By Mal Butler
The first Homegrown Music Festival, featuring some of the top Island performers, was hailed a ‘great success’ by its organisers.
The day-long festival was the idea of Phil Norris, from Cowes, in collaboration with Richard Taylor, of Rockhopper Sound, and took place at the Riverside Centre, Newport, on Saturday.
Phil explained: “I was diagnosed with a chronic illness a couple of years ago. It changed everything in me – my thinking, my character, everything in my life.
“I have always been into music and I decided I wanted to do two things, raise money for charity and try and make people happy.
“I picked two charities, IW Defibrillators and Community Action IOW, and my idea is to change the charities each year. If this runs for 10 years, then I will have helped 20 charities.”
The event ran from 2pm-10.30pm with acts including Bethan John, The Ohmz, Real Dead Ringer, Firebird, Signalmen and Ruby and the Diamonds.
Phil added: “Everyone enjoyed it and had a great time; there was a safe environment and it was really fun, although hard work!
“Now we’re already looking ahead to next year and hope to put on another great show.”
During the afternoon, Steve Read, of IW Defibrillators, gave a practical defibrillator demonstration, while Phil highlighted the work of IW Defibrillators, which has now installed 179 life-saving devices across the Island. Phil hopes the even will raise between £1,500-£2,000 for the charities.
Isle of Wight Observer