- What: Isle of Wight International Jazz Festival
- When: mid April (April 17 -19, 2009)
- Where: In and around Ventnor, Isle of Wight.
- Admission: Tickets £15 to £58. Dinner and Stroller tickets for admission to multiple venues and a meal.
- Website
They call the Isle of Wight England's "Deep South", so what more fitting area to host one of the country's best Jazz Festivals.
Centered around the coastal resort of Ventor, festival events take place in theatres, hotels and nightclubs around the Isle of Wight. "Dinner and Stroller" tickets admit jazz fans to the Jazz Village Dance & Garden Marquees, East Dene, Red Funnel Marquee at the Royal Hotel, Ventnor Towers Hotel, Boathouse @ Spyglass Inn, St Catherine’s Church and The Cricket Club
In 2007, Jazz Divas was the theme and the festival highlighted top female performers. Headliners included the legendary British Jazz couple, John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, and singer-songwriter Terry Callier.
Also in the area: Arrive early and take in a Celtic music festival first. The Gosport&Fareham Easter Festival, nearby, runs from April 5 to 9. Take the short Ferry trip back to the mainland to visit historic Portmouth, the home of the Royal Navy, and, incidentally, The Ship Anson, one of our favorite local pubs. Then stop by Porchester, for a visit to Porchester Castle and The Cormorant, another great English pub.
