Isle of Wight News on Ventnor Blog

If you’re wondering what to get up to over the next week, the Island isn’t short of things to do.

Our usual weekly round of events is coming to you a little later than usual, because this week we tried a different format.

Having missed our slot on IW Radio yesterday, we were short of a podcast to put out on VB today.

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The V-Bay Festival launches in spectacular style this Friday night as the Winter Gardens is transformed for the Big Speakeasy night.

The evening will feature performances from magician, Aaron Isted, award winning comedienne, Hannah George, delightful dancers, The Trinity Belles, Wight Harmony Barbershop Singers, with music from the excellent Phoenix Jazz Ensemble with Nette Robinson.

Start searching through your wardrobes as punters are encouraged to dress up in ‘cocktail with an art deco twist’.

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VM Musicals is a new and dynamic musical theatre training company based Quay Arts, in Newport for 8 – 18 year olds.

VM Musicals stage West End and Broadway productions giving each cast member the opportunity of working as part of a team to create performances that ‘feel’ professional.

VM Musicals offers the young and aspiring performer the space to develop their talents and expand their skills supported by an expert and dedicated team of staff.

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UPDATE: DUE TO THE LACK OF INTEREST THIS CLASS HAS BEEN CANCELLED. SEE REPLACEMENT IN RYDE

Regular readers might remember reading about Helen Baker’s Zumba classes previously on VB.

We hear that Helen is about to launch a new season of classes, this time aimed at helping helping children get fit.

‘Zumbatomic’ is an adaptation on the adult Zumba classes, exclusively designed for children aged 8 – 13 years old.

Some say that music makes the world go round and influences of Latin, hip-hop, salsa, samba and merengue should help get your kids going round, and round and round.

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The Island has a great heritage for helping worthy causes and charities, so we’d imagine you’ll love to hear about this forthcoming event organised in aid of the Island’s Ectopic Pregnancy Trust.

Shelley Peach, a volunteer for Trust has organised an evening of Las Vegas-style Swing at Northwood House in Cowes next week.

Appearing will be the Bob Howarth Big Band, Richard Quigley and even a casino to give that Vegas feel to the event.

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October is Black History Month and there are a number of events and initiatives taking place on the Isle of Wight.

On Friday 16 October why not head to the Carnival Learning Centre in Ryde to catch a performance of classical dance drama from South India – Kathakali.

The performance will provide an introduction to this little known art
form and includes solo performance in full costume of an ancient story from the Mahabharata.

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As part of October’s Black History Month celebrations on the Island, The Carnival Learning Centre have organised some great events.

Details will be coming up of other events including drumming workshops, but in the mean time, if you’re a fan of the steel drums, then put this one in your diaries.

On Saturday 3 October you can enjoy a musical journey featuring classical and contemporary Calypso music from the 1930’s through to present day.

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The forthcoming V-Bay has a great lineup of entertainment planned for Ventnorians and, the hopefully, lots of visitors to the town.

The three day festival which will take all across the town at the beginning of the October half term kicks off with an evening of cabaret.

Tables can be pre-booked for the event which will feature performances from magician, Aaron Isted, award winning comedienne, Hannah George, delightful dancers, The Trinity Belles, Wight Harmony Barbershop Singers, with music from the excellent Phoenix Jazz Ensemble with Nette Robinson.

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Following on from news yesterday of the Real Ale Festival at Havenstreet over the bank holiday weekend, regular Havenstreet goers will know of course that the Real Ale Festival sits alongside the excellent Island Steam Show, now in it’s 35th year.

This year a bumper programme has been organised over the four days of the Steam Show with something for everyone.

Here’s what they have to offer.

The breathless energy of Medieval combat … the drama of living engineering … the partnership between one man and his dog … and the fun and delight of traditional fairground rides! The 35th Island Steam Show is all set to be the premier family event on the Island this August Bank Holiday weekend!

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This coming weekend sees an amazing event take place on the Wight – or should we say ‘just off the Wight’.

Men of Wight Morris Dancers will be flown over the Solent to Bramble Bank (halfway between the Island and Southampton) by Hovertravel for a spot of Morris dancing!

It’s all part of grand tour around the Island that the Men of Wight will be taking part in between 21-23 August.

There’ll be displays around the Island with a massed display on Sandown Seafront at 4pm on the Saturday and 12:30 pm on Sunday on Cowes Seafront when the Men of Wight will be joined by 100 Morris Dancers from around the UK.

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If you’re into minimal house and electro, this is the night for you. A great warmup for Bestival.

DJs George Cross, Louis Soteriou and Dave Bird bring you another night of the finest minimal house and techno tunes.

Joining them on the decks will be Sam Franklin.

Free entry all night downstairs at the Black Sheep Bar in Union Street, Ryde.

When the Vestas workers are evicted from the blade turbine factory tomorrow, it’s highly likely that after a good meal and a scrub up that they’ll want a good night out to celebrate.

Where better to let their hair down than at Cowes Yacht Haven where the boys from Electric 80s will be putting on a classic 80s party.

The Yacht Haven building is being transformed tomorrow for Lycra, Legging and Perms, the biggest indoor beach party to be hosted there before.

As well as the illuminated dance floor where you can boogie away to classic 80s tracks there’ll be a loveboat, a place to rest your weary feet as well as a huge indoor beach.

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It’s nearly the end of the week so time to gather your mates and start planning your weekend.

If you are in need of good dance then you should consider heading over to the Black Sheep Bar in Union Street for The Ryde Underground.

