Author: folkonwight

Isle of Wight Folk Music- February 2024

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Some highlights

Fred’s House

Cambridge based folk rock band Fred’s House return once again to at Ventnor Arts Club on Saturday 17th at 8pm. This is a very popular band. Tickets

Quay Folk Club at Quay Arts Centre, Newport, has a debut act on Sunday 18th. Two For Joy are Lesley Tregear and Tina Goode, well known from other bands but performing as a duo for the first time. Regulars Keith Newman and Rick Otley take the second guest spot along with Martin Newnham. Floor spots are Steve French and Sally Garrett. 7pm start.

On Saturday 24th  Wild Roses (Glenn Koppany and John Dawson) play at the Star Coffee and Ale House Sausage and Cider Festival, from 7.15

Isle of Wight Folk Music – December 2023

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Apologies, no pictures today, wordpress has dropped the ‘add’ button!

December Highlights

The annual Christmas Reflections Concert in aid of Salvation Army Christmas Appeal. takes place on Saturday 9th at the Salvation Army Hall, Newport at 7pm. Performers: 2gether in Harmony, Maureen Shaw, Island Storytellers, Maturing Nicely, Sea Gels Shanty Band, Rodney Bean, Ruth Lockyer, Peter Ellis, The Watch. Always a lovely evening

 Green & Matthews  return to Quay Arts on Wednesday 13th with their Christmas  show on Wednesday 13th, A Christmas Carol, with Victorian carols, mid-winter songs and lyrics set to traditional folk and  carol tunes. Tickets.  

On Saturday 16th,  Bloodstone Border Morris dance to celebrate the solstice at Culver Down beacon,  15.45. This will be Bloodstone’s last performance. It is very sad to see the ending of this wonderful morris side, long admired for their vibrant style and showmanship.

Boxing Day has the annual morris dancing followed by a singaround at The Dairyman’s Daughter,  Arreton,  from noon. Enjoy! 

Historically minded folkies might be interested in the book launch of ‘I’m Not Blessed Well Jokin’ an oral history of Bembridge,  by Alan Phillips at Bembridge Village Hall on Saturday 9th from 10.00 to noon. The book costs £12 and is based on interviews from the 1970s with local ‘characters’ remembering stories from the 1800s onwards.

Galleybaggers Folk Club will meet at the earlier time of 7pm on December 28th. Guest spots from The Wandering Winkles, John Thorpe plus the usual come-all-ye sing around. Mince pies will be available!!

Isle of Wight Folk Music – November 2023 Highlights

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playford ball

The annual Playford Ball at East Cowes Town Hall takes place on Saturday 4th at 2pm. Many of the participants wear spectacular period costume, so it is well worth going along just to watch! Luckily, barn dance experience will get you through most of the dances, so do join in. 

 ShtumStumcrop

The amazing Salt House  are performing at Quay Arts Centre, Newport. Not to be missed  Details & tickets  Then, just a week later, on Saturday 18th, the popular Boo Hewerdine & Heidi Talbot can be heard at the same venue.  Details & tickets The very next day, Sunday 19th, Quay Folk Club hosts popular locals Shtum and Slainte Va, along with a little Bob Dylan.

This year’s Medina Tattoo at the Medina Theatre (where else), sees return visits by The Crew and Wight Hot Pipes.

Salt HouseSalt House

Isle of Wight Folk Music – October 2023

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NOTE: THIS PAGE JUST HIGHLIGHTS A COUPLE OF MEMORABLE EVENTS. TO SEE FULL LISTS OF WHAT’S ON, RETURN TO MENU & CLICK ON EVENTS (OR ON CLUBS/SESSIONS/FOLK NIGHTS FOR REGULAR EVENTS).

Don’t miss the one-off events listed on the folkonwight Events page this October, plus the many clubs, folk nights and playalong sessions, of course.

