THE Island’s thriving live music scene came to an abrupt halt at the start of the lockdown, but with outdoor socially distanced performances now approved by the government, local musicians and venues have been getting the summer under way.

Steve Love, who writes and performs songs about the Island, said: "Since the rules were relaxed I have been out busking, and I picked up from music friends on social media that there were live performances of other musicians popping up here and there.

"So I did a trawl and was astonished to discover just how much live music is now going on all over the Island, with the promise of more to come.”

He compiled a list of forthcoming music.

This weekend, Chris Quinton is performing at Adgestone Vineyard on Friday (1pm to 3pm), and then later with Becky Baxter at the Fountain in Cowes (6pm to 8pm).

On Saturday, Gary and Laura from Dirty Li’l Secret are in the garden at the Simeon Arms in Ryde (4pm to 6pm), Annie Daffern will be at the Rocket Garden at Sandown Airport (1pm to 3pm), Marie Smith at the Waverley in Carisbrooke (7pm), Jukebox Jazz at Adgestone Vineyard (1pm to 3pm), JC Grimshaw and friends at Ryde Western Gardens (10am to 4pm), Mark Thomas and John Thorn at St Thomas Square in Ryde (10am to 12pm) and Annalisa Vaughan is performing opera at Appley Tower in Ryde (2pm to 4pm).

On Sunday it is the turn of Ollie Ducie to entertain at Adgestone Vineyard (1pm to 3pm), ‘Neil plays the Shadows’ on the Dimbola House Tea Rooms (1pm to 2.30pm), and Chris Quinton performs for the Waterfront Inn in Shanklin (3pm to 5pm).

Also on Sunday, at Everland, Long Lane, Newport, there is a double bill of Gypsy jazz from Tzigane, followed by the Dance Preachers, featuring Angelina and JC Grimshaw, Paul Armfield and other top Isle of Wight musicians. This is a ticketed ‘bring a bottle and picnic’ event (tickets from Monkton Arts).

On Wednesday, August 12, the Waverley in Carisbrooke hosts its weekly all-comers evening of folk music (7pm to 9.30pm).

Monkton Arts and Ryde Council have also risen to the summer challenge by putting on other entertainments in Ryde town centre and on the seafront this and every weekend.

Steve said: “These are just the events I know about. If I have missed anyone, then I’d love them to tell me where they are playing next. Outdoor music has a terrific feel, it’s informal, you can sit on a bench or folding chair or just on the ground and have a drink and maybe eat and let it all just waft over.

“I would like to pay tribute to the people who have done so much to keep the spirit of Island live music going during the lockdown.

"There have been a number of weekly live online open mic nights, and the County Press has done a great job of keeping the music community in touch with song releases and other local music news, so it is great to see at least a part of our live music coming back to entertain us.”

Email Steve at stelov1@yahoo.co.uk