HARP ON WIGHT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
23rd October 2025 - 27th October 2025

CONCERTS

​ALL CONCERTS AND WORKSHOPS (excluding the harpcatcher) TAKE PLACE IN
RYDE METHODIST CHURCH, GARFIELD ROAD, RYDE, ​PO33 2PT
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OPENING CONCERT:
​TREES FOR TWO
MYRDHIN and ELISA (from Brittany)

Details:
​​Thursday 23rd October 2025 - 19:15
​
​Description:
Experience a magical journey through the traditional Druid Tree Calendar.

Concert Duration: 1 hour
Tickets: £12   Children under 16: £6
Tickets for all events can be booked in advance:
1. Online (please print your payment receipt this is your ticket)
2. In person from Michelangelo Restaurant, 30, St Thomas Street, Ryde.
3. During the Festival at the Box Office at Ryde Methodist Church from Thursday 23rd October from 9 am onward.

Hoping to attend all the concerts? Purchase a season ticket enabling you to attend all of the 2025 Harp On Wight Concerts (excluding the Harp Catcher) - Only £90!
Book Tickets

SONGS OF THE SEA
​CLOE MATHARU (from Scotland)

Details:
Friday 24th October 2025 - 14:00
​
Description:
Multi Award winning, Scottish Indian singer, songwriter and Celtic harpist shares a repertoire of original and traditional songs inspired by her time as a Navigational Officeer in the Merchant Navy. Join her as she draws you into her watery world singing of silkies, oil tankers, glaciers and Artic terns.

Concert Duration: 1 hour
​
Tickets: £12   Children under 16: £6
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CAROLAN AND CONTEMPORARIES
TARA VISCARDI (Baroque triple harp)
and NATHAN GIORGETTI (Viola da gamba)

Details:
Friday 24th October 2025 - 19:15
​
Description:
To celebrate this year’s festival theme “The Way of the Bards”, Irish harpist Tara Viscardi is joined by viola da gambist Nathan Giorgetti as they explore the compositions of 17th century blind harper Turlough Carolan and his contemporaries, such as fellow harpers Thomas and William Connellan and other musicians of the period from Ireland and further afield.

Duration: 2 parts of 40 minutes
​
Tickets: £15   Children under 16: £7
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INSPIRED HEALING IMPROVISATIONS
DANIEL PERRET (from France)

Details:
Saturday 25th October 2025 - 14:00
​
Description:
Harmonious feeling improvisations, avoiding rhythm, melody, repeated chord sequences, single modes, or tonality, inviting a free flow of inspired impulses to lead the way. An approach that Daniel also uses for distance healing.

Duration: 50 minutes
​
Tickets: £12   Children under 16: £6
Book Tickets

Music of the Spheres
MARIANNE GUBRI (Breton/Italy)

Details:
Saturday 25th October 2025 - 19:15
​
Description:
Step into a celestial sound journey where the harp becomes a messenger of cosmic harmony. This meditative concert invites you to explore music inspired by ancient myths, the Musica Universalis, and the vibrational proportions believed to govern both the soul and the movements of the planets. Through original compositions, the harp weaves a sonic thread connecting sacred science, inner spirituality and sensory beauty.
A timeless moment to listen with the heart to the resonance of the cosmos.

Duration: 2 parts of 40 minutes
​
Tickets: £15   Children under 16: £7
Book Tickets

The Modern Day Bard
THE NATIONAL YOUTH HARP ORCHESTRA
Directed by Luisa Cordell

Details:
Sunday 26th October 2025 - 15:00
​
Description:
The National Youth Harp Orchestra will perform a feast of audience friendly repertoire. Pieces will include music by M Stadler, A Ortiz, Henson - Conant and Carolan. The dedicated NYHO members each come with their individual story, heritage and reasons for playing the harp. They travel from all parts of the UK to come together to learn, share and connect through music, thus representing a modern day bard.

Duration: 2 parts of 40 minutes
​
Tickets: £13   Children under 16: £7
Book Tickets

HARPCATCHER:
​A Bard's Banquet
FRAN BARSBY ( from England)

Details:
Sunday 26th October 2025 - 18:00 or 19:30
​​
Description:
Enjoy an enchanting evening at Michelangelo Restaurant and meet modern-day bard Fran Barsby.
Step into a world where music and storytelling come to life, just as they did centuries ago. In true troubadour tradition, you will have the rare opportunity to request your own music, performed live by your very own bard, Fran Barsby, while enjoying delicious Italian food. Historically, bards were expected to tailor their performances to suit the tastes and requests of their audience, and, tonight, the spotlight is on you!

3 Courses, Harp-themed Menu: £45

For this event only, please book at Michelangelo Restaurant: 01983 811966 
Booking Essential! 
Venue: MICHELANGELO RESTAURANT, 30, St. Thomas Street,  Ryde PO33 2DL
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Imaginary Landscapes
CHRIS TUTTON: POET
​& LUCY NOLAN: HARPIST

Details:
Monday 27th October 2025 - 14:00
​​
Description:
An exquisite fusion of words and music, Imaginary Landscapes brings together the spellbinding poetry of leading poet, author, raconteur Chris Tutton with award-winning harpist, Lucy Nolan in a programme of words by Chris and semi improvised music by Lucy.
“Magical and mesmerising”
“An absolute gem” Martin Denny, Windsor Arts Festival
“This should be at the heart of every festival” Andy Stuart, Rye Arts Festival
​
Duration: 1 hour
​
Tickets: £12   Children under 16: £6
Book Tickets

Travelling Colours for ElectroHarp and Live Electronics
RAOUL MORETTI (from Italy)

Details:
Sunday 26th October 2025- 15:00
​
Description:
An emotional and kaleidoscoping performance played all along around 55 minutes, without breaks, through a repertoire made of compositions from Raoul four soloist albums, improvising and using unconventional techniques.
​
Duration: 1 hour
​
Tickets: £15   Children under 16: £7
Book Tickets
​ALL CONCERTS AND WORKSHOPS (excluding the harpcatcher) TAKE PLACE IN RYDE METHODIST CHURCH, GARFIELD ROAD, RYDE, ​PO33 2PT
​
Tickets for all events can be booked in advance:
1. Online (please print your payment receipt this is your ticket)
2. In person from Michelangelo Restaurant, 30, St Thomas Street, Ryde.
3. During the Festival at the Box Office at Ryde Methodist Church from Thursday 23rd October from 9 am onward.

Hoping to attend all the concerts? Purchase a season ticket enabling you to attend all of the 2025 Harp On Wight Concerts (excluding the Harp Catcher) - Only £90!

Travel Information 

Things to do in Ryde

Welcome to Ryde! Our town has a rich heritage of small independent shops which you will find from the Esplanade by the Pier up Union Street, which intersects with Cross Street and Lind Street, and up into the historic High Street.
There are eateries to suit all tastes along this route as well as further afield to the west an hour’s stroll to Quarr Abbey’s cafe or east via Puckpool and the Dell Café towards Seaview village.
There are many treasures you may discover from the Esplanade’s Chocolate Apothecary up Union Street and the Victoria Arcade for a variety of fashion stores, left to Cross St and the Christmas Shop or right towards the Town Hall and Dig for Vintage. Continue up the High Street where you will find a supermarket, chemists and banks with ATMs into the Upper High Street harbouring a skateboarders emporium, Dr Who, TAV for bike hire,  an independent bookshop, fabric shop for patchworkers delight and a sparkling jewellers.
Our shopkeepers are a friendly lot, do ask for help in finding where to go or personal recommendations in shops and services.