There will be a full season of free music shows in Douglas to entertain you throughout the coming months.

The Villa Marina Arcade will host ’Arts in the Arcade’, a summer-long series of concerts and performances featuring many of the island’s brass bands starting from June.

Bands including the Onchan Town Band, The Castletown Silver Band, Douglas Town band and the Crosby and District Brass Band, along with a variety of groups, such as The Manx Jazz Aces, the Big Train Blues Band, the Isle of Man Swing Band and the new contemporary fusion group Brass Machine, will perform free shows from 7.30pm during each Tuesday and Thursday of the week and from 3pm on occasional Sundays.

The first week will hear concerts from Rushen Silver Band on Tuesday, June 1, followed by a performance by Ramsey Town Band on Thursday, June 3.

The famous Wurlitzer organ will also be playedin a series of free concerts on Wednesday afternoons throughout July from 1pm.

Also returning are the ’Soundbites’ shows, featuring performances by folk, blues, trad and contemporary acoustic performers on each Friday from 1pm, with Terry George kicking things off on Friday, June 4.

The arcade will also host a range of dance and arts workshops throughout the year.

The Isle of Man Arts Council have hosted a season of summer concerts every year since 2009 and believe that they are a good way of helping to promote and support local musicians and also to make it possible for more to enjoy live music,

’The development of our long running Summer Music Series is a great opportunity for the whole community to enjoy the arts in an iconic venue situated in the very heart of the Cultural Area,’ said Jane Corkill, arts development manager.

’We will continue to bring new ideas and artists to the programme.’

A full timetable and list of future events can be found at iomarts.com