Welcome

First held in August 2008, the Isle of Man & Manx Grand Prix "GuitarFest" was conceived as a long weekend of fantastic music for guitar lovers, featuring not only concerts but workshops and master-classes with top international stars. Scheduled to coincide with the end of the Manx Grand Prix, it's both a hit with residents and gives visiting race fans the chance to round off their stay on the Island with a feast of great live music. Naturally, non-bikeoholics are equally welcome to come and enjoy the atmosphere!

The inaugural GuitarFest saw Albert Lee and Juan Martin headlining the main events, which were held in the magnificent Gaiety Theatre in Douglas. Steve Gibbons opened the weekend's programme with his 'classic' band (P J Wright, Roger Inniss and Brendan Day, who played with him through the 80s and 90s) and the amazing Clive Carroll brought it to a close at Peel's Centenary Centre. Young virtuoso Michael Berk lent impressive support to Juan Martin and some of the Island's own, highly talented guitarists featured on each night. Juan, Albert and Clive all gave workshops during the weekend.

Guitar music embraces so many genres and playing styles, all with their own unique appeal. That's why we aim to offer an eclectic mix at GuitarFest, from rock, blues and folk to jazz, world and classical.

For 2009, we are delighted to welcome to the Isle of Man ... Pierre Bensusan, Gordon Giltrap, Gary Ryan, Rod Clements, Angelo Palladino, Michael Berk, Pete Smith & Roger Inniss, and Amrit Sond. Our headliners will generously be giving master-classes & workshops throughout the weekend, including one designed exclusively for bass guitar players, so come along, be inspired and meet fellow musicians.

Stay Tuned: For more information and updates relating to GuitarFest and other JonnoPromotions events, simply sign up for our RSS feed.
For Visitors: Travel packages are available from Isle of Man Breaks (see our Travel page).
Participating: If you sign up to the RSS you will be notified as soon as tickets are on sale, otherwise, check back during May 2009.
Kind thanks: We are most grateful to our major supporters: the Isle of Man Arts Council, Manx Radio MR+ and Manx Telecom. We are also grateful to the Manx Motor Cycle Club for giving us a 'piggyback' on their event! Finally, thanks to our other supporters you will see their logos on the side of this page and on our links page.

We really look forward to having you with us at the Isle of Man & Manx Grand Prix GuitarFest 2009!

Latest News

GuitarFest featured on R2 "Rock'N'Reel" Magazine homepage


http://www.rock-n-reel.co.uk/news.cfm?id=71

GuitarFest Tickets on sale now!

Tickets are now on sale for the IOM & MGP GuitarFest 2009.

GuitarFest 2009 features internationally acclaimed guitarists Gordon Giltrap, Pierre Bensusan, Gary Ryan, Rod Clements and Angelo Palladino & The Skeleton Crew. Visiting support acts for the weekend are Michael Berk, Pete Smith and Roger Inniss and Amrit Sond.

Thursday September 3, 2009
Blues/Rock night featuring Angelo Palladino & The Skeleton Crew and local support from Walter Ego.
More on www.myspace.com/angelopalladinoband - www.myspace.com/walteregomusic.
Venue: Centenary Centre, Atholl Street, Peel, Isle of Man. Doors 7.30pm, Show 8pm. Full price ticket £10.

Friday September 4, 2009
Modern Classical Guitar Recital by Gary Ryan, with support act Pete Smith and Roger Inniss (Jazz/Folk/Roots).
More on www.garyryan.co.uk - www.petesmithguitarist.com - www.rogerinniss.com.
Venue: Gaiety Theatre, Harris Promenade, Douglas, Isle of Man. Doors 7.00pm, Show 7.30pm. Full price ticket £14.

Saturday September 5, 2009
A night of World, Folk and Contemporary acoustic guitar music from GuitarFest co-headliners Pierre Bensusan (Guitar Player Magazine’s “Best World Musician” 2008) and Gordon Giltrap (playing separately) with support from Michael Berk – solo instrumentalist. More on www.myspace.com/pierrebensusan - www.myspace.com/gordongiltrap - www.myspace.com/michaelberkacoustic.
Venue: Gaiety Theatre, Harris Promenade, Douglas, Isle of Man. Doors 7.00pm, Show 7.30pm. Full price ticket £18.

Sunday September 6, 2009
A night of acoustic and slide guitar from Rod Clements with support from world music guitarist Amrit Sond.
More on www.myspace.com/rodclements - www.myspace.com/amritsondguitarist.
Venue: Centenary Centre, Atholl Street, Peel, Isle of Man. Doors 7.30pm, Show 8pm. Full price ticket £13.

