THE MISSION • WEST WIGHT

The Isle of Wight Festival has left nobody in any doubt that this Island is a magnificent place if you like a decent tune.

But it’s not just about 50,000 people gathering at Newport’s Seaclose Park every summer. Isle of Wight music venues are operating every week of every year with plenty of choice for those who like indie, jazz, blues, acoustic, folk and most things in between.

And the range of venues is equally diverse, from churches and theatres to pubs and dedicated music clubs.

Medina Theatre has a programme of great tribute acts recreating the music of some of rock and soul’s greatest acts, as well as regular classical concerts by the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra.

On the south coast of the Island, Shanklin Theatre is a brilliant venue for live music and this year it will be bringing musicals, Irish music, pop legends and top tribute acts to its stage.

Strings in Newport, has become a popular dedicated Isle of Wight music venue in recent years, hosting some great acts from the last 50 years of pop music as well as Isle of Wight bands and up and coming local talent at the sell-out Platform One nights.

South of the Island, Ventnor Exchange located in the High Street at Ventnor provides a variety of entertainment including music. It also becomes the central information point for Ventnor Fringe. This festival hosts a range of gigs in quirky venues around the town, from converted post offices to tiny churches. 

If jazz is your thing, on the second Monday of each month, Quay Arts in Newport has a Jazz Jam hosted by Isle of Wight jazz musicians. Quay Arts also hosts acoustic sessions, a folk club, Irish music and open mic events each month. 

The Isle of Wight pub music scene is a vibrant one. Whether it be one of the amazingly talented Island bands or a musician with a guitar accompanying your evening out, there is something for everyone.

Open mic nights are becoming increasingly popular and many Isle of Wight pubs regularly host them, so if you are bringing your guitar, flute or harmonica on holiday with you, why not look up the nearest Isle of Wight open mic night.

Some of the best-known pubs for live music are The Crispin in Newport High Street, The Anchor in Cowes, The Simeon Arms and The Star in Ryde, and The Caulkheads in Sandown, to name but a few.