October Highlights

Foodbank oct23

 

Friday 6th sees another Foodbank fundraiser at Quay Arts Centre, Newport. This annual event is always a heart warming evening. This year, enjoy performances by 2ndTA , The Rug Band and more. Sadly, there is a clash, as  Wildwood Jack return once again to Ventnor Arts Club on that self same evening with their popular contemporary folk with guitar. See link on Events page.

 

Folk @ Firkin oct 23

Devon folk singer Jim Causley has been booked by Goddard’s Brewery for their Firkin Folk Afternoon in aid of Mountbatten on Sunday 22nd. Should be an excellent afternoon as The Watch are also performing.

Isle of Wight Folk Music – September 2023

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NOTE: THIS PAGE IS JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS. TO SEE FULL LISTS OF WHAT’S ON, RETURN TO MENU & CLICK ON EVENTS (OR ON CLUBS/SESSIONS/FOLK NIGHTS FOR REGULAR EVENTS).

At the time of writing, there are 15 one-off events listed on the folkonwight Events page, plus the usual clubs, folk nights and playalong sessions, of course.

Highlights

On Sunday 24th September,  Ben & Dom, a folk duo and folk choir leaders from London, are running a harmony workshop at 2pm, followed by a concert at 5pm. All this takes place at the Freshwater Memorial Hall,   PO40 9UU. There is a link for tickets on the Events page.  Looks fun, but is that Ben or Dom?

Ben Dom

Fingerpicking guitarist Jon Wilks is visiting Quay Arts Centre,  Newport on Friday 29th. Jon specialises in traditional songs and ballads. A link for tickets is on the Events page.

Jon Wilks

Sun 17  Quay Folk Club at Quay Arts Centre, Newport, 19.00. Guests: The Mistakings trio and Wild Roses, also spots from Tina Goode and Phil Washington 

Isle of Wight Folk Music- August 2023

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NOTE: THIS PAGE IS JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS. TO SEE FULL LISTS OF WHAT’S ON, RETURN TO MENU & CLICK ON EVENTS (OR ON CLUBS/SESSIONS/FOLK NIGHTS FOR REGULAR EVENTS).

Cowes Week

Good to see the Dance Preachers are appearing twice this year, at Northwood House and at the Yacht Haven . No doubt buskers will be out and about too.

Charity Events

The Quirky Teapot is holding a Vintage Charity Day on Saturday 12th August. Sea Gels Shanty Band are performing. The Teapot is promising music all day, so other folk performers may be present, too, but no details are available at the time of writing.

Play Music on the Porch Day is on Saturday 26th August at Porchfield Cricket Club, from 13.00. Guests ArtnRick and Scarecrow duo will perform , plus there will be a folk session for all instruments, voices and standards. The Altzheimers Society will benefit from this.

Ventnor Fringe The ‘folk arts’ were particularly well represented at the Fringe this year by the Island Storytellers, Holly, Monty and Sue and also visitor Xanthe Gresham- Knight. Brilliant Xanthe stepped in at the last minute.

Isle of Wight Folk Music – July 2023

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Wolverton 2019NOTE: THIS PAGE IS JUST HIGHLIGHTS. TO SEE FULL LISTS OF WHAT’S ON, RETURN TO MENU & CLICK ON EVENTS (OR ON CLUBS/SESSIONS/FOLK NIGHTS FOR REGULAR EVENTS).

Wonderful Wolverton

Wolverton Folk and Blues Festival have announced their donations to charity for this year. The event in May raised just over 12,000, an amazing result! Southampton Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Trust received £9500 and £2400 went to the Brighstone School Association. What a fantastic haul, well done to all concerned.

Another great event

Miranda Sykes

Quay Folk Club held another terrific special guest night in June. A packed house were treated to an evening of wonderful songs from Miranda Sykes, with 2nd Time Around supporting most ably. The atmosphere was electric (and sweltering). Miranda’s stall ran out of CDs, so only the lucky first comers will be able to carry on enjoying her music !