Concessions are available for students (including children), forces/reserves, senior citizens, CFCs (cared for & carers). Motorcycle club members (Manx MCC, Vintage MCC, etc.), MGP and TT marshals, MGP riders and teams (on presentation of valid ID at the Welcome Centre or box office) will all qualify for concessionary prices.

There is also a “12 for 10” (12 tickets for the price of 10) group booking deal available (for each individual concert).

Tickets are available online from www.villagaiety.com for the Gaiety Theatre concerts only.

Concession, Festival, Family and Centenary Centre tickets are only available by calling the ticket hotline on 01624 694555 or in person at the Welcome Centre, Sea Terminal Building, Douglas or the Villa Marina & Gaiety Box offices.

IOM & MGP GuitarFest is brought to you by JonnoPromotions with support from the IOM Arts Council and Visit Isle of Man and in association with Manx Radio & MR+

The Manx Telecom Acoustic Stage - IOM & MGP GuitarFest 3/4/5 September 2009

The Manx Telecom Acoustic Stage is an innovation at GuitarFest 2009.

Thanks to the generous support of Manx Telecom, the Acoustic Stage will be a forum for local acoustic guitarists (comprising all styles of guitar playing) and visiting support acts to entertain the Manx public free of charge in the newly opened Villa Marina Arcade – further details are below

The Manx Telecom Acoustic Stage will take place in the Villa Arcade on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons of GuitarFest. There will be 30 minute slots available for local acoustic/electro acoustic guitar players (25 minute set, 5 minute turnaround).

It is expected that Friday afternoon’s slots will be filled by young guitarists recommended by local music teachers.

The Saturday and Sunday afternoon will be a combination of local guitarists/guitar acts selected by JonnoPromotions and recommendations. This is also an opportunity for local guitar players to put themselves forward for consideration.

Approximate schedule is below (timings may be subject to change).

Friday from 12 noon to 5pm slots for up to 10 local guitarists, followed by a 45 minute set from Amrit Sond.

Saturday from 12 noon to 5pm slots for up to 10 local guitarists, followed by a 45 minute set from Pete Smith & Roger Inniss.

Sunday from 12 noon to 4pm slots for up to 8 local guitarists, followed by a 45 minute set from Michael Berk.

Contact Jonno on acousticstage@manx.net if you are interested in performing on the Manx Telecom Acoustic Stage at GuitarFest 2009!!!

SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR STEVE GIBBONS GIGS

URGENT PRESS RELEASE

STARTS

JonnoPromotions is pleased to announce a special 20% discount to all TT & MGP Marshals, Riders & Team Members who wish to attend any of the following Steve Gibbons’ gigs – on a first-come, first-served basis ... full price ticket are £15 ... special price of £12 which is a 20% discount to face value.

If you haven’t yet bought your ticket – turn up on the door show your Marshals ID card or Racing Team or Riders’ Pit Pass and you’ll get the discount!

If you have already bought your ticket ... bring it with you, show your Marshals/Team/Riders ID and Jonno will refund the difference.

PLEASE NOTE, DISCOUNT ONLY AVAILABLE FROM JONNOPROMOTIONS ON THE DOOR.

This applies to the following gigs:

The Centenary Centre, Atholl Street, Peel – TONIGHT – doors 7.00pm – show 8pm approx ... FULLY SEATED GIG (should be finished in time for last bus to Douglas);

Paramount City, Douglas – Sunday night – doors 8pm – show 9pm approx (music ‘til midnight) [originally scheduled at South Douglas Old Friends] – limited seating;

Falcon’s Nest Hotel, Port Erin – Monday night – doors 7pm - show 9pm approx (music ‘til midnight) – limited seating;

The Centenary Centre, Atholl Street, Peel – Wednesday night – doors 7.00pm – show 8pm approx ... FULLY SEATED GIG (should be finished in time for last bus to Douglas); and

Freemasons’ Hall, Woodbourne Road, Douglas – Thursday night – doors 7pm - show 9pm approx (music ‘til midnight) [originally scheduled at South Douglas Old Friends] – limited seating

Brought to you in association with Manx Radio TT ...

Hard copy tickets for Douglas gigs from Peter Norris Music, for Peel from Celtic Gold, for Port Erin from the Falcon’s Nest reception. E-Tickets still available from http://www.etickets.im/jonnopromotions.asp

ENDS

Steve Gibbons Band TT Tour 2009 - Change of Venue

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF VENUE

On Tuesday afternoon, JonnoPromotions received information that the licence applications by the South Douglas Old Friends Association relating to the long anticipated Steve Gibbons Band TT Tour 2009 events scheduled to take place on Thursday 4th, Sunday 7th and Thursday 11th June, had been rejected by the latest licensing hearing.

