So, “What will there be to do?” you may ask. Well, without any further ado, here’s the line-up:

Friday Main Stage

• 17:00 Maldune
• 17:50 Chris Beauman
• 18:05 Zara Sophia
• 18:30 Jeceris
• 19:20 Paul Freeland
• 19:40 Good times with henry wood
• 20:25 Laura Goucher
• 20:40 Planes Over Paris
• 21:30 Orca
• 10:30 Kosheen (live)

Saturday Main Stage

• 12:00 The Lotus Project
• 12:30 Helen Morrison
• 12:50 Camden sporting arts and social club
• 13:30 Curious Turtles
• 13:50 Dub Heart
• 14:35 Strengyn
• 14:50 Nigel Williams
• 15:30 Ryan Inglis and friends
• 16:00 Anthony Battersby
• 16:15 Vex Mama
• 17:15 Grambo
• 17:45 Tommy Cole
• 18:05 The Behavers
• 18:55 Dave from The Zutons with Tony Davis
• 19:25 Uber Room
• 20:15 Paul Wright
• 21:05 Lost Soldiers
• 22:00 Easy Star All-Stars

Friday Dance Tent

• 17:00 Day of Hugs DJ’s
• 19:00 Remedy DJ’s (Jungle)
• 20:00 Kosheen DJ’s
• 21:30 Jay Bessant Vs 7Quidstudio
• 10:30 Kosheen (played through rig)

Saturday Dance Tent

• 12:00 Magnus the Massuer
• 12:40 NA NA Matt Shepard
• 13:00 Sonic Jihad
• 14:00 DJ Cav
• 15:00 Nick Lowe
• 16:00 Christian Claige
• 17:00 Barry Fearon
• 18:00 Bill Norman
• 19:30 The Head Gardener
• 21:00 Stiff Kittens (Sonia)
• 10:30 Easy Star All-Stars (through rig)

An Adult 2-day ticket starts at £50 if you book it online (subject to a booking fee), but if you’re not sure you can make it, you can take a chance and try and get them at the door. They’re more expensive here and you may not get a ticket if the event sells out. Have a great time!

It’s very easy to take the availability of IT for granted. It’s often hard to imagine that there are people who have never used a computer, or indeed seen or had the ability to access the internet.

Leonard Cheshire Disability Centre is now able to offer disabled and older people in their community the access to IT facilities many people take for granted.

BCS Members worked with Keith Fitton, Service Manager of Leonard Cheshire, to ensure that the critical items were secured for the drop-in centre. BCS Members Nick Smith from Phoenix IT, John Cannell from RBS, Tracy Kinrade from Central Software and Peter Jackson from Open Systems Management worked together to plan, source and install all the IT requirements needed for four disabled users at the centre.

The idea of the computer drop-in centre was to meet three requirements:

1. Provide a facility where disabled people can simply come along for an element of social activity while they surf the internet or check their email and perhaps do their shopping online.
2. Offer an opportunity to develop completely new skills for people who have not used computers before.
3. Enable the process of supporting disabled people along the path either to further education or employment.

Other local Manx companies have supported the scheme to enable the project team to get the centre up and running. These include Cains Advocates, which purchased flexible computer desks that can be adjusted to allow wheel chair users to sit comfortably while working on the computer.

Gary Shilling from Wi-Manx donated a router and provided ADSL internet access, while Timberland flooring transformed the centre by donating a new floor, which is more wheel chair friendly. GamesMaster of Ramsey donated a Wii game station.

Tracy Kinrade from Central Software commented: ‘New technology has great potential to overcome barriers in education, the workplace and social life for disabled and older people.
The project team were all delighted to be involved and excited that this facility will provide its many users with the facilities and access to the world which we all take for granted.’

The centre was opened by the island’s Department of Health and Social Security Chief Executive David Killip, who said: ‘It’s clearly going to be a wonderful facility.’

Ingredients:

• 454g Manx Queenies
• 100g Stilton
• 250ml Double Cream
• 100ml White Wine
• Salt and Pepper
• Vegetable Oil for Cooking

Method:

1. Place a frying pan on a high heat and add small amount of oil.
2. Add Manx Queenies to the pan and cook quickly for 2-3mins.
3. Place Manx Queenies in a dish , then place pan back on heat and add white wine.
4. Reduce wine by half, add cream and bring to the boil.
5. Reduce heat and crumble in stilton. Do not re-boil as it will split.
6. Return Manx Queenies to the pan allow to heat back through, season to taste.
7. Serve in a dish with crusty bread and salad.

That sounds really yummy, and you’re all welcome to try it. And, if you have a Queenie recipe you’re proud of, you can submit it to their Queenie Recipe competition for a chance to £100 worth of seafood.

The Queenie Festival starts on the 29th June this year. We’ll bring you more details closer to the event.

There are three elements to defamation: the statement must be defamatory about claimant, it must be published and the statement must be calculated to injure the reputation of another by exposing them to hatred content or radical. In the celebrity age where reputations can increase or decrease earnings considerably the law does provide protection.