Ventnor Fringe

ushti baba

Folk music, storytelling and morris dancing are all represented at this year’s Ventnor Fringe. Visitors from Bristol, Usti Baba (pictured), look to be a big draw, especially with their unusual ticket pricing! Elizabeth and Jameson are well known at Ventnor Arts Club and always popular. Retiring Ventnor vicar and Dylan enthusiast Hugh Wright and songwriter Patience Wells present an evening of spiritual songs. The local storytellers are performing and so is visitor Daniel Morden. Finally, Bloodstone Border Morris will entertain the crowds on the Esplanade. Full details of all these events are on Events in the menu.

June 2023 – Isle of Wight Folk Music

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Some June Highlights

The Isle of Wight has a new festival, the Somewhen Storytelling Festival. This is taking at at Havenstreet Steam Railway. There will be stories for children and adults, including also Barn dance Saturday,  Music from Art & Rick and 2nd Time Around. Weekend tickets £30, Day tickets £20,  barn dance only £10 from http://somewhen.org.uk or on the day.

Quay Folk Club at Quay Arts Centre, Newport, has a special guest night on Sunday 25th. The guest is Miranda Sykes, with support from Shtum. This is not a night to miss! Music starts at 7pm as usual, in the upstairs theatre.

There is a concert with Mick Sands and his band at the Mountbatten Centre, Newport, this Thursday, 1st June.

Yarmouth Sea Song and Shanty Festival 2023

Visiting bands – Spinnaker Shanty, Solent Shanty Buoys, Drywood, Short Drag Roger (at their spot in the Wheatsheaf garden)

Spinnaker s23

solent buoys23Drywood 23

Short drag23

Some of our very own – The Rug Band, Lesley Tregear, Shtum, The Watch

Rug 23Lesley 23Stum 23Watch 23

Isle of Wight Folk Music – May 2023

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Early Rising

On May Day morning, the Men of Wight dance at the Longstones to welcome the magical dawn. It is well worth getting up at silly o’clock and tramping along by torchlight to be part of the gathering up on the hilltop in the atmospheric half-light. When dances have been danced and songs have been sung, there is a haze of scented bluebells to enchant the walk back down.

Men of W may 22

Bob’s Basement Band goes International!

On Friday May 5th and Monday 15th, Bob’s Basement Band are offering a set of Polish tunes at the Painters Arms, Cowes, followed by an Irish playalong session.

Wolverton rocks

Wolverton Folk and Blues Fair is on Saturday 13th May this year. What a wonderful event this is! Tickets, only £10 in advance, are available now from Waterstones, Briddlesford Farm Shop, Brighstone Village Shop and Orchard Bros., Freshwater Bay.

DCIM101MEDIA

One More Day, me hearties

The Yarmouth Sea Songs and Shanties Festival runs from Friday 26th to Monday 29th this year, giving us an extra day of amazing music. And it is still donations only!

Yarm shanty 23

Isle of Wight Folk Music – April 2023

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Aggiefest is in full swing, enjoy! Well done to Maureen Forster and team for all their hard work.

A Star is Reborn

Glenn Koppany has at last been able to revive his successful folk night at the Star Ale and Coffee House in Ryde. This charming little venue will now play host to a Folk and Music session on the second Sunday each month, from noon. Well worth delaying your Sunday lunch for!

Get your dancing shoes on

It must be Spring, there are two barn dances in April! The first is on Saturday 8th at Bluebells, Briddlesford, and the second on Friday 21st in Ryde. Full details are on the Events page.

Music all the way

Last year’s Irish and Traditional music weekend was so successful that they plan to do it all again this year!

Dave Harris

It was very sad to learn of the death of Dave Harris, recently. Dave and his wife, Caroline, performed at folk clubs as The Bilge Rats. The couple lived on a houseboat for a number of years until the structure eventually succumbed to old age. Later on, the couple lived in Somerset.