One thing the Isle of Man seems to do well in is having some pretty decent, bordering on utterly superb blues musicians.

One of the finest blues and rock guitarists, plying his trade up and down the length and breadth of the island and elsewhere for many years is Barry Nelson and, like the most of us, having been quiet for a few months, Barry is dragging his band, The Blue Stragglers back out onto the stage this week.

The Blue Stragglers, also featuring Barry’s better half Val Nelson on bass, blues, roots and folk supremo John Barker on guitar, drummer Edd Saunders and newly-added keyboard played Steve Gray.

They are appearing live tomorrow night (Friday), playing a set of blues and rock classics, along with a few other bits and pieces at Sam Webbs, Castle Street, Douglas, from 9pm-ish onwards.

’We’ve missed gigging over the crisis,’ said Barry

’We have only done a private party and a gig at the Laxey Institute recently, but we are very much looking forward to getting out to the venues again.’

Following this gig, they are embarking on a burst of activity and are next appearing again at Sam Webbs on Saturday, October 3, before hosting a rare live gig in Peel, appearing at the White House on Friday, October 9. They return to the Laxey Institute on Saturday, November 14.

More info on Barry and the Blue Stragglers can be found on the band’s Facebook page.

Heading down a massively different track, island-based dance and electro producer Chris Sterio recently released a whole load of new stuff.

Firstly, he released ’Chris Sterio - Collaborator - The Remixes’ on Soundscape records which is available on beatport.com

He also released a couple of singles, backed with remixes, including ’Inspiration’, recorded by Chris and Downgrooves and released on BC2, with remixes by Edvard Hunger and Adnan Jakubovic.

He also teamed up with a fellow island-based electro-music producer Raumstadt to create a three-track release called ’Mitosynths’, which was released on Estribo Records.

You can find out more about Chris Sterio on his website chrissterio.com

Finally, this week, if you have ever had a desire to see a punk and top stoner-rock double bill in a sweaty underground basement, this is your last chance.

The time has come to say a last drunken farewell to Compton Vaults, in Castletown and, just to make sure the place has a good send off this weekend, the thunderous Man In The Woods and top punk lads Crotch Lice, will be live and very, very loud tomorrow night (Friday), from 9pm.

The venue closes its doors on Saturday night, with music from the Birds and the Beards, Post War Stories singer Pabs and Jamie Blackburn, who will be making sure landlord Juan Christian signs off on a high note.

You’ll have to excuse me, I seem to have something in my eye...