Week com August 4.
Went down to the Cowes Yacht Marina on Sunday night just to watch the new Island blues band – Black Daniels. I am so glad I went. They were brilliant and had a great repertoire of classic songs and lesser known ones – and it all worked so well for this tight and eye-catching band. I’m not even biased because Glyn Taylor and Simon Clark, both from IW Radio, are in the band. All the band members played such an important part in their success – and they were just the support band. They were clearly enjoying it – and the audience appreciated this. They certainly didn’t just go through the motions. I am so glad I have loved all kinds of music for over 50 years. I drove home listening to one of my favourite post-war British crooners – Vince Hill.
One of the Island’s best comedy actors of the past 20 years or more has been ALAN JOHNSON. I have finally managed to talk him into appearing on JH Meets. Alan is a butcher by day (appearing at Morrisons, Lake) – and has got a few wonderful stories. He will appear on Sunday August 18. He is in fine form – and reveals a few surprises. Quite a contrast!!!
Saw one of the finest shows I have seen on the Island for some time on Thursday night when I went to Shanklin Theatre to see The Best of the West End. This brilliant show is fast, colourful, full of great music has an amazing cast of ten, who all make an impact. This is a professional cast and the show is beautifully produced. There were close on 600 people there and the buzz at the end of the show as punters left the theatre was electric. This is not just a show for holiday audiences. It’s an amazing evening of great music, comedy and glorious entertainment. The backing band are also such an important part of the success of this production. It’s on every Thursday night until the end of September.
I enjoyed my Saturday night visit to Budbridge Manor to see The Merry Wives of Windsor, from the Arreton Community Theatre group. I left home and it was a beautiful warm evening but at Budbridge, only a few fields away, it was the usual cold August night. Thankfully, the cast helped to warm up the punters who had top coats, rugs and even fur coats to try and keep warm. Some delightful moments of fun. On the next really hot day I am going to nip into Budbridge to see if it ever gets warm on the lawns where they have the plays.