One of the most interesting cases of late is the Max Mosley v News Group Newspapers; where it was alleged that five women role-played in Nazi uniform and mocked the suffering of the Jews in the Nazi war camp. Did the press have the right to expose this sort of behaviour of public life professionals? Max Mosley sued the newspapers under article 8 (privacy of family) of the Human Rights Act 1998. He claimed that it was an invasion of his privacy to family life. The Human Rights Act provides individuals with a whole host of basic human rights. The judge agreed with Mosley and held that the papers had been in breach of his human rights. In the aftermath of this decision and other ones to. For example the photographing of Naomi Campbell leaving a drug rehabilitation clinic, where it was ruled that the press do not have the right to publish such personal confidential information. The press in the UK has been claiming that this is unfair. Why?

Whether one morally agrees with the alleged acts, it does raise some rather interesting questions one may hope by such rulings that the press is now forced to report news that is more relevant to society; instead of the current doorstepping of empty and vacuous media personalities. One may hope that they will concentrate on exposing corruption within different levels of society. Would it be too much to ask that instead of devoting large proportions of newspapers space to such easy targets like A B and C Celebrities. They Instead of go after harder targets, and questionable policies an decisions. For example the current economic crisis did not happen overnight. I’m sure that more questions should have been asked at the level of lending in relation to unsecured loans. If it had we might not be facing the current crisis. What one does in private should not be the concern of the general public. What happens in public bodies is very much our concern. Whistleblowers are protected as our number of other individuals including MPs from liable for defamation in the Houses of Parliament. If we are not asking the questions then nobody is thinking.

MC – Danny Buckler
A truly “magic” comedian, Danny Buckler is fast establishing himself as one of the most popular performers on the circuit, be it as a stand-up, improvisational actor, magician or all-round performer. Having worked both nationally and in an acclaimed sell-out show in the West End with Victoria Wood and Imelda Staunton, on television, he has appeared alongside the Dead Ringers, on Dinner Ladies and as a frontline presenter of The Secret of Magic.

In 2003 Danny made his Edinburgh Festival debut at the prestigious Edinburgh Assembly Rooms in an extremely successful double-hander with fellow magician, Mandy Muden. 2004 and 2005 have seen Danny fronting the BBC 1 prime-time Saturday night specials, ‘Secrets of Magic’, alongside John Lenehan, and Etienne Pradier.

Act 1 – Victor Daniels
Victor started his stand-up career in 1999 and hasn’t looked back since, becoming a regular in the circuit’s top venues such as The Comedy Store, Jongleurs, Comedy Café, Comedy Club,Up The Creek and the Hackney Empire.

His comedy has seen him perform in New York and reach the finals of some of the UK’s best known comedy competitions. He has also featured as a writer on the BBC’s Gina Yashere Show and the Angie Le Mars sketch show ‘Big Sister’.

He is the creator, writer and director of the highly successful Hackney Empire The United Colours of Comedy, which is now being developed by the BBC New Comedy Unit.

He is also a regular at the live ‘BBC Comedy Presents’ shows in the Soho Revue Bar.

Headline – Mark Maier
Mark Maier has been in the comedy game so long and is so good at it he’s even been running courses in the art since 1994. Having taught improvisational comedy in London and founded the group MadLib, he is a regular of the world renowned Comedy Store Players, alongside the likes of Josie Lawrence, Jim Sweeney and Paul Merton. A multi-talented, mercurial comedian, he retains an edge that still makes him one of the most must-see acts on the circuit. A familiar face on TV and radio, he has written and appeared for such diverse shows as Dating The Enemy, Edinburgh Nights, Rory Bremner, Quando Quando Quando and The Sunday Service.

The wheel was commissioned to pump water from the nearby Laxey mines when they were used to mine lead, copper, zinc and even silver in the past. When the mines closed in 1929, Mr Edwin Kneale, a Laxey builder stepped in to buy the wheel which was scheduled to be scrapped. He operated the wheel as a tourist attracting until the cost of maintaining the wheel meant it was no longer commercial viable to do this. It was then purchased by the Manx Government in 1965 when it was then restored to its former glory and handed over to the Manx National Heritage to operate as a National Heritage Site.

Here are some facts and figures about the Laxey Wheel:

• The wheel has a diameter of 72 feet 6 inches (22.10 m).
• The wheel has a circumference of almost 228ft (69.43 m).
• The wheel is 6 feet (1.83m) wide.
• The wheel as 48 wooden spokes.
• The wheel has 168 buckets.
• The wheel produces 200 horse power.
• The Great Laxey Wheel took 4 years to build.
• It’s peak operating capacity is 250 gallons per minute from a depth of 1500 feet.
• The wheel was nicknamed Lady Isabella after the wife of a former Lieutenant Governor, Charles Hope.

Laxey Wheel

Lady Isabella is usually open to visitors between April and October, though it’s worth keeping in mind that it’s best to visit in good weather as there’s little shelter and climbing to the top of the wheel can be tricky in windy weather. There are a number of rambling trails through Glen Moar where visitors can learn about the mining history of the area and even stop for a picnic.

