With a final raucous weekend of music, the bands and crowds gave Compton Vaults and its driving force Juan Christian an emotional send off.

The tiny underground basement venue in Castletown shut its doors for the last time at the weekend, but not before Man In The Woods did their level best to reduce it to rubble on Friday night, playing loud and as low as they could, followed by a night of feel-good sing-a-long songs on Saturday night with Pabs and Jamie Blackburn.

Finishing off the night were Birds and the Beards, who were the first band to appear there two years ago.

At the end, Juan gave an emotional address to the crowd, who responded by chanting his name back to him, before the most unlikely and most awesome band venue the island has seen in a long time closed for good.

Having time to reflect, Juan said he’s been amazed at the effect Compton Vaults has had in the island and that he is proud of the legacy it has left.

’It’s been an incredible couple of years but after this last weekend and especially after reopening after Covid-19, I have been massively humbled by all the lovely things people have said about the place and the support people have shown me,’ said Juan.

’We attracted some amazing people and it’s been hard to walk away from it.

’I’ve always thought that Compton Vaults belonged to the people and to the bands that played there. I just opened the doors and made sure that there was beer in the taps and music on the stage.

’I would have understood if people got a bit upset to see it shut, but everyone has just been great and no one has said a bad word about me closing.

’I would have understood if they had, but everyone understands my reasons for doing so and people again have been really supportive about it.

’I’m proud to have been able to put all the groups on but the things that made me most proud was to have hosted the Heavy Mental Health nights.

’Seeing the people coming out and supporting them and getting into the idea of them was just brilliant.

’The last few gigs too were memorable. Man In the Woods played on Friday and they just brought everything to the night.

’Listening to bands like Bruises and Aeons in that place was incredible and seeing the amount of people crammed in the place for Half Naked Headline and the Ballaghs on Tynwald night is something I won’t forget for a while.

’I’m so glad its helped people and bands and made some amazing memories for people.’

I’m sure I speak for many bands who have dragged and banged their gear up and down the narrow stairs to play a hot and sweaty gig there that we will miss the place desperately.

Venues like Compton Vaults don’t come along every day and it will a hard spot to replace. But until somewhere else opens up and cherishes local live music in the same way as the Vaults did, we’ll just thank Juan for all the effort, work, care and faith he’s shown in the music scene.

He’s a star and the place will be hugely missed.