After discussions with the Douglas Police Alcohol Unit and the management of the Old Friends, it was decided that a “dry” venue was the only option and it was agreed that this would not be appropriate for these events.

So with grateful thanks to the Sefton Group, and Steve Harding, the manager, the two concerts scheduled for Thursday 4th and Sunday 7th of June have been relocated to Paramount City, located at the far end of Queens Promenade.

Paramount’s management is sensitive to the audience for this event and have kindly agreed to make some extra seating available in the venue. They will be selling bitter and stout (in bottles and cans) in addition to their normal range of draft and bottled lagers, spirits and soft drinks.

Doors will open at 8pm and the gig will start at 9pm. Last orders will be at 00.30 and the venue will close at 01.00. All tickets for the Old Friends gigs will be honoured on the door at Paramount. Refunds will be available if required.

Jonathan “Jonno” Gollow of JonnoPromotions, who is promoting this event in association with Sure Radio TT, regrets any inconvenience caused to SGB fans and hopes all ticketholders will come down to the newly refurbished and redecorated Paramount City and enjoy the event. “The situation was completely outside my control as this was caused by a technical issue relating to the licence at the Old Friends Club” he noted “but, thanks to Steve Harding at Paramount City, all is not lost and all of us Steve Gibbons fans can enjoy an excellent gig, albeit at a slightly different venue than the one we were planning!”

At present a venue has not been finalised for the gig on Thursday 11th June but it is expected that another venue in Douglas will host the final concert of Steve’s mammoth Up Close and Personal TT Tour 2009.

The Gathering - Legends of Folk Rock (update)

Due to illness, we're sad to report that Rick Kemp will not be performing with The Gathering when they visit the Isle of Man on June 27 (at the Gaiety Theatre). However, Matt Pegg (son of Dave Pegg - Fairport, Jethro Tull & Dylan Project etc.) will be coming to play bass with The Gathering! Matt plays with Procol Harum & also occasionally with Tull ... http://www.myspace.com/mattpeggonthebass

The Gathering - Legends of Folk Rock

Saturday 27th June, 2009 - Gaiety Theatre - tickets are on sale now from http://www.villagaiety.com, the hotline on 01624 694555 and in person from the Welcome Centre - the "early bird" ticket deal is still available until the end of May. (£20 and concessions £16).

Steve Gibbons Band Tickets

On sale on-line from those lovely people at eTickets.im ...

http://www.etickets.im/jonnopromotions.asp

Also hard copy available from
Peter Norris Music for Douglas gigs
Falcon's Nest Hotel Reception for Port Erin gigs and
Celtic Gold in Peel for the Peel gigs

See you all there!!!

A JonnoPromotions event brought to you in association with Sure Radio TT!

Steve Gibbons Band Tickets

Steve Gibbons returns to the Isle of Man for his first TT tour since 2005 with the full Band comprising Phil Bond on Keyboards, John Caswell on Bass, Howard Gregory on Guitar and Howard Smith on Drums.

This is the “SGB” that played at the Peel Bay Festival in 2007. Steve and the Band are playing a series of intimate gigs in smaller venues around the Island.

Tickets for all gigs are priced at £15-00 (and seating is available at all venues).

The Steve Gibbons Band – making your TT “complete” ... up close and personal!

Thursday June 4, Sunday June 7 and Thursday June 11 at The South Douglas Old Friends Association in Douglas (doors 7pm, show starts 9pm);

Friday June 5 and Monday June 8 at the Trustrums Suite at the Falcon’s Nest Hotel in Port Erin - (doors 7pm, show starts 9pm); and

Saturday June 6 and Wednesday June 10 at the Centenary Centre in Peel (doors 7.30pm, show starts 8pm).

Tickets are on sale for Douglas gigs at Peter Norris Music, for Port Erin gigs from the Falcon's Nest Hotel Reception and will shortly be on sale from Celtic Gold for the Peel gigs.

Apologies for the slight delay in availability of online sales. We will send another news alert when online sales are available.

Brought to you in association with Sure Radio TT

Big Wheel Blues Festival May 2 & 3

What a fantastic weekend ... all different flavours of the Blues in Laxey!

http://www.bigwheelblues.com

Read Liz Corlett's article here ...

http://www.isleofman.com/News/article.aspx?article=16548

Big Wheel Blues Festival May 2 & 3

www.bigwheelblues.com

Come on down to the Big Wheel Blues Festival at the Laxey Pavilion, Laxey Glen Gardens. Next Saturday and Sunday.
Local bands and family fun from 1pm - 5pm (Free of Charge).

Tickets at £16.50 per evening are still available for the main event from www.bigwheelblues.com and from Peter Norris Music, Ramsey Music Supplies & Shakti Man Ramsey.

More details on an earlier news posting!