Blues & Twos fundraiser for the air ambulance

Name: Blues & Twos fundraiser for the air ambulance
Start: 2025-03-02T15:30:00+00:00
End: 2025-03-02T19:00:00+00:00
Location: Apollo Theatre

Schedule

Sun Mar 02 2025 at 03:30 pm to 07:00 pm

UTC+00:00

Location

Apollo Theatre | Newport, EN

This live music fundraising event for the air ambulance takes place at the Apollo Theatre, Newport on Sunday 2 March from 3.30 to 7.00pm.
Entry is by £20 cash donation to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air ambulance.
“I’ve had a wonderful response from musicians asking to take part,” says David Ballard, “Jim Thorn and I have mined this rich seam of Island talent and put together a lively concert of jazz, folk, opera, feel-good Rock and Roll and songs from the shows.” This line-up offers something for everybody and seems sure to get toes tapping and voices singing along when the audience is invited to join in.
The line-up of popular musicians includes Loren Thorn, JC Grimshaw, The Burglars, Tony Nicol, The Watch, Black Daniels, Laurie McVay, Annalisa Vaughan, and Paul Armfield who says “The air ambulance was fabulous when my aunt had a stroke. So I know how valuable this charity is.”
Amy Burns, Production Manager at the Apollo adds “It’s a pleasure to welcome the musicians to the theatre for the air ambulance fundraiser. Working closely with the charity and all these talented volunteers makes a vital contribution to our community outreach and engagement. The theatre is a valuable community resource. We hope that people coming through the doors for the first time will come back later in the year to see one of our wonderful productions.”
Blues&Twos THE MUSICIANS biographies(part)
Black Daniels have been entertaining audiences across the Island in their own inimitable style for 30 years, Damien Paul's vocals and skilled guitar playing blends seamlessly with Simon Clark's harmonica. “We cover a wide range of musical styles,” says Simon. “It’s inevitable that many songs find themselves given a blues twist as that is where our hearts live.”
Laurie McVay is recognised as a leading British blues singer and songwriter. He is also a great original. His sound is deeply rooted in modern blues but he also expresses a strong influence from soul and jazz music. Together with the bands The High Rollers and the Soul of Jazz, Laurie’s genre-blending approach has been heard at blues festivals and venues around the country.
“I am fortunate so far,” Laurie says “not to have required the services of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight air ambulance; but, like many others, I deeply appreciate all of the work. I feel very grateful that we have such a highly skilled and extremely dedicated rapid response emergency service. These are extraordinary people.”
The Burglars (Nick Cane and Rob Stout) play a range of upbeat good-time 1950s rock and roll tunes with some modern twists. They are accomplished musicians with a wealth of experience and have been playing across the Island for many years. “We came together fairly recently.” says Nick. “Our title, of course, comes from our names, Rob and Nick. They guarantee to get your joints jumping, “When you have your collar felt by the Burglars, you’re in safe hands.” Nick adds, “We play music to steal your heart!”
For the past three decades Annalisa Vaughan has graced the stages of England, Italy and Gibraltar. As founder of Project:Opera she has gathered professional and aspiring artists to bring opera to new and disadvantaged audiences while raising funds and awareness for local charities such as Intervene, IW Pride and Mountbatten Hospice.
Annalisa says, “I was immediately eager to join this fundraiser organised by my dear friend David. He received such expert care.”
Annalisa is a freelance voice coach based in Ryde. She also works at the Isle of Wight College supporting students with special learning difficulties.