Last weekend should have seen the pop-rock group Toploader perform the highlight concert of the resurgent Deep South Festival.

However, as with every other public event in the spring and summer of 2020, it had to be called off in the wake of the restrictions.

Thankfully though, the organiser, Chris Carr, is not the type of character to let such a thing as a global pandemic get in the way of his unique, six-month-long music event.

The festival aimed to have music represented from the past five decades and was due to take place at various points throughout the summer and autumn.

Within weeks he had managed to reorganise and reschedule the majority of the dates and is now eagerly looking forward to the autumn when, fingers crossed, Steve Harley will finally get the ball rolling for the festival at Tower House, Douglas, on Friday, September 25.

’Rather than closing the festival, which is how it originally would have worked out, Steve Harley will now open it,’ said Chris.

’Hopefully things will be back to normal by then.

’Then we will have Toploader on Friday, December 4 for a Christmas show.

’Indian Queens are now playing on Friday, March 26, next year and Space are playing on Friday, April 30. The only change in the line up will see Satin Beige playing with Space instead of Indian Queens.

’The Troggs and the Animals will play on Friday, June 25 and the Blow Monkeys will finish off the festival for us on Friday, July 30.’

Chris has praised the groups for their help and flexibility in helping him quickly reorganise the event, which will also raise money for on-island mental health charities, including Reach IOM, Isle listen, Quing and Praxis.

’We were lucky enough to be able to rearrange most of the nights quite early on, and I have to say that the bands themselves were absolutely brilliant to deal with,’ said Chris.

’They were very helpful and accommodating, and completely professional throughout.

’Obviously we were all in the same boat with having dates pulled on us left and right, but with the bands being as helpful as they were, it wasn’t long before we were able to start putting forward rescheduled dates.’

Chris remains excited for the possibilities of the festival and is also looking forward to hosting the event at Tower House.

’I wanted to get an event going where just by being there gives you goose-bumps and make it memorable not just for the music but for the atmosphere too,’ he said.

’That was just as important as the bands themselves.

’Tower House has the potential to make an atmosphere similar to something like a Roman colosseum with banks of people looking down on the entertainment.’

Tickets and further information is available from the Deep South Festival Facebook page.

by Mike Wade

Twitter:@iomnewspapers