The square was filled with stalls from Greenpeace, League Against Cruel Sports, the Special Baby Unit plus various artists painting and filling the place with culture and fun. Just what squares should be about.
Around eleven Sandra O'Toole began the event in St. Thomas Square with a breezy set of songs. Perfect for lulling around to at one of the many cafe tables that give the Square its cosmopolitan flavour.
The Island Drum Circle beat infectious rhythms on congas and various hand drums. The deep, elephant belly growl of the digeridoo was joined by one of the musicians playing what looked like a long piece of drainpipe.
JC and Angelina arrived to perform a whole set of original songs. Angelina's dusky vocals and JC's toe tapping mandolin and guitar solos rang across the cobblestones. Music to get a sun tan to.
From one Island to another. Next we had the Shamrock and Thistle dancers who performed Irish slip jigs. The young children, in beautiful Irish dancing dresses brought deserved applause from the crowd. Their performance emphasised the diverse nature of this event.
Last year SG and Paul Athey painted breathtaking sketches of Spain with just two guitars. This year they called themselves Martinez and added the bulbous bass play of Mick Cuffe and a thudding conga beat from Dave Pontin. Beautiful stuff which stopped more than a few passers by to listen.
The music event took a break at 2pm to allow for a wedding at the Church. The music got underway, appropriately, at 3pm with a selection of songs from the Isle of Wight Gospel Choir.
Justin Sadler, perched on a stool continued with selection of powerfully sung songs that upped the mood. Graham McFarlane had by this time taken over MC duties from Vaguely Sunny's Pete Turner. The head of the Ferret Theatre Company was in fine babbling form. Sparky the clown entertained the children, jugglers topped their performance with flaming sticks and then Wayward Sons took the stage.
The Sons up to the gunwhales in passion. Twin electric violins wailed behind the gregarious John Wroath and the soaring, soul drenched vocals of the Jones Bros, Duncan and Roland. Lovely stuff.
The music ended in suitable style from Karl and Pete (Burnan). Pete had managed the sound marvellusly all day and now turned up playing guitar, appropriately on the Kinks Sunny Afternoon. It had certainly been that.
Had there been a competition for style, the children with the goulish painted faces may have been upstaged by John Wroath in a natty looking pair of green pyjamas or the Jones brothers in matching bleach blonde haircuts. Perhaps the winner ought to have been JC Grimshaw in straw hat, red shirt and Cuban heels.
The real winners were the community who came to the square, frequented the cafe's and were caught on video by local film maker Darren Cooper. Hopefully the tireless work of organiser Zara Smith, anchormen Pete Turner and Vic King and funding from the Council can be channelled into another event next year.
Mike Plumbley
Coming soon are a selection from Pete Short's massive collection of Isle of Wight bands. Dodgy haircuts and skeletons in the cupboard of Isle of Wight Rock.