Tuesday 5 November 2013

We're Back..!

Yes, we're back!

And although we are still at the planning stages we are getting all geared up and preparing for next year's Dart Music Fest. 

Please note that the Festival will take place a week later in 2014 on May 16th, 17th and 18th. 

As always, we welcome your feedback and comments so tell us what you most enjoyed about this year's Festival and about your most memorable moments - we'd love to hear from you.


May 16th, 17th & 18th 2014

Not much news at the moment so I'm reintroducing that old Ode to The Music Festival to give you an idea what it's like to be involved in running the Festival, i.e. exhausted and often exasperated, but excited and exhilarated too..!




Ode to the Music Festval Committee


It’s all over now – but oh! What a Fest!
We’re all tired but happy, it’s true
We’ve all worked our socks off and now need to rest
Switch off for a month now, or two…


It starts in September with gathering speed
With meetings and minutes galore.
We fundraise like crazy, the coffers to feed
Our free time’s not free any more!


We’ve ideas, suggestions, and things to discuss
Solutions, decisions and doubt
But with humour and patience, teamwork and trust
We seem to sort all problems out.


There’s letters and licences, contracts and calls,
And posters and programmes to proof
With conflabs and crises and climbing up walls
Our meals now consumed on the hoof.


Now May’s ever nearer – our nerves getting frayed
So where have the busy months flown?
We’re praying for sunshine and steady blue skies,
For rain clouds to leave us alone.


It’s Friday! It’s started! The weather is hot
And Dartmouth is starting to hum
The acts we have booked really hitting the spot  
The crowds are delighted they’ve come.


The atmosphere’s happy, excitement is high
The children are having a ball
The adults enjoying a whale of a time
It really IS ‘Music For  All’.


There’s people with programmes and kids with balloons
And music all over the town
With school kids and jugglers, a man playing spoons -
Impossible now to feel down.

The music is magic – for young and for old
The streets and the pubs are alive.
A young-at-heart couple with silvery hair
Are loving their annual jive!


There’s Blues on the Bandstand, the Flavel’s got Jazz,
Most marvellous melodies meet
There’s smiles and there’s symphonies, sunshine and songs
And dancing – guess where? – in the street!


The Saturday crooners and duos and bands
All show off their talented ways
And Market Square’s heaving, as into the night
A fabulous Irish band plays


Guitars at the Guildhall, and river front Folk
Steel drummers all playing at speed
With Boogie at Bayards and Choirs in the church
What more could you possibly need?


It’s Sunday p.m. – time for ‘Afternoon Chill’
With Soul in the Gardens at four
While face-painted kids dance in front of the stage
Their parents are cheering for more.


The evening crows cooler, the visitors leave
Musicians start packing their gear
The questions begin now: “Well, what do you think?
Could this be the best-ever year?”


It’s all over now - and oh! We feel pride
A tired team of women and men
Will meet on the morrow, when then they’ll decide
To do it all over again!



(Are we mad..??) 





Not much else to report now so all I can say is watch this space - and don't forget to let us know what you think...

DART MUSIC FESTIVAL

16TH, 17TH & 18TH MAY 2014 

 



Tuesday 21 May 2013

CDs now on sale - Dart Music Festival

HOT NEWS!


Some wonderful musical memories for you to treasure...








The popular Dart Music Festival Sampler CD is now on sale. They went like hot cakes during the Festival and we now have only fifty copies left - so please order early to avoid disappointment.

 ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TOWARDS FUNDING THE DART MUSIC FESTIVAL.

The CD costs just £5.00 plus £1.50 to cover postage and packing, and will be sent out on the same day on which the order is received - if at all humanly possible!

Just go to the home page on the DMF website and click on the 'Programme and CD Sales' tab, follow the instructions to make your payment online, and we'll do the rest.

We hope you'll enjoy your CD and that it will get you in the mood for next year's Festival...


Please feel free to leave a comment, and also let us know what you enjoyed most about this year's Festival.





  PLEASE NOTE - DART MUSIC FESTIVAL IS A WEEK LATER NEXT YEAR: 

16th,  17th & 18th MAY 2014

 SEE YOU THERE!

 



Monday 13 May 2013

Dart Music Festival - we did it again..!

DART MUSIC FESTIVAL AFTER THE EVENT

(Please note: We have some great pics on the way from our official photographer Joe Murtagh - watch this space...)

Well, it looks like we did it again! Despite the unpredictable weather, we still had crowds of happy shiny people enjoying the music throughout the town from the very start. We were so lucky to have the use of all the beautiful venues, including the Masonic Hall, the churches, the Flavel, Market Square and of course the Bandstand and Guildhall. With a range of music including Cajun, Indian, Congolese Latin, jazz, rockabilly, blues, Celtic, big band, choral, swing and much more, the town was alive with people loving the music for the whole three days.

Festival Patron Nigel Way comments: "I am a musical moron, but I will say that music is a great leveller and a great breaker down of social barriers. I have never seen so many people happy in the rain, listening to excellent music and consuming alcohol in a sensible way! But can I just say how great the people who organise the Dart Music Festival are - not because many of them are dear friends but because I don't understand how such a small group can work so hard and be so cheerful and make so many people happy!"