If you don’t have the opportunity to visit the wheel, you can find a panoramic view of the Laxey Wheel on the Manx National Heritage site.

(Laxey Wheel photo courtesy of ManxScenes)

Nuno has been living in the Isle of Man for the last 5 years during which time he started training and became a qualified gym instructor. He is originally from Madeira, a Portuguese island slightly larger than the Isle of Man but much more densely populated. He currently works at Body Shack, a fitness centre in Kingswood Grove, Douglas, and you can also find him minding the door at Bordello over the weekend.

The initial event is scheduled for the 17th May which consists of the NABBA (National Amateur Bodybuilder’s Association) qualifier in Southport. If Nuno is successful in this competition he could proceed to the Mr. Britain competition two weeks later on the 30th May and could also potentially qualify for the WFF Mr. Universe.

Nuno can be seen here flanked by Richard and Steven from Body Shack who will be helping Nuno in his efforts by sponsoring his health supplements and personal training.

ManxVoice would like to add our best wishes to that of Nuno’s fans and supporters and wish him the best of luck in his forthcoming competition. We’ll keep you posted with any news we get.

When the summer day is over
And the busy cares have flown,
Then I sit beneath the starlight
With a weary heart. alone,
And there rises like a vision,
Sparkling bright in nature’s glee,
My own dear Ellan Vannin
With its green hills by the sea.

Then I hear the wavelets murmur
As they kiss the fairy shore,
Then beneath the em’rald waters
Sings the mermaid as of yore,
And the fair Isle shines with beauty
As in youth it dawned on me,
My own dear Ellan Vannin
With its green hills by the sea.

Then mem’ries sweet and tender
Come like music’s plaintive flow,
Of someone in Ellan Vannin
That lov’d me long ago,
So I give with tears and blessings,
And my fondest thoughts to thee,
My own dear Ellan Vannin
With its green hills by the sea.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. If you’re musically inclined you can find the words of Ellan Vannin set to music by J. Townsend on the Manx Notebook.

Kind thanks to Peter Killey from ManxScenes for the lovely photos of the Isle of Man shown alongside the poem.

The gig itself was played to practically a full house in the Traf, in which Billy had had the foresight to move the tables out of the band room and into the green room, so for the first time in living memory, it actually felt like a gig in there and not someone playing at the top end of a furniture shop (now about moving that pool table out of there…). One thing that shows through is that, as intricate as these songs are, they are meant to be played live, but through a decent PA with a competent engineer as for the most part for the instrumental “post-rock” (a genre I know nothing about and had to be told what it meant!) passages, you need to be able to hear the individual instruments each playing their own lines, that’s not to say that what they play is indulgent noodling, but rather, an overall sound where all 4 (or 5 if you count the vocals) instruments contribute to the overall feel of the song.

Musically this is a band that has taken a variety of influences from the last 2 decades and managed to make disparate sounds somehow fit together. Last night I heard, amongst other things, old school goth, new wave, the late 80’s Manchester & Leeds sounds and (so I was told) the new post-rock style. It’s a very hard thing to explain in terms of what they sound like, but the closest I can get is an overall feel that The Bravery were a pastiche of, The Cult used to try to sound like around the time of Dreamtime & Love, The Sundays made commercialised and The Sisters Of Mercy had for a short while before they reinvented themselves as The Pet Shop Boys go to a funeral. Throw in some Mars Voltaesque time changes and that about sums things up (see what I mean!)

The only thing I can actually suggest is to go and see this band yourself as they defy description, but I can assure you that you will come away not unhappy and in these days of too many complaints about no gigs to go to and no venues to go see these non-existent gigs in, that can’t be a bad thing at all.

Here are some photos from the gig:
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Photos by Martin Critchley

This is just one of the many types of trips that can by organised by Chauffeur Drive, a Manx company that specialises in high quality transport that can be booked for trips, parties, outings or airport pick ups. Whether you’re collected with the top-end Jaguar or with their stretch limousine you can be guaranteed a pleasurable trip, in the highest quality transport available on the Isle of Man.

The limo is the ultimate in luxury on wheels. It can accommodate 8 people and boasts laser and mood lighting, 2 TVs, CD, DVD, PS2 and Karaoke. All these can be configured to your liking and can be adjusted to suit any mood and occasion. The vehicle can also be rented for a booze cruise around the Isle of Man. This is a 4 hour trip around the Island stopping anywhere you wish. Complimentary bubbly, ice and glasses are provided as part of the package. It’s also available for weddings, parties and any other occasion that you may require.

If you don’t want to splash out, the company also has an executive Jaguar available for private hire at standard taxi rates. This has a really smooth ride and offers a luxurious journey which won’t break the bank. It’s fully air conditioned, with a tasteful leather interior and a really comfortable ride.

Chauffeur Drive are always happy to adapt their services to whatever you need, so if you are looking for a stylish ride, send them a message on their website or give them a call on 07624-472658.