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.
Shtum
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.
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.
OctoberHighlights
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.
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.
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?
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.
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
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.
NOTE: 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
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
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.
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)
Some of our very own – The Rug Band, Lesley Tregear, Shtum, The Watch
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.
Bob’sBasement 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.
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!
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.
Shtum ( pictured above) ably represented folk at Quay Arts with their unique, easy listening blend of folk at the fundraising concert to help those in need in Ukraine. Their tunes are played on fiddle, mandolin, cittern, double base, guitar and sets include some well-chosen John Hacker vocals as well. Many of Shtum’s tunes and songs are self-penned.
DEC Earthquake Appeal Concert
Folk musicians contribute to many charity concerts each year. The next one to look forward to is in aid of the DEC Earthquake Appeal on Saturday 11th March at the Waverley, Carisbrooke, in the afternoon. Shtum are also included in the line-up for this one, at 1.30, together with Coppersmith (see below), who kick off proceedings at 12.30 and Feck! who close the show with a spot starting at 4.40. Well done to the organisers for neatly avoiding a clash with the evening concert at Quay Arts described below.
Amazing Quay Arts
Quay Arts is continuing to bring a selection of superb performers over the Solent. Saturday 11th sees a visit from Will Pound and Jenn Butterworth, two of the most inspiring instrumentalists in traditional music, bringing you an unforgettable evening of tunes and songs. https://www.quayarts.org/event/will-pound-jenn-butterworth
Just a week later, Will Page, of the band Noble Jacks, rolls in with his Americana-powered fiddle and songs. Great music to blow your head off! https://www.quayarts.org/event/will-page/
Aggie, Aggie, Aggie, Oy,oy,oy
Don’t miss the rich voice of Jim Causley (pictured above) when he kicks off Aggiefest on Thursday 30th March with an afternoon of song and poetry at Ryde Library. Booking is essential on 823825 as a delicious afternoon tea is included! Aggiefest continues on the following two days, see Events page for more details and updates.
Watch out, St Patrick’s About!
At the time of writing, folkonwight Events page lists FIVE St Patrick’s Night folk music events!
The amazing Second Time Around (2ndTA) are to launch their new CD ‘House of Cards’ at Quay Folk Club on February 19th. Expect an evening of superb musicianship and vocals to die for! The band will be playing the songs featured on the new album plus a selection of their old favourites. Hot-off-the-press copies of the CD will be available to buy together with some attractive merchandise. The designs (see photo) are by Tina Goode of Inkstone Arts.
I was sent an advert on Facebook recently for a ‘Second Time Around Sale’! Algorithms rule OK?
Stories with Unforseen Consequences
Storyteller Monty is brightening up the very start of February with a couple of solo events on the 1st of February in Ventnor and on the 2nd in Shanklin. This is a new venture for Monty, both are bookable, details on the Events page. It is always very difficult to take photos of Monty as his delivery is so lively he moves faster than the camera can cope with. The pic. below is the best of a very blurred bunch.
The first Wold Zong (=Isle of Wight dialect for Old Song) Singaround at the Bugle, Brading in January was very well supported. Even performers who usually sing modern songs made the effort to dig out something traditional. Wold Zong may well be the only singaround in the country which is run by a bear. The next session is on Sunday February 26th at 7pm.
NOTE: THIS PAGE IS JUST HIGHLIGHTS. TO SEE FULL LISTS OF WHAT’S ON, RETURN TO
folkonwight 