Island musician Ian Thompson supports Nile Rodgers and CHIC at Villa Marina

Island-based musician Ian Thompson has performed a solo support set ahead of Nile Rodgers and CHIC in front of a sold-out Villa Marina audience, calling the experience “weird, exhilarating and amazing”, Isle of Man Today reported.

According to the outlet, the 55-year-old, originally from Liverpool, approached Kevin Madigan, who books acts for the Villa Marina, to find out whether the concert had an opening slot to fill. He was asked to send in his music, which went to Rodgers’s management for consideration with tracks from other musicians hoping for the spot. A few days later, he was told he had been picked.

Mr Thompson grew up listening to Rodgers and CHIC, which made the booking all the more meaningful. “I was really flattered and excited by the news,” he told the outlet, adding that his wife and family were delighted too.

He started playing guitar when he was about 10 and moved to the island in 2010, going on to perform in bars and venues. Live music has since become his main source of income. He calls his own music indie and names a wide range of influences, among them The Beatles, The Kinks, David Bowie, Oasis and Ed Sheeran.

He said years of gigging had not stopped the nerves. Performing alone with just a guitar meant keeping lyrics and chords in his head and looking composed, even with his heart pounding.