THE STRANGE BREW WORLD TOUR OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT - AUGUST 2011...

A new experience for the ‘Brew - four gigs in a week, across the water... far from home. Three great venues and a ‘stadium-like’ set. At the gig on our first night, The Vine in St Helen’s, we soon picked up that the island folk are avid popular music followers - clearly born out of the great musical tradition on the Island since the ‘last great event’ of 1970, the Isle of Wight Festival.

Everyone was up for a good time and we soon made new friends. Sunday afternoon saw us at the Hyde Park Tavern in Ryde. It was certainly ‘a listening audience’, including spies from five of the Island’s local bands… keen to check out the ‘opposition from the mainland’, they soon realised that there was no cause for concern. We weren’t out to revolutionise the island’s music scene, just to give everyone a good time. We met the lovely Jo from ‘Taboo’, who we later caught up with at the Anchor in Cowes, together with some of the guys from 'The Maxwells', who played a 25 year anniversary gig later that week.

The Isle of Wight is a place of contrasting beauty, with great scenery… just like the Brew really! The locals are friendly, and we were quick to take to their rich lifestyle during our midweek break from playing. Jim managed to sniff out the finest ale, whilst Graham added a fine gash to his nose after a little tombstoning in around five inches of water. Drummers eh - you have to love 'em! Russ delegated his wife and kids to organize all the trips that included surfing and kite-flying - all with the minimum of effort. But he still managed to find the energy for ice creams and beer. John as usual was into everything, until a morning jog put paid to his ability to run at all - including away from the pub!

Thursday brought the highlight of the week; playing on the main stage at Cowes Marina. We warmed the crowd up with some ‘oldies but goodies’ and at one point convinced ourselves that people were rocking in the aisles… even on a passing ferry, as well as out front. With so much room on the big stage, Russ and John thought about doing the ‘Quo jig’, just like Rick and Francis a week earlier on the same spot. Luckily they thought better of it...

Graham found himself nearer to the Gods than usual, way up on the drum riser - what a poser! And Jim was in heaven when groups of young and old alike recognized him after spotting the big man on the big screen, and told him he was ‘wicked’. Can’t understand why they didn’t recognize the rest of us!

Our last night, was at the Solent Inn - Ryde. By this time we had gained quite a following, some of whom came to see us again - including the lovely Margaret and Pat, two beautiful ladies that make up the cornerstone of the new fan club. The place was rocking!

We had a fantastic trip and look forward to going back before too long. An excellent music scene and great people. Thank you all and rock on, you caulkheads!