Something to look forward too...

Talk at Shanklin Theatre:  A talk by Christina Booth, the Chairman of the IOW Music, Dance and Drama Festival, will take place at 11am during the monthly Coffee, Cake and Chat at Shanklin Theatre, Prospect Rd, Shanklin, PO37 6AJ, tomorrow (Saturday) 10am - noon. The Theatre is one of the hosts for the festival. Free entry, everyone is welcome. Theatre souvenirs and prize draw tickets will be on sale. Contact: FOSTpromotion@ shanklintheatre.com.

Figgy Friday Tonight, Figgy Gig celebrates “All Kinds Of Women”, in aid of Home- Start IW, at CHOYD Community Hall, St James’s Street, Yarmouth. Celebrate wonderful women in a fun-filled evening of music and comedy sketches. Doors and bar open at 7pm for 7.30pm start. Free entry, £3 contributions appreciated to cover venue costs. Contact Jean G-Owen on 07715 985689 or jean28owen@gmail.com.

Charity quiz night There is a quiz night tonight at Ryde Academy for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice. Doors open at 6.30pm and the quiz starts at 7pm. Teams of up to five people, with 10 rounds. Tickets cost £3 per person. There will also be a raffle, with a strip of tickets available to purchase for £2 with prizes. All money raised will go to the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

Dodgy’s Nigel Clark Nigel Clark, from the hit band Dodgy, is playing at Strings Bar & Venue in Newport tonight. Doors open at 7.30pm and the show starts at 8pm. Tickets cost £18.15, including booking fee, and can be purchased on-line via iow.life/ nigelclark. The event is for ages 16 and over.

Group exhibition The London Group will be celebrating the 110th anniversary of their first exhibition at the Grafton Gallery tomorrow, at Quay Arts in Newport Harbour. They will be presenting the group exhibition called ‘111 Not Out’ until April 27.

Disco party The Edwin Starr band are playing a soul, Motown and disco party at Strings Bar & Venue in Newport tomorrow night, from 7.30pm. They will be performing classic hits, such as ‘Higher & Higher’, ‘25 Miles’ and ‘Dancing in the Street’. Tickets cost £16 including a booking fee, and can be purchased on-line through iow.life/edwinstarrband.

Children’s crafting Drop in to Lord Louis Library in Newport tomorrow (Saturday) between 2.30pm and 3.30pm, and make a clay handprint to give to mum on Mother’s Day. Free event. Comedy tour Jim Davidson is performing his Swimming Against the Tide Tour, at Medina Theatre tomorrow at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £28 including a booking fee, and can be bought on-line via iow.life/jimdavidson.

French film showing There is a showing of French film “The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan” at Ventnor Arts Club on Monday (March 4) from 3pm. To reserve seats, email wendy@ ventnorartsclub.com.

Island history talk Kevin Shaw will be giving the talk “The Extraordinary History of the truly ‘Rotten’ Boroughs of Yarmouth & Newtown” at the Carisbrooke Castle Museum on Tuesday. Tickets cost £5. Gates will be open from 10.30am to 10.50am with the talk starting at 11am. iow. life/kevinshawtalk.

Performance story-telling “Universe” - performance story- telling by Clare Murphy, is at Quay Arts in Newport Harbour on Tuesday at 7pm. The café and bar will be open from 6pm. Tickets cost £11.75 including booking fee. You can book on-line via iow.life/universetickets.

Coffee morning The monthly coffee morning is today in the West Chapel at Northwood Cemetery, hosted by the Friends. 10.30am to 12.30pm. Monthly theme “Handmade & Homemade”. Admission free; donations appreciated.

Live music The Hillmans, with Nick Taylor, are playing at Shanklin Royal British Legion tomorrow, from 8.30pm. Dance floor, plenty of seating and a well stocked bar. There may be a small fee for non-members.

Eva Cassidy tribute ‘Songbird - A Tribute to Eva Cassidy’ is being performed by Sunny and Blue Brown, featuring Nina Plapp and George Bone at
the Anthony Minghella Theatre in Quay Arts on Sunday (March 3). Doors open from 1.30pm, and the show starts at 2pm. Tickets cost £16.75 on-line (including booking fee), and £18 on the door. You can book on-line at iow.life/songbird.

Youth violence talk There is a talk on increasing awareness of gangs, youth violence and criminal exploitation at The Bay School in Sandown, on Monday. The talk is hosted by Community Action Isle of Wight and will last an hour and a half, starting at 6.30pm. This training and awareness session is specifically designed for parents and carers, not for professionals.

Crafternoon Go along to Ryde Library for an afternoon of craft on Tuesday at 2pm. Try something new or bring along your own project.

French film The Ventnor Film Society is showing French movie, ‘Close’, on Tuesday at 7.30pm. Cert 12A. 1 hr 44 mins. In French/ Flemish. To book, please email ventnorfilmsociety@hotmail.com.

Music and tapas The Garlic Farm are hosting a music and tapas evening, with Mike Christie and Jonathan Hodgson, on Wednesday. The restaurant will be open from 6pm, serving a tapas menu until 7.30pm, with 40 minute recital starting at 7.30pm. Desserts and drinks will be available after the recital. The bar will be open throughout. £12 per person, entrance only. You can book on-line via iow.life/musicandtapas.

Immerse yourself in a night of soul at Bar 74

Tomorrow (Saturday), Ryde’s Union Street comes alive at Bar 74 for an unforgettable evening of soul music, which promises to resonate with every beat of your heart.

Travel through time, from the iconic classics to the vibrant beats of contemporary soul, under the star-studded guidance of DJ hosts, Richard Weaver and Duncan Spite.

Following the success of the inaugural Soul Connection night, which saw a diverse crowd of music enthusiasts come together in a celebration of rhythm, friendship, and dance, you’re invited to another soul-stirring experience. As Richard said: “The last event surpassed our expectations. It was a night of socialising, laughter, and dance, with a fantastic mix of people from all walks of life coming together. There was a great spread of ages, with people chatting, playing games and cards – from families enjoying a night out to friends grooving on the dance floor.

The vibe was electric.” Don’t miss out on the chance to be a part of the next chapter of this soulful rendezvous. The music starts at 8pm and keeps spinning until midnight at Bar 74, and entry is free. Step into a night where soul music fills the air, friendships are forged, and memories are made.