When I reached the huge tent, I discovered Lesley Garrett doing a final rehearsal before her performance the same evening. Needless to say attending that particular event quickly became my priority. As well as the marquee venue, which played host to the biggest names at the festival, Isle of Arts had a strong presence all over the town, utilising a range of venues to showcase a vastly eclectic line-up.

The scope of the event ensured that happy festival-goers filled the streets and beach, which added an extra dimension to the already great atmosphere.

The festival began with a dose of satire and sardonic wit, courtesy of Rich Hall, an American comedian most will have encountered whilst watching telly favourites QI or Live at the Apollo. He delighted a sell-out audience with brilliant observational jokes and improvised songs about members of the audience and added a local flavour by singing about Blackgang Chine falling into the sea. From the hilarious to the sublime, I was back with Lesley Garrett on Saturday night, this time under more formal circumstances.

Named ‘Massed Voices’, the performance was primarily by a number of superb local choirs, each of which performed over the course of the evening with Miss Garrett herself to amazing effect. My particular favourite was a rendition of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, with The Medina High Community choir, which quite literally brought a tear to my eye.

On Sunday I spent a very pleasant hour chatting with Tony Trowbridge, a local artist, whose work can be seen all over London as well as in his Studio in Sandown. Tony spent the weekend producing a one off piece of art in front of a live audience, which provided an unusual insight into the methods used by this very talented man.