It’s not long until the world famous and iconic Isle of Wight Scooter Rally returns to Ryde. Up to five thousand riders of classic scooters descend on the Island, heading mostly to the coastal towns of Ryde and Sandown.
This year, as usual, a great range of music events have been organised by Best of British Events on Ryde seafront.
Starting Thursday 25th August located on Ryde’s Seafront at Ryde Pavilion’s Bar and from Friday 26th August above at The Balcony Bars Club. Best of British has a vast range of range of bands and DJs, starting at noon each day, with free entertainment until 7pm, then ticketed from 8pm.
Friday: Oasish and Ska’d for Life
Oasish: Accurately re-creating all of the biggest hits from arguably the biggest British band since The Beatles Since forming in 2004, Oasish, have quickly become the most sought after oasis tribute band in the UK.
Not only does the band feature many professional musicians, it also features members that have played the bigger stages with names such as Robbie Williams, Pete Townshend (The Who), Bryan Adams, Nik Kershaw.
Boasting a back-line that matches the same amps that oasis use, oasish also use the same instruments as well. Indeed, the “Noel” uses either a Sunburst Gibson Les Paul, Cherry Red Gibson ES335 or the Union Jack Epiphone Supernova, the signature guitar that Noel helped design after appearing with one at the Maine Road show in Manchester in the mid 90’s
Ska’d for Life: One of the finest ska’d bands in the country, a nine piece outfit that perform old style chilled ska a la Desmond Dekker / Clancy Eccles++ right through to the high tempo/energy 2 Tone revival of The Specials.
All band members have a love of Ska hailing from existing, separate, gigging bands joining together to play some great tunes, with a big brass section guaranteed to get you up on the dance floor !
DJ Simon Ball with Mod sounds ’til 2.30am. First band 8.45pm. Tickets only £12.50 over 18s only. ID may be required
Saturday: Dexys Bootleg Runners and The Fliks
Dexys Bootleg Runners: The world’s only Dexy’s Midnight Runners Tribute band.
This is not a couple of guys with midi files, this is a full blown, ten-piece HUGE sound, faithfully re-creating the halcyon days of all incarnations of Kevin Rowlands imagination including a three-piece horn section, banjo, accordion, organ, piano, guitar, bass, fiddle, and drums. Once seen never forgotten, and a fistful of songs that will take you back to the days when you were Searching For the Young Soul Rebels!!!
They will be supported by fabulous girl band, The Fliks.
High energy girls of the 1960s, playing the coolest Motown, Brill Building, Decca, Soul, Spector and Euro Swinging Girls, the Fliks a seven piece band that specialise in covering hits from 1960’s era girl groups and solo artists. The line-up of three female vocals and four piece band strike the perfect balance between authenticity and originality in their effort to capture a British Cavern era cover band.
Doors 8pm. Bands on early. DJs ’til 2.30am. Tickets only £12.50. Over 18s only. ID may be required.
Sunday: The Style Councillors and The Hiwatts
Sunday is another double header with for the first time on the Island – the world’s only tribute to the mighty Style Council, a full eleven-piece lineup replicating the very best from probably the best pop group in the world!
The Style Councillors are the ultimate tribute to The Style Council.
With swirling Hammond organ and a classic horn section, The Style Councillors are as close as it gets to actually being there. They will take you right back to the beginning for a trip through one of Paul Weller’s arguably best periods as a songwriter.
The Hiwatts will be performing a tribute to the “BEST” of British Rock/Mod/Punk Music, from the 60s through to the 90s.
Guitar smashing, microphone twirling and drum crashing their way through The Who, Small Faces, Rolling Stones, The Jam, Oasis, The Easy Beats, Sex Pistols, Ocean Colour Scene, Paul Weller, The Undertones, The Buzzcocks, The Creation, and many others.
DJs ’til 1.30am. Tickets only £10. Over 18s only. ID may be required.
Book your tickets now
Avoid disappointment and book now as these events are always well attended.
A whole weekend ticket is available for just £27.50 (booking fee of £2.50).
The Venue is a 600 capacity, well-priced drinks, large dance floor, large outside bar overlooking the sea and smoking area.
Buy tickets online through the Visual Impact Website or in person from
- Bagel Wrap, Union Street, Ryde
- Ryde Superbowl, Seafront, Ryde
- Ryde Scooters, The Strand, Ryde
- Visual Impact, Holyrood St, Newport
Our thanks to Visual Impact for sponsoring this event feature. They and other businesses taking paid promotion enables you to continue reading OnTheWight for free
