The Shutes perform at Saturday’s secret show in Ventnor.
MUSICTHERE was a surprise for music fans thanks to the Ventnor Fringe Festival at the weekend, with the first of a series of secret shows ahead of the summer’s main event.
The details of Saturday’s Secret Show where kept so tightly under wraps that hours before the gig even the musicians did not know where they were playing.
The gig was free to supporters of Ventnor Fringe, who sign up as members for £20 a year, and were sent details for the concert at the last moment.
Fringe members will also be the first to receive news of future Fringe events, have the chance to get tickets and be in line for more free surprise shows featuring comedy, film and more music in the future.
It is part of a new scheme designed to help create a community of supporters for the event, which will return from August 15 to 18.
Saturday’s gigs was held at a Ventnor house, where a crowd of 50 enjoyed performances from Island talents The Shutes and Tallulah Smith, and Lymington artist Will Aiden.
Organiser Jack Whitewood said: "The whole Fringe spirit is about finding different spaces, it’s the opposite of big festivals really, in going back to something more intimate and more special.
"We want to have the best artists we can, but in some of the smallest spaces.
"Often my favourite part of festivals is when you are standing in the middle of a field round a piano, this is a festival for little moments."
Jack said the festival, which was founded and is organised by a small group of young people, had enjoyed a hugely successful second year in 2011 and they had already had artists contact them to ask to take part in this year’s event.
For latest news on the event or to sign up as a member visit www.vfringe.co.uk
Reporter: ross.findon@iwcp.co.uk