BS: Folk scene in Isle of Wight, UK?

Subject: BS: Folk scene in Isle of Wight, UK?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 13 Nov 03 - 11:31 AM

I gave this a BS because I think it's going to degenerate into ... well, BS, after a few posts.

Mrs P thinks she's ready to retire; I reckon I am too, event though I'm a bit previous at 52, and Mrs P even more so. Still, if money weren't a problem, we'd be of like a shot; as it is, it might be a year or two longer before we start to get serious. We fancy the seaside, and the Isle of Wight in particular.

Which brings us to the point: what's the IoW like for folk clubs and such like? Live music generally? How about busking -- do they issue licences?

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: Folk scene in Isle of Wight, UK?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 13 Nov 03 - 12:19 PM

Well, I suppose Vectis has to be the mudcat expert on the I-O-W.

There is a great session that used to happen at "The Blacksmith's Arms" just west of Carisbrooke. It's a great little pub with good beer and food.

There's also a pub in Ventnor called "The Volunteer" which I've sung in a few times. It's a great little "Spit & Sawdust" real ale place. The last time we were there, there were three very inebriated girls in the bar, so Linda sang "There were three drunken maidens, come from the Isle of Wight" - it was well appreciated - well at least by the rest of the company.

Subject: RE: BS: Folk scene in Isle of Wight, UK?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 10:25 AM

If you're still looking for answers, you could always try PMing Vectis - although she now lives in E. Sussex, she was born on the I-O-W - hence her mudcat name which was the Roman name for the island.

Subject: RE: BS: Folk scene in Isle of Wight, UK?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 10:36 AM

"Vectis" -- I knew that! And the Romans would have pronounced in "Wectis"; presumably their Latinised version of the locals' name forthe island.

I might take up yor suggestion ... then again, being the most expensive oart of England to get to ...

Subject: RE: BS: Folk scene in Isle of Wight, UK?
From: vectis
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 08:00 PM

Try the "County Press" website for listings. There's supposed to be a session in Gurnard once a month and another in west Wight somewhere. I haven't been to a club there in 30 years so can't help you much.
I left the IOW because of the exorbitant ferry fares. It cost an absolute fortune to go anywhere in the mainland. Islands are expensive to live on if you want to travel.
Good Luck

Subject: RE: BS: Folk scene in Isle of Wight, UK?
From: nager
Date: 19 Nov 03 - 09:19 PM

The Isle of Wight is pretty good for folk music.
The Quay Arts centre at Newport appears to be the hub for some of it with the Newport or IW club meeting there when I was visiting a couple of years ago and also artists like Renbourn and Jansch doing concerts. Nearby Portsmouth and Southampton are active too... and the ferry fares are not THAT expensive even for us from Oz with our lousy dollar.
There's also an acoustic group at E/Cowes and a few other bits and pieces going on... just do a google check and you'll find them.

Subject: RE: BS: Folk scene in Isle of Wight, UK?
From: The Shambles
Date: 20 Nov 03 - 12:33 PM

The IOW is covered by the following and the magazine (Folk-on-Tap) is worth a look as it has an IOW page.

http://www.focsle.org.uk/SCoFF/.

Steve I take the point that the thread may settle into BS but the problem with posting a musical request there - like this one - is that many folk simply do not look at anything with a BS prefix. Which could explain the limited response? Good luck.