as promised, here’s part two. Excellent shots courtesy of Julian Winslow.
Sorry if I’ve got the order of the following bands wrong. Anyone who knows me, will also know that I have a dreadful memory and am forever getting mixed up, but I think next up on stage was Emily-Jane.
She’s described as sounding like Kate Nash, which was certainly true and not a bad association to have.
She bravely walked onto the stage bare footed (I do hope she put her shoes back on before coming off, as the floor was pretty sticky down below) and performed her first track beautifully. (more…)
Anyone who went along to the last ICANDI and picked up a crayon and piece of paper from the table and got creative …. guess what, your work of art might not only have adorned the wall of the corridor to the loos, but may now be on the ICANDI MySpace.
Yes, it’s true, the organisers (creative little bunnies that they are) have picked out their favourite 40 scribblings works of art from the night and posted them onto their MySpace Picture Gallery.
My favourite is the evolution of the pirate (pictured above). Next ICANDI is on 1st September and will be increasing their capacity by moving to Ryde Theatre. There’ll be live bands, art and lots of other lovely things. More to follow when it hits us.
It’s way before our time, but there will be many of you out there who remember Patsy’s Nightclub.
There have been a couple of reunions over the last year and another in the offing this Friday night.
Showing their support and taking residency for the night at Ryde Theatre, it kicks off at 9pm and will only cost you four quid before 10pm or a fiver afterwards.
New and classic house will be the order of the night with original Patsy’s DJs.
Both performed last Thursday night at the Bestival Bands and DJ competition (review to follow soon), Puzzle Muteson in his alias of Shadow Fly and Becky providing backing vocals and percussion for winners Hugo Frusslinky.
This is a great venue for their style of music and they are definitely worth catching. Bother deliver beautiful harmonies and melodies and will have you floating out of the Union Street bar come midnight.
I don’t know what they do to encourage the prisoners in the Philippines to join in with this kind of mass dancing, but it’s pretty impressive.
OK the camera work is pretty erratic, but the overall effect is mad. We give you 1,500 prisoners synced in to a dance routine, demonstrating the funk of 40,000 years …
If you’re not so much into Thriller, fill yer boots with Radio Gaga, complete with a goodness knows how many prisoners clapping together
If this has got your interest, there’s quite a few more to have a look at too.
If you didn’t get your fix of live music last night at the brilliant Bestival Bands Competition, then head up to the Liquid Lounge tonight for superb lineup. If you did get your fix, but want more, this also applies.
The Development Suite bring you the excellent The Wild Oats, with support from the Weather Kings and fresh from their gig at The Quay last night, The Hoops
Action kicks off at 9pm and entrance is only three quid. Liquid Lounge, Union Street, Ryde.
I went on there today and saw that it now stops at Portsmouth.
In the past I’ve found it really helpful, saving you from having to juggle two different Web sites when trying to plan a journey away from this paradise.
Another major benefit was it was printable (shock horror - using paper) and became a really handy reference.
This Friday night, The Development Suite at The Liquid Lounge have yet another a great lineup for your delectation.
The Wild Oats, who I keep missing every time they play out, will be headlining, with excellent support from the Weather Kings and taking a break from their popular town hall tea parties, The Hoops (who are also playing at Quay Arts on Thursday this week).
Entry is a mere three quid. Kicks off at 9pm. Liquid Lounge, Union Street, Ryde.
[Thanks to Julian Winslow for use of his great shot of The Wild Oats]
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.
If you happen to be in London Town a week on Sunday, and fancy a great party, then head over to the Lido in Brockwell Park, London SE24.
The party has been organised to raise awareness for the Swim to Bestival event which we covered earlier in the year. So far, 16 people have signed up to swim across the Solent for charity to get to Bestival.
The charities benefiting from the madness of these 16 individuals (and any other brave souls) will be The Imibala Trust and Marie Curie Cancer Care. If you decide to go to the party, you’ll have a chance to meet the nutty 16 in person as they parade and pose in their speedos and will be able to donate to the cause. (more…)
The Ryde Arts Festival comes to an end next Friday night with a great show lined up in Ryde Town Square.
Organised by the master behind The Development Suite, three great Island bands will get you dancing your burlseque pants off (yes, it’s fancy dress, all day).
Shanklin Freak Show bring you industrial, glam and alternative. Soul Lounge deliver some of their smooth acoustic soul and The Wild Oats follow with on the acoustics but with more of a folk, rock and blues angle.
Action kicks off at 8.30 after the Samba band finish and runs until 10.30 in Ryde Town Square.
Successful Island promoters Happy Feet, have been busying themselves over the last couple of weeks working hard to secure some great gigs for the Ryde Arts Festival which kicks off this weekend after the Ryde Regatta.
As we mentioned recently, next Friday night (the 13th - whoooo) Ryde venues are going to be overrun with punters in burlesque, silent movie and exotic fancy dress.
Happy Feet will be presenting for your pleasure DJ Nipsy and some very special guests (no, I’m not spoiling the surprise) from midday onwards at the Western Gardens, Ryde.
The theme of the set? Summer chill. So, if you can get off work early next Friday and fancy that sunny afternoon experience of hanging out with some friends listening to some ambient tunes then Ryde’s your place.
The scheduled walkout of bus drivers next week has been postponed whilst bus drivers vote on the new deal of 8% on basic pay (which would be backdated to 25 February 2007) and overtime backdated to last month. The deal includes a rise next February of 1% above whatever the Retail Price Index is in January 2008.
We’ll let you know once we hear more news. Thankfully for now, you can be assured of getting where you need to by public transport next week.
Each year, the Isle of Wight plays host to one of the UK’s largest and best loved cycling festivals and 2007 will be no exception. 
For Gareth Icke and Tim ‘Tippers’ Pritchard will be playing an acoustic show at The Solent Inn in Ryde on Friday this week. 
Coming up in just over a weeks time, The Studio will be playing host to a night of Dub, Dubstep, Jungle, Roots, Dancehall and Breakstep.
Here’s my final instalment, hope you’ve enjoyed reading the review as much as I enjoyed watching the bands. Roll on September is all I can say!
It’s just over a year since they first played live and they’ve performed some excellent gigs since then. 
With the little’un away and no need for a babysitter, when I saw that he was going to be playing alongside Becky Entwistle on Sunday night, despite feeling hugely exhausted after a brilliant wedding party on Saturday night (congratulations T&S), we managed to defeat the buttery hills of Ventnor and head up to the sparkling lights of Ryde.
Another surprise to hit the stage was one of VentnorBlog’s oldest favourites (not because he’s old, just because we’ve been following him for ages) 
Keeping the Ventnor vibe going, 
The promo bulletin claims that live comedy will be performed by Lottie Bowater, Ross Noble and Bill Hicks. Quite a line up they’ve got there, goodness knows who they can afford to pay Ms Bowater and what they said to convince her to perform at Ryde Theatre!
Sorry if I’ve got the order of the following bands wrong. Anyone who knows me, will also know that I have a dreadful memory and am forever getting mixed up, but I think next up on stage was 
Yes, it’s true, the organisers (creative little bunnies that they are) have picked out their favourite 40 
It’s way before our time, but there will be many of you out there who remember Patsy’s Nightclub.
Both performed last Thursday night at the Bestival Bands and DJ competition (review to follow soon), Puzzle Muteson in his alias of Shadow Fly and Becky providing backing vocals and percussion for winners 
If you didn’t get your fix of live music last night at the brilliant 
They roamed the North of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales from 1900 to 1913, capturing the everyday lives of people at work and play. 
Anyone missing 
The party has been organised to raise awareness for the 
Organised by the master behind 
As we 