An island-based musician has described performing to a sold-out Villa Marina audience alongside music legends Nile Rodgers and CHIC as an ‘exhilarating and amazing’ experience.

Ian Thompson secured the opportunity after contacting Villa Marina booking agent Kevin Madigan to ask whether a support act was needed for the concert.

After being invited to submit his music, which was then forwarded to Nile Rodgers’s management alongside recordings from other hopeful performers.

Days later, he received the news that he had been selected for a solo performance.

The opportunity was particularly special given that Rodgers and CHIC’s music had been part of the 55-year-old’s upbringing.

‘I was really flattered and excited by the news.

‘Nile Rodgers and CHIC are a massive, fantastic act and their music is what I grew up with, so I was really delighted, as was my wife and family.’

The Liverpudlian first picked up a guitar at around 10 years old and began writing songs in his school exercise books.

After moving to the island in 2010, he began performing in bars and venues, with live music becoming his main source of income.

He said the Isle of Man had been good to him over the years and that he now felt completely at home.

Describing his own music as indie, he cites influences ranging from The Beatles and The Kinks to David Bowie, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Oasis and Ed Sheeran.

While his early song-writing focused on pop songs, he now uses music as a way of expressing himself.

Ian said: ‘Nowadays they’re more like a kind of therapy for me to get stuff off my chest, but I’ve always tried to make them good tunes.’

Despite his years of performing experience, taking to the stage in front of a sold-out Villa audience still brought its nerves.

‘It’s weird, exhilarating and amazing,’ he said, describing the challenge of standing alone with a guitar, remembering lyrics and chords while trying to appear calm as his heart raced.