The Bandstand as usual played a very large part of the whole weekend - from the schoolchildren singing their anthem on Friday, to people dancing to Mad Dog McRae last thing on Sunday night and of course the wonderful Ruby Turner filling the late afternoon Sunday slot. Once again, she wowed the crowds and there were more than a few people even men! to be seen wiping away a tear after her rendition of the late Etta James' classic I would Rather Go Blind.

This year the Guildhall proved very popular, hosting band after brilliant band throughout the whole weekend and most of the performances were full to capacity. We opened and closed the weekend with talented performances from our own local youngsters Michael Bryan-Harris (Raspberry Fish - Friday) and Ben Malley (Insonify - Sunday) which got us off to a good start and finished with a feel-good factor. It would be difficult to choose a favourite from all the many acts, but highlights were Cajun music from The Gumbo Flyers, tuneful folk from The Carrivick Sisters, wonderful barbershop harmonies from the Kingsmen and some great rock n roll from both Lucky Guy and the Chancers and The Fabulous59ford.

The Flavel too was busy with the Friday Jazz night with the Martin Dale Quartet, and visitors tell me that the Saturday evening with composer Stephen Warbeck was brilliant and SO interesting! and with fantastic music to boot.

Classical Director Marilyn Bird had this to say: "There have already been e mails from the performers in St Saviours Church thanking us for inviting them to take part in the Festival. The Vocal Works Gospel Choir commented that it was the most enjoyable concert that they had done for a long time, and the amazing Gypsy Tango Band Zum finished with a standing ovation. Words like 'amazing', 'fantastic' and 'exceptional' just keep flowing - what more could we ask!

Dartmouth Academy hosted a Bhangra workshop from RSVP Bhangra Band for 11 - 12 year olds which the students loved and the teachers were very impressed by. The children were introduced to the background and three elements of Bhangra - singing, dance and percussion, and worked with the Band all morning, culminating in a performance on the Bandstand in the afternoon which was hugely enjoyed by all. Our thanks go to Dartmouth Rotary who gave a donation towards the funding of this workshop, and it is hoped that the band may be able to return next year.

This year we had wristbands for each day of the Festival on sale at just £5 per day making it an average of 10p a gig - which sold faster than hot cakes and were very popular with visitors, who wore their wristbands with pride and told us it made them feel more involved. We will definitely be selling them again next year. 

This year for the first time we produced a sampler CD costing just £5.00, with twenty three great tracks donated by some of the performers and all proceeds going towards the Festival. The CD is a limited edition and is designed to look like a vinyl record - what a great way to take home some lovely musical memories! If you missed your copy, you can buy a download from our website: www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

A very big thank you as always to our generous sponsors - couldn't do it without you and of course all our volunteer collectors who swing into action throughout the weekend. We havent started opening the collecting tins yet, but all the signs are that this will be another great year for the Festival in fact, who knows? We may even be able do it again next year… 
 
And finally, a quote from one of those sponsors:

"Oh my goodness!  That was the most brilliant weekend. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. YOU ALL ROCK!"

Rather apt, we thought



If you came to the Festival, please tell us what you enjoyed the most and/or what made the Festival for you - we'd love to hear from you.

See you again next year - Festival dates for 2014 are 16th, 17th and 18th May. 

Nuala Honan Debut Album

Nuala Honan
Nuala Honan, country/folk singer-songwriter from rural South Australia, releases her debut album The Tortoise in May 2013, the first to come out of Bristol studio ‘The Woodshed’.

Nuala’s lyrical honesty and the fiercely independent environment that the album has emerged from combine to ensure that The Tortoise has an authenticity that commercial country so often lacks. 
 
 
 
Nuala has that uncanny ability to write new songs that sound like they have been written before, somehow conjuring the sense that the lyrics have been worn smooth by the passage of time.

Nuala moved from her isolated village in Australia to England in 2004; now Bristol based, she is known among peers for her inexorable energy, using her music and events as the platform for many other artists and practitioners, such as Live in the Lion’s Den, hosting acts from all over the world every Tuesday for the last three years. 
 
For more info please see links below:
 
 
 
 
Nuala has just performed at this year's Dart Music Festival and her album is now on sale. 

Saturday 11 May 2013

End of Day Two - Dart Music Festival

Just a quick update - two weary Committee members heading for bed after a full-on but fully fantastic day of music at the Guildhall (which we run) from 11.00am until 10.30pm. What a great selection of music and what great performers - and what great audiences too! They gave us lots of brilliant feedback, were very generous with their donations, bought masses of wristbands and managed to clean us out of our supply of sampler CDs again today!

Thank you to everyone who supported us today - can't wait for Chilled Out Festival Sunday now..!

FREE MUSIC at Dart Music Festival!

Just to remind you that  

ALL the music at this year's festival is FREE!

So please don't feel that you can't enter a venue or watch a concert because you 'haven't got a ticket'. 

