A home in the south of the island is to be turned into a concert venue for one night, after the owners joined a European-wide music website.

Jill Manning has organised a concert to take place in her front room, after registering with the European House Concert hub.

The website puts touring artists in touch with home owners who are willing to open their house out as a small concert venue, who then come and perform intimate, acoustic shows for friends and guests,

The first concert will see Heidi Burson, a singer from Nashville, Tennessee, perform in the front room of Jill’s home at Thie Vane, Kentraugh, on Friday evening, August 3.

Jill said that she signed up with the music hub as she liked the idea of bringing new musicians over to the island and creating a friendly social space for like-minded people to get together.

’You could have anyone get in touch, who are signed up through the house music hub,’ said Jill.

’When Heidi got in touch, I looked her up on YouTube, and I liked her straight away. She has a wonderful voice.

’She is travelling up from Liverpool to do a gig in Edinburgh, and she thought that she would fancy coming to the Isle of Man. She got in touch, and we organised this gig.

’She is coming over with two of her travelling band, and I am putting them up for the night too.’

Jill is selling 30 tickets for the night at £10 each, with all the money going to the artist, who will be performing two 40 minute sets.

’The beauty of a house concert is that it is purely acoustic, and you won’t need a PA system. I won’t be blasting out the neighbours or anything.

’I get the joy of listening to her live, and just the chance of seeing people enjoying music and meeting new people, which I think is a fab way to spend an evening,’ said Jill.

’If you are shy, you don’t have to say anything, just sit and enjoy it, or if you are very sociable, it is a great way of meeting other people.

’I always think of my house as a house of hospitality, so I think to have a house full of strangers who have come to see a concert like this is great.’

Tickets for the house concert are £10 each, and available by contacting Jill on 464599.