Local artists and performers hit the international stage with support from Red Funnel

From dance floors in Spain to festival stages across the UK, Isle of Wight performers and creatives are making waves far beyond the Solent in 2025 – with a little extra help from home. Through its Island Ambassadors initiative, Red Funnel is proudly backing the Island’s rising stars, helping them overcome travel barriers and seize opportunities to perform, compete, and shine on national and international platforms.

Red Funnel’s initiative offers 12-month ferry travel sponsorships to talented individuals across the Island, easing the cost and complexity of travelling to competitions, performances, and events on the mainland and beyond. It’s a practical but powerful way to help Islanders access opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach, whether that’s representing England on the world stage or performing at major UK festivals.

Now past the halfway point of 2025, this year’s Island Ambassadors have already achieved incredible things.

Charting new waters in indie rock

Another recent highlight from the programme is indie rock band Coach Party, who are enjoying a return to the spotlight with the release of their latest single ‘Girls!’, which soared to no.4 in the vinyl charts and the announcement of their second studio album, ‘Caramel’, due in September 2025. Described as their “most personal and honest record to date,” the album is set to further cement the band’s reputation on the UK music scene.
Coach Party recently performed at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton and hosted an exclusive album launch at London’s 100 Club. Their summer schedule includes performances at DocksFest in Cleethorpes, Forest Fest in Killimy, Ireland, and a highly anticipated homecoming set at Ventnor Fringe Festival.

Shore-footed and spotlight ready

Another standout from this year’s cohort is 13-year-old dancer Jess Burfitt from Shanklin, who proudly represented Team England as a soloist at the 2025 Dance World Cup in Burgos, Spain, finishing in fifth place. Training at MLD Studio in Ryde, Jess was selected from hundreds of hopefuls to compete in the commercial dance category.

Having danced since the age of two, Jess has already built an impressive portfolio of regional and national wins. She previously represented England at the 2024 Dance World Cup in Prague and continued to build on that success throughout 2025, securing top placements across multiple regional competitions and qualifying for the national finals later in the year. 

Reflecting on her journey, Jess said: “I was so proud to represent England in the Dance World Cup for the second year in a row. I was incredibly grateful for all the support from my dance teacher Michelle Davis, my parents, and the sponsors who made it possible for me.”

In other dancing news, formidable sister duet, Jasmine and Isabel, finished top eight at the World Freelance Dance Championship, with Jasmine also performing way beyond her personal expectations finishing top nine in the Street category against 55 others – and top nine in her Freestyle Disco solo, becoming a semi-finalist in both categories. 

This year marked Isabel’s third time at the national competition, where she danced her way to the quarter finals in the Street category and made the World Championship podium to finish 2nd overall in the competition. After heading home from the global competition, a week later she competed at the Hampshire Championships where she retained her title as the Champion of Champions.

Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, commented: “The Isle of Wight is home to so much amazing talent and we know just how much hard work goes into preparing for success. We’re proud to play a part in showcasing the island’s stars on the national stage, and by supporting talented Islanders with their ferry travel, we help them focus on what they do best to gain the recognition they truly deserve.”

Red Funnel’s Island Ambassador programme makes up part of the operator’s ESG strategy, Changing Tides, which underscores its commitment to supporting the Island community, fostering community spirit and aiding local businesses. 

To keep up to date with the successes of Red Funnel’s Island Ambassadors and Supported Teams, visit: www.redfunnel.co.uk/proud-support

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For further information, please contact [email protected] / 02380 382 970

Notes to editors
About Red Funnel
Red Funnel is the original Isle of Wight ferry company with roots tracing back to 1820. Based in the UK port of Southampton, Red Funnel carries 2.3m passengers and over 800,000 vehicles on its ferry route between the UK port of Southampton and East Cowes and 1.1m passengers between Southampton and West Cowes on its Red Jet Hi-Speed service.  

In addition to ferry travel, Red Funnel is the only cross-Solent operator to offer ferry inclusive bonded holiday accommodation, attraction tickets, festival and event tickets and activity packages. Sub-brands include ‘Red Jet’ (the Hi-Speed passenger only ferry service serving West Cowes) and its on board café, ‘ReFuel’.  

The Company is a founding member of Visit Isle of Wight Ltd, the Island’s not for profit destination management organisation. Red Funnel is also proud to sponsor and support most of the Island’s premier events including the IW Festival, Cowes Week, Wight Proms, and Walk the Wight alongside a wide range of other community and niche interest events. 

Red Funnel’s Charity of the Year, 2025, is Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance  
For more information, visit www.redfunnel.co.uk