The IOM Arts Council and Erin Arts Centre are staging an Early Music Festival this weekend 18th-19th September. The festival is a chance to catch some exquisite musicianship from the worlds of early and traditional music. On Saturday 18th, guitar and mandolin duo, Strengyn, are in concert at the Erin Arts Centre at 2.30pm, followed by Festival Evensong with Manx Gaelic choir, Caarjyn Cooidjagh at 5pm in St Catherine’s Church, Port Erin. That evening there is the chance to catch the 1607 Ensemble – a quartet of unaccompanied singers - at the Erin Arts Centre in a concert starting at 8pm. The 1607 Ensemble is unique in that they perform early consort repertoire alongside 20th-century vocal jazz — both to a high professional standard — and create their own eclectic compositions using elements from both styles: www.1607ensemble.com On Sunday 19th BBC Radio 3 presenter and singer Lucie Skeaping joins forces with Robin Jeffrey (both of Burning Bush fame www.theburningbush.co.uk) to present broadside ballads of 17th century England in “Have I Got News For Thee!” at 2pm and that evening, virtuoso harpsichord player, Mahan Esfahani, will perform Bach’s Goldberg Variations in the festival’s final recital at 8pm. Mahan is a BBC New Generation Artist who has received rave reviews around the world: www.mahanesfahani.com There are special concessions for students in full-time education which mean that tickets to any event are ?1 each. If you have a budding singer, guitarist or keyboard player in your family, this is a real opportunity to be inspired! For more details phone 832662 or visit: www.erinartscentre.com PROGRAMME OF EVENTS SATURDAY 18th September 14:30 Strengyn in Concert - Paul Rogers and Matt Kelly, Erin Arts Centre ?10 17:00 Festival Evensong with Caarjyn Cooidjagh & Gareth Moore, St Catherine’s Church, Port Erin FREE 20:00 1607 Ensemble in Concert, Erin Arts Centre ?10 SUNDAY 19th September 14:00 “Have I Got News For Thee!” Lucie Skeaping and Robin Jeffrey offer some Broadside Ballads of 17th Century England, Erin Arts Centre ?10 20:00 Recital - Mahan Esfahani- Harpsicord, The Goldberg Variations J.S Bach, Erin Arts Centre ?15 Ends