It is barely a fortnight old, but already 2020 is shaping up to be an exciting year for a concert venue in the west of the island.

The Peel Centenary Centre has announced that they have lined up six top UK and European acts to appear during the first half of the new year.

Among the acts appearing are groups and individual musicians who have performed to packed-out audiences at the centre before.

Saturday, April 18, sees the return of the riotous gypsy, indie rock group Holy Moly and the Crackers.

Having previously appeared as something of an unknown quantity in March 2018, the group, led by singer and violinist Ruth Patterson and song-writing partner Conrad Bird had the Centenary Centre audience in uproar with their bouncing and uplifting music.

Having released their third album, ’Take A Bite’, during 2019, and after performing a lengthy round of festival dates the band will be on top form.

A quality night of fiery, accordion, fiddle and guitar-driven folk and rock is guaranteed.

Also making a highly-anticipated return is BBC DJ and presenter Mark Radcliffe, on Thursday, March 26.

Mark will be performing with his electronic duo, with Paul Langley.

He will also be talking about his new book, Crossroads’, in which he talks about his recent battle with cancer, while also looking at turning points in music history.

The Romanian virtuoso violinist Bogdan Vacarescu will appear at the centre on Saturday, February 29, along with accompanist Julian Jacobson.

Bogdan is an electrifying violinist who brings a contemporary and modern edge to classical music.

He has performed with the groups She’Koyokh, The Cat Empire and String Dimensions, amongst many others, along with fellow virtuoso Nigel Kennedy.

On Saturday, April 4, the Little Big band, featuring musicians from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, will performing two shows .

One, held at 2.30pm, is aimed at younger musical fans and will entertain and educate children about how an orchestra works.

The second takes place at 7.30pm and feature light classics, jazz and pop songs.

Later on this year, the Unsung Singers, featuring backing singers who have appeared with some of the biggest names in music will perform, along with a unique piece of comedy theatre, in the shape of the ’Dad’s Army Radio Show’, performed by two actors.

’We are really excited about 2020,’ said Trevor Bougourd from the Centenary Centre.

’Each year we try to put on a variety of acts traversing across many genres, but our focus is always on delivering value for money.

’This year’s programme ranges from a world class virtuoso concert violinist to Gypsy Punk and a show featuring Stevie Wonder’s former backing singers, to name but a small few.

’It’s going to be quite a year.’

More details and tickets for each event are available online from etickets.im/cc

by Mike Wade

Twitter:@iomnewspapers