This Saturday, the Erin Arts Centre, in Port Erin, plays host to Unplugged: A Celebration of the Acoustic Guitar and Other Instruments.
This event sees the likes of Chris Gray, Matt Creer and Tim Cass to Pete Woodman, John Gregory and other special guests performing. The event is being held in order to raise funds for Manx mental health causes.
I spoke to event organiser, John Gregory, to get his view on how it’s all coming together. ‘The ticket sales have gone through the roof and the event is already sold out, which I’m absolutely thrilled about,’ he said. ‘I’m delighted that we’re going to have more than a 130 people there on Saturday. We’ve put in extra seating, as the demand for tickets has been so high.
‘We’ll also be raffling a guitar that was signed by Davy Knowles recently. I should point out that the guitar isn’t one from Davy’s own collection, but was actually given to me by Chris Ewan, who’s a best selling author who lives here on island, so it’s great that we’ve got that to give away. Davy’s dad, Tony, is going to be playing a couple of numbers with me on the night.
‘All of the musicians are donating their time for free, which is extremely kind of them, because I do realise that they could be doing their own paid gigs.
‘Both Matt Creer and Chris Gray have been in the studio this week working on their respective albums, so they’re both taking time out from that as well.’
There is a reserve list, just in case any tickets become available. Please email bluejohnmedia@hotmail.co.uk or call John on 204320.
• Now for something a little different. This Saturday Amber, in Douglas, plays host to a relatively new group, Lava El Elefante. This band can be comfortably described as a lounge act, however there’s much more to it than that. Yes, there’s the expected sprinkle of Sinatra and the Rat Pack, a smattering of jazz and swing, but musically they also take you via the Great American Songbook, and further still via some more contemporary acts. Having heard their rendition of No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age, played in a jazzy, Latin style, I can certainly attest to that.
Support on the night comes from It’s My Shadow, an acoustic due comprising of ex Maldune/3 Million guitarist, Alex Cowley and Simon Gilman. These two are also making waves on the Manx music scene having just released their five-track mini album, Orbiting The Sun.
The doors open at 8pm and the event is free entry.
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Steve Leach brings the latest rumblings, murmuring, news and views on forthcoming events from in and around the Manx music scene each week in the Manx Independent. Email stories and pictures to leachsteve@hotmail.com