Just enjoy the music and show your appreciation by dropping some coins in the collection tins on the way out or when the collectors come around, or buy a Day Wristband from the Information Hut in Royal Avenue Gardens.

The sun is shining at last - let's all have a good time!

Day Two - Saturday 11th May 2013

Thursday 9 May 2013

Alcohol Free Zones at Dart Music Festival

SHDC erect notices throughout the town at Dart Music Festival

Yes, with less than 24 hours to the start of the 16th annual Dart Music Festival, the DMF committee have been informed of the following new restriction:
South Hams District Council (SHDC) at the request of the Police have erected new signs throughout the Town advising that the whole of Dartmouth is an Alcohol Free/Control Zone (AFZ).  Apparently, there are already some smaller sings to this effect (which I have not seen), but these new signs will now be erected at all large Festival events such as ours.  Dartmouth was designated an AFZ under a Designated Public Places Order in 2011 (previously a 2005 Order was only in place in relation to Coronation Park & Avenue Gardens) .

SHDC Licensing Section have explained to the DMF today that this dos not mean that people cannot drink on the streets but that it gives the Police the discretion to control drinking if they feel its leading to public disorder, i.e. the person is drunk and causing a nuisance.  The Police can enforce the AFZ, at their discretion, by asking you in those circumstances to stop drinking and if you do not then they can arrest and/or fine you up to £500.00.

DMF committee need to confirm that it does not prevent people drinking on the streets and the act of drinking is not an offence, but that the Police have powers to stop people drinking and its effectively a tool to allow them to control disorderly and drunken behaviour.

What are your thoughts? Please leave comments below. Thanks

Dart Music Festival - calm before the storm...

One day to go - and the sun has come out! Woo-hoo... It's going to be a good one - we can feel it in our water. We're still busy dotting the i's and crossing the t's and doing a fair impersonation of headless chickens and/or several swans a-swimming, but everyone keeps assuring us it'll be alright on the night (and days) so we're trying to remain calm.

Dartmouth Guildhall
This is the third year we have used the Guildhall as a main venue rather than a wet weather one, so she was all trimmed up in her party best yesterday and - though we say it ourselves as shouldn't - she really does scrub up well.

(The Guildhall has a noteworthy proscenium arch and a sprung dance floor, don't you know..??)









We have bunting, balloons, blow-up instruments, a bar from Bays Brewery and a cafe from Castle Tea Rooms, a whole host of lovely plants on loan from Gardentime, and the Town Council have even provided us with a brand new mop and bucket in case of accidents...


The stage, with plants from Gardentime

A big thank you to everyone who is helping to make the dear old Guildhall shine for the weekend.

(Can you spot the oddity...?)












We've hosted two great sponsors' parties this week:

The first was on Monday when we cruised upriver. It was a lovely evening so we were able to stand on deck and admire the sun over Kingswear - before the mist descended, and then so did we, into the warmth of the cabin for sustenance. Thanks to Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company for the trip, The Royal Castle Hotel for the delicious curry and wine, and Festival Patron Ed Welch, Sax Appeal's James Harris and local musician Jonathan-Hughes Jones for their wonderful music.

Then last night came the pre-event party in the Guildhall, with those nice people from Bays running the bar and great music as usual from Sax Appeal, who got people up and dancing and generally in the mood for the delights to come this weekend. Thanks to them, and also to official photographer Joe Murtagh for running the slideshow of last year's Festival, for all his great photos and the work he does throughout the weekend.

Happy Shiny People enjoying Sax Appeal (and Bays...)

Last but definitely not least, we'd just like to say a very big thank you to all our sponsors - large or small - who give so generously both with their time and with helping with funding.

Quite simply - we simply couldn't do it without you!


It's nearly upon us - see you there...





Wednesday 8 May 2013

STOP PRESS! Ivy Lane Drop-In Day - reduced times

We've just been told that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Drop-In day at Ivy Lane Youth Centre scheduled to run between 11.00 - 4.00pm will now finish at 2.00pm. 

However, Jamming Station will still be coming, so the young people will still have access to the decks, be able to use the musical equipment and enjoy the DJ workshops and the guitar workshop with Conrad Harpham.

We apologise for this unavoidable last-minute change in the times and hope it will not inconvenience you too much.

New Dart Music Festival T shirts now on sale...

Design by Theri Hart


Our fabulous new-design T-shirts are now here and will be on sale during the Festival from the Merchandise Tent in Royal Avenue Gardens (to the right of the Bandstand Stage) from 10.30am. Coming in a variety of styles, sizes and great new colours, they are sure to be popular so make sure you get yours before they sell out!

As well as the T-shirts we also have a selection of baseball caps, jackets, hoodies, striped and plain rugby shirts, umbrellas/parasols (!), bags, aprons and ponchos on sale - some of these items are limited so again please grab them while you can to avoid disappointment.

We look forward to seeing you here - have fun!

10th, 11th & 12th May 2013



Dart Music Festival - performance updates 10

An Audience With Stephen Warbeck



Academy Award winning Stephen is the composer for the film 'