Over the weekend I ventured forth over The Solent to play a gig with The Monochrome Set on the Isle of Wight.
Here’s some photos from the trip:
We were playing a show at Quay Arts in Newport, so caught a train to Southampton from London, and then boarded the ferry to Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
The journey on the Red Funnel line ferry takes around an hour, but for those in a hurry (and with more brass in pocket) the speedier Red Jet service takes just 25 mins.
Leaving Southampton and its knackered old wooden piers.
All quiet on the top deck.
Passing the luxury cruiser, Norwegian Getaway of the Norwegian Cruise Line.
Built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, it was the world’s ninth largest cruise ship with a passenger capacity of 3,969 and a crew of 1,640 in 2014.
Founded in 1885, the Toyko-headquartered Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) is one of the oldest and largest shipping companies in the world.
Drinkers on the deck.
Detail from the AIDAPrima, the flagship of AIDA Cruises, built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding in Nagasaki, Japan. The cruise ship entered service on April 25, 2016.
A Red Funnel ferry makes the return trip to Southampton.
A ruddy huge Union Flag painted on the doors of Venture Quays greets people arriving at the port of Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
Bargain prices advertised in the window of the old fashioned White Hart Inn by the ferry terminal.
With the railway line from Cowes to Newport cruelly torn up in Feb 1966 after over 100 years of service, we were compelled to accept a lift to Newport.
With a population of around 25,000 souls, Newport is the county town of the Isle of Wight.
The town’s suburb of Parkhurst is home to no less than two prisons: the notorious Parkhurst Prison and Albany; together they make up HMP Isle of Wight, the largest prison in the UK. [—]
Solid Victorian architecture can be seen around the town.
Newport Methodist Church in Quay Street.
The former premises of the Isle of Wight County Press. The paper, which was founded in 1884 and continues to published every Friday.
Built on the site of a late 12th century church between 1854-5, Sts Thomas Minster is the main Anglican church on the Isle of Wight.
The striking Victorian Gothic architecture of Sixth Form Campus at Upper St James’ Street in Newport, located in the building previously occupied by Nodehill Middle School.
Below can be seen an early Edwardian postcard view:
Gunsmiths on Upper St James’ Street.
The redeveloped bus station.
Christmas decorations still up in May with a ‘Ghost sign’ advertising Moorman & Son’s cabinet, upholstery and polishing works.
Lennard Brothers was founded as a boot and shoe manufacturing firm in Leicester in the 1870s.
By 1920, the company had some 200 branches before being bought up by Great Universal Stores 1973 and then Charterhall in 1989, who swiftly went into receivership, with the shops closing in the early 1990s. [—]
Designed by Percy G Stone FRIBA, FSA, this striking memorial to the life and reign of Queen Victoria, stands in St James’s Square, Newport.
Below is a postcard view from around 1903, with a modern night view taken from a similar angle:
Newport Guildhall, designed by noted architect John Nash in 1819 is now home to the Museum of Island History.
Set in a 1732 house that was once home to the town mayor, Calvert’s Hotel has, perhaps, seen better days.
River Medina view.
In the background can be see the remains of Newport Power Station
We were performing at the lovely Quay Arts, the island’s leading art gallery and venue for live events.
The venue stands at the head of the River Medina and occupies a former brewery.
Artwork inside Quay Arts.
Quay Arts cafe and bar.
Some work from British ‘land artist’ Richard Long was on display in the gallery.
I’ve always been a fan of Long’s land walks.
At the soundcheck.
Our original support band had to cancel at the last minute, so this excellent young band called Furthermore stepped in.
My drum kit for the evening.
That ridiculously over-engineered Premier counter-weighted cymbal stand (left) perhaps sums up why the legendary British drum manufacturer lost so much ground to Japanese rivals.
Quay Arts at night.
After the gig we headed off to the Crispin on Carisbrooke Road which was a bloody fantastic pub.
Formerly known as The Cask & Crispin, the pub puts on regular live gigs and has a large back garden. The owner’s a nice bloke too!
In the side room.
Heading home past Newport’s oldest Inn, The Castle Inn.
Castlehold Baptist Church, High Street, Newport, dating from 1812.
Thank you Doris.
Heading back to Southampton, there was plenty of boats darting about a nearly-flat sea.
Ferry detail.
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