Spotlight - Manx Radio

This week, we speak to the Isle of Man Arts Council's Graduate Intern, Olivia Savage. Having only graduated last summer, Olivia has had a very interesting lockdown experience so far but is getting stuck in to some really exciting projects which will span her year with the Arts Council. Listen & subscribe to 'Island Artcast' at the following link: www.iomarts.com/Island%20Artcast

Well, these are strange old times indeed, but for many creatives, lockdown looks an awful lot like business as usual. Who better to speak to then, than our creative islanders who so often work in solitude? Over the coming weeks, I'll be speaking to artists, writers, photographers and performers to find out how they maintain their balance while spending so much time alone, in the hope that we can take some comfort from their words of wisdom.

From organists to poets, to composers, we look back on a year when creativity helped us through some very difficult times

It's the last Spotlight of the year! We're joined by conductor Ian Clague and Chairman Phillip Shimmin of the Manx Youth Band who have lots to tell us about the new film celebrating the Band's 50th anniversary! We'll have music from the new Lesh Shee as Graih Charity EP, and if you're thinking of entering Young Actor of Man or the One Act Play Festival, deadlines are drawing near!

This week, we hear a local recording made in 1951 and digitised by the ‘Unlocking Our Sound Heritage’ project, and we meet the Reveillettes who are performing at this Friday’s Winterfest!

This week, we visit the Villa Arcade Christmas market to meet some of the artisans, including ceramicist Kathryn Cain, printmaker Graihagh Betteridge, artist Eve Adams and milliner Sue McNally, and we speak to local author Chris Thompson about his new novel centred around an elephant whisperer in Africa

This week's programme is full of exciting opportunities - I’ll be speaking to Carola Rush and Myra Gilbert of the Creative Network about an upcoming curated exhibition, and Grainney Sheard of the Isle of Man Arts Council has news of a festive project beginning next week which you could be part of too

This week, we’re joined by Italian gigalo Enzo Garibaldi (!) and DI George Pratt – also known as Matthew Warren and George Roberts of Rushen Players, and I head west to see some fascinating new work by Ian Coulson

This week, we’re joined by three very talented young musicians – singer Evie Skillicorn and pianists Amy Bloch and Luca Ongiert, and their tutor, international concert pianist Olga Stone. To play us out, we have Amy Bloch performing ‘The Man I Love’ by George Gershwin

This week, we’re joined by local composer Tim Price who will be sharing some insights into his newly-released 7-part orchestral suite ‘Gem of God’s Earth’ inspired by the diverse natural beauty of the Isle of Man. The online concert premiere is being made available until November the 8th, and CDs are available from the Lexicon Bookshop in Douglas, the Bridge Bookshops in Port Erin and Ramsey, and Rachel Price Photography in Ramsey. The album will also be available to download or to order through Tim's Bandcamp page (https://tim-price-music.bandcamp.com).

On this week's Spotlight, we have music from Biskee Brisht plus an opportunity to be in the band's Christmas single music video - any children who are free tomorrow morning, just message Biskee Brisht on Facebook to get involved We're also speaking to artist and illustrator Beth Louella about her creative projects including the glorious portrait series which are part of Culture Vannin’s Treisht series

Story from Stone is a book by local writers Kim Kneen & Vicky Lloyd-West, and illustrated by Jo Davies which is due to be released this Saturday October 10th! The book weaves together stories, life histories and illustrations inspired by the real lives of the people buried at Ballure Chapel in Ramsey, and to celebrate its’ launch, a whole host of local talent will be sharing readings, poetry and music to bring these stories to life at an event this Friday – before we get too excited, the event has already sold out however, director James Beattie seemed keen to stage a repeat performance so watch this space! I joined the team at a rehearsal and spoke to writers Vicky Lloyd-West and Kim Kneen, and Director James Beattie before I took a turn about the room to speak to some of the performers including Jackie Morrey-Grace who has written a poem especially for the occasion, performers Simon Smart, Dilys Sowrey and Sue Russo. And you can keep up to date with Stories from Stone on Facebook, just pop it in the sea

This week we speak to Blue John about two big nights of music over the next two weekends, and we have artist Rachael Clegg on the line from Yorkshire – she’s working on another great project inspired by the TT races!

On Spotlight this week, we’ve got music from Voodoo Bandits ahead of their Free Gig this Friday - brought to you by the Isle of Man Arts Council, Musical Director of Manx Concert Brass Ian Clague tells us what’s in store at the Manx Last Night of the Proms, and I visit artists Laura Espinosa Moon at her new studio by the sea!

This week, we’re making one more stop at the Hodgson Loom Gallery Art in Lockdown exhibition, I’ll be picking up my crochet hooks and heading to Cregneash for a workshop run by Manx National Heritage, and we have some fab music from Clash Vooar who were one of the bands playing at the OIOW Festival last weekend.

On Spotlight this week, we’re heading along to the Hodgson-Loom Art in Lockdown exhibition to speak to some of the artists involved, and we have that fabulous track from Turning Glass who are a newly-formed duo are combining poetry with music (The Wildness of Birds has been removed from this podcast for copyright reasons but hear the full track and more work by Turning Glass here: https://soundcloud.com/user-596025380 )

We’re going back to nature on Spotlight this week as Dollin Mercer takes us to the unveiling of three new sculptures by artist Jill Gillings on the Silverburn Art Trail, and we look ahead to a free UNESCO Wild Writing poetry workshop brought to you by Manx Bard Zoe Cannell this Saturday And, we have music from the extraordinarily talented Gareth Moore too!

This week we find out more about the Island’s newest theatre company Hello Little People, we’ve more information on the Arts Council’s Internship – the deadline for which is this Friday, a local poet has some exciting news to share and we have beautiful music from Helen Morrisson of Foxtrap!

This week, we find out how Manx National Heritage has joined forces with Google to share its historic collections alongside some of the world’s greatest works and we speak to the leader of UCM’s new Extended Diploma in Music Performance and Production which actually still has a couple of spaces available! You may be surprised to hear that Manx National Heritage has joined forces with Google to share its collections far and wide alongside some of the world’s greatest works. Tia Welsh caught up with Collections Information Manager at Manx National Heritage, Jude Dicken to find out what this might mean for the Island. Leader of the new music course at UCM, Chris Kelly is our next guest today. He’s here to tell us about the University of the Arts London Extended Diploma in Music Performance and Production which will be available at University College Isle of Man next semester. Chris is a highly accomplished musician and producer whose experience at UCM over the last year will stand him in good stead as leader of

Tonight, we welcome to the programme Young Actor of Mann Co-ordinator Jacqui Hawkes, MADF President Michael Lees and this year’s Young Actor of Mann, Robyn-Mae Bruce-Lawler. On Breakfast earlier this week, you may have heard Rhian Evans in conversation with Alex Maxwell of Glass Line Media, a local production company who have recently won best Screenplay and 2nd Best in Fest at the Feel the Reel International Film Festival. The winning film is called ‘Isle’ and follows the story of ‘Finn’, a young man living in isolation and dealing with mental health issues. Last but not least, we're joined by the Chairman of Rushen Silver Band, Chris Weldon who is here to tell us about this Sunday’s Brass spectacular at the Villa Marina! Get your tickets from the Villa Gaiety Box Office by calling 600555 or head to www.villagaiety.com