Wightlink showcases Island talent at mini festival

Wightlink is gearing up for this year’s Isle of Wight festival with music from local talent onboard its ferries and a Mermaid Gin bar at the end of Ryde Pier.

Electro Love’s All-Star DJs are warming up for performances at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival by entertaining travellers on Wightlink’s very own ‘goddess of the sea’, Victoria of Wight this week.

Island-based DJ Nomadic, DJ Rex on the Dex & Rocco and DJ Jakey Chan are getting customers in the festival mood between Monday and Wednesday with 80s, 90s and 00s themed dance nostalgia – a great taste of what festival-goers can expect at the popular Electro Love stage at Seaclose Park.

Aaron Baker from Electro Love says: “Our team of DJs are really enjoying the opportunity to perform on the Solent in the lead up to this year’s festival. There is a really good vibe on the ferries as people enjoy the sunshine and listen to some great music as they travel to the Island.”

When the Electro Love team heads to the festival site on Thursday, Isle of Wight DJs Josh Peverley and Stu Murray from Hush Disco will take over the turntables to get the party started for those travelling to the Isle of Wight.

On the Yarmouth – Lymington route, ‘Forever to Go’ are treating passengers to some stripped back covers today on the outer sun deck. Band members are students at Platform One College of Music, which Wightlink is proud to support via its sponsorship scheme.

All degree students, Georgia Emmett is on vocals, Lewis Hilsum on keyboard, Joe Thompson on guitar and William Vincent on drums. The band is enjoying the opportunity to play to passengers ahead of its performance at this year’s festival. You can catch also them at the Festival’s Electro Love tent at 4pm on Friday.

At Ryde Pier, a pop-up Mermaid Gin bar will be open between 10am and 9pm from Thursday to Sunday, serving drinks from the Isle of Wight Distillery. Foot passengers will have the chance to be among the first to walk along Wightlink’s new pedestrian footway between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde Esplanade, too.

Festival-goers will be welcomed to the Portsmouth Gunwharf port by a Water Goddess sculpture thanks the Shademakers UK and on Thursday 15 June there will be a day of entertainment from local Portsmouth musicians.

Onboard, selfie-zones will be available for people to capture memories of their journey to the Island and have some fun with some 2023 Isle of Wight Festival themed props.

Phil Delaney, Wightlink’s Commercial Director, says: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to the Island for this year’s festival. We are proud to showcase local talent in the lead up to the event thanks to our partners at Platform One College of Music and Shademakers UK, and with the help of the Island-based Electro Love and Hush Disco DJ teams.  Visitors can also sample Isle of Wight produce at our Mermaid Gin Bar at Ryde Pier and our Wight Taste outlets. The weather forecast is looking great for the weekend – we can’t wait to get the party started!”

For more information visit wightlink.co.uk.

Photo captions:

• DJs Rocco & Rex from Electro Love onboard Victoria of Wight today, between Portsmouth and Fishbourne (13 Jun 2023)
• Forever To Go performing on Wightlink’s Lymington to Yarmouth route today (13 Jun 2023)
• DJ Nomadic from Electro Love onboard Victoria of Wight, between Portsmouth and Fishbourne (12 Jun 2023)

For more information about Wightlink, please contact:

Duty Media Officer

• 07870 906 189

• [email protected]