Isle of Wight News on Ventnor Blog

During the late 70s and early 80s Blondie ruled. The punk-inspired tunes, lead by the delectable Debbie Harry ended up on a disco route.

The band are special guests at the Festival on the Saturday night.

If you can’t quite wait until June to see Debbie Harry, we hear that there’s a Barbie, Ladies of the 80s doll of Ms Harry coming out in December this year.

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Quay Arts have a special 2 for 1 offer on the forthcoming Jazz Café in the Anthony Mingella Theatre tonight.

As previously reported, Sri-Lankan born, London raised Shanti Paul Jayasinha will be playing at Quay Arts tonight.

As a special treat, we understand that local jazz legend, Gary Plumley, will be making a special guest appearance during the evening too.

Quay Arts are offering two tickets for the price of one (£10), so if you fancy a cheap night out, Quay Arts is the place to be.

Call on 822490 and as always, don’t forget to say where you heard about it.

Jazz heads don’t forget that Meta4 are playing at Quay Arts Centre tonight in Newport.

Featuring Bob Plimer and Gary Plumley – the man so prolific on the Island music scene that we even gave him his own category at one point, Meta 4 promise a night of harmonic, melodious, inspiring, driving jazz.

They are described as an outstanding combo ‘very important all Island jazz collective’.

There will be a menu available from the restuarant and of course the bar will be open from 6:30pm

Tickets are just £10 / £9

Anyone who went along to the debut gig for the Rookley Jazz Club last month will be in agreement that this new venue is fantastic for music gigs.

Sax Appeal put on an incredible show (review to follow shortly) and next week, Gary Plumley (yes, he still has his on category) returns to Rookley, this time with Meta4.

Described as playing “european style improvised jazz crossed with latin rhythmical influences”, the band features composer/pianist Bob Plimer and as well as top British saxophonist Gary Plumley. (more…)

All you jazz lovers out there, don’t forget that tomorrow night sees the launch of the Rookley Jazz Club.

Returning to the Island for their third gig in two years will be Sax Appeal, a five piece band headed by Derek Nash (pictured).

If you’re wondering where the new jazz club is, look no further than the newly refurbished Midnight Bar Nightclub in Rookley Country Park.

The band also includes well known (he’s even got his own category on VB) local musician Gary Plumley (tenor sax), Scott Garland (alto sax) and one of the most exciting, inventive and in demand musicians on the scene today, Paul Booth (tenor sax). They will be teamed with a dynamic rhythm section for an upbeat take on a wide variety of jazz styles.

Tickets (£12-50) available from Quay Arts Box Office(Tel 822490).

[photos of Derek Nash courtesy of Barry Quick]

News reaches us that Sax Appeal, regarded by some as Britain’s finest current saxophone ensemble, will shortly be returning for their third performance on the Island in two years.

They’re returning to kick off the first in a number of gigs at the newly launched Rookley Jazz Club which is hosted at the Midnight Bar Nightclub in Rookley.

Anyone into jazz will know of the band who have been around since the 1980s. They’ve performed to acclaim around the world, appeared recently at Ronnie Scott’s and play regularly on BBC and jazz radio.
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If you love Jazz, and we know there are many of you out there that do, then you need to check out the Quay Jazz Cafe in July.

meta4 have been described as ‘one of the Island`s best kept secrets’. They play harmonic, melodious, inspiring, driving original jazz, composed by Bob Plimer and have been described as ‘A very important all island jazz collective’.

And the great thing is, we get to use the Plumley category again (it has been some time) as meta4 was formed by the main man himself, Mr Gary Plumley.

You want to know more about the band? Well here are the biogs …. in alphabetical order …

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Just a reminder that Jazz at the Boathouse this Saturday features Gary Plumley with his old friend and guitarist Tony Sandeman and the funk fusion line up, C-Level.

We hear from the Jazz Office that Funk fusion gigs have worked really well in the Boathouse in the past and even those who didn’t know what they were coming to on the last one, by Hard Lines (featuring Gary also), went away totally on a high and have been regulars ever since.

Tickets £15 from us at the Jazz Office on Pier Street or by phone on 856206.

PS. Gary plays so often in our fair town, that I’ve decided to add a Plumley category!