Ryde Underground DJ Kevin Jay will be spinning the very best of his classic retro vinyl (yes, we checked this time and it is definitely vinyl not mp3s) featuring the a selection of soul, reggae, punk disco, latin, new romantic and ska.

Kicks off at 9pm and runs til late.

Don’t forget to say where you heard about it.

Sea dogs and space cadets in search of some funk are in for a treat at the end of the week.

The vinyl masters from The Pink Pussycat will be making their way to the Waterside Pub, Cowes to dish up their best selection of funk, soul, Motown, R&B, ska, reggae, psychedelica and other cosmic rare tunes.

Won’t cost you a penny to get in, but your are required to enjoy yourselves.

Venue: Waterside Pub, 72a High Street, Cowes PO31 7RE

Next Friday night sees the ‘Electric 80s’ boys make their way to Cowes Yacht Haven for a night of Lycra, Leggings and Perms.

They’ll be hosting Cowes Week’s biggest indoor beach party celebrating everything 80s as it invites party-goers to come along in 80s dress or beachwear.

The Yacht Haven’s Events Centre will be transformed specially for the party, which takes place on the night of the famous fireworks display.

We hear that there’ll be club lights, lasers, visuals, Electric 80s dancers, a cocktail bar and BBQ, as well as all the best tunes from the decade.

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Carnival season has started on the Isle of Wight and the Ventnor Carnival Committee have been working hard to make sure that residents and holidaymakers can get the very most out of Carnival week here in Ventnor.

We’ll be bringing you reminders of the events nearer the time, but for now, stick these dates in your diaries to make sure you don’t miss out.

Sunday 2nd August
Carnival Slide Show at the Winter Gardens, 7pm

Sunday 9th August
Morning Service at Saint Catherine’s Church 11am
Carnival Quiz Night 7.30pm

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Whether you are part of a community group or family entry, making costumes for your children or want a costume just for yourself, come along and get help, advice and inspiration from our friendly and creative Carnival Centre tutors.

Learn new and easy techniques to make amazing costumes, these are based on Caribbean style skills – lots of double sided tape, fabric, ribbons, foam and decorative items to make costume pieces, headdresses, simple backpacks, flags etc.

You may not need a complete costume, come and make just a headdress or backpack, for example, to make your entry really special.

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If you’ve read about the Isle of Wight DidgHead Radio Festival, you might be mistaken for thinking that it was a niche festival only for the likes of those who have a hankering after didgeridoos.

Well, you’d be wrong.

Having spoken to festival organiser Gerry Priddle, we can reveal that there will, in fact, be loads for everyone to do over the weekend, including lots for the family.

Of course, the festival will feature the best contemporary didgeridoo and acoustic music from around the world, but as well as that, you can enjoy aboriginal dancer/singer Jermaine Herbohn from the Tjapukai Cultural Park Australia and Czech Republic techno didge band KusKusKlan.

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The 1940s Experience At Wootton returns to Havenstreet next month.

Silk stockings and liberated ladies … inspired music and dance … men in uniforms and spivs with goods to sell.

Jitterbug your way back to the 1940s, relive travel by steam train, and discover what life was like with rationing, air raids and the Home Guard.

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If you love good dance and like to help out local causes this might be the event for you.

Skool’s Out 80s Disco which will be held at 7.30pm on Friday 17th July at the Isle of Wight Community Club in Park Road Cowes (formerly the Plessey Club).

All proceeds will go to the Island’s Hospice and there will be a guest appearance by local singer/songwriter Holly Kirby.

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The Ventnor Winter Gardens has a fantastic team of volunteers who help out with all manner of things from running the box office, to preparing rooms for events and checking people into concerts.

Without their unpaid help, the Winter Gardens would financially be in a much worse condition.

At the moment the box office is manned between 12pm-2pm but Winter Gardens Management are finding that this is perhaps not long enough and potentially a barrier to people buying tickets.

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Blimey, there are only 500 camping tickets left for Camp Bestival taking place at Lulworth Castle this July.

Bestival’s family friendly little sister has an amazing music lineup as well as literature, comedy and zillions of things for the kids to do.

Check out list below of who’s playing and exactly what’s on offer or read our review of last year’s event.

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Congratulations to Emma Muncaster from East Cowes brainchild of the debut Ladies Day held at Cowes Yacht Haven last weekend.

The Yacht Haven was a hive of activity as 400+ islanders took advantage of the live entertainment and demos, not to mention around 40 stalls selling jewellery, art, cosmetics and flowers.

We understand that there were belly dancing demos as well as a catwalk show.

The event raised more than £1,500 for CLIC Sargent, the children’s cancer charity.

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The Red Funnel Red Hot Talent regional heats take place tomorrow night at Quay Arts and the public are invited to attend.

There are many names in the shortlist who readers might recognise and if you want to go down to show your support, check the running order below.

The even kicks off at 5.30pm

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If you fancy something different today make your way to Smallbrook Stadium to take in the wonders of the Renaissance Festival.

The event organised by volunteers aiming to bring the community together have a fantastic programme of events lined up.

The programme includes; Acoustic Smoke and Mirrors, Lost Years Trio, Penguins have no Knees. There’ll be flute and harp, lute and violin…even a recorder consort to add to the Renaissance vibe.

Marc Tuckeys Isle of Wight Ghost Experience will perform sword fights and ghostly tales. There’ll be stocks, a hog roast, skittle run, tug of war and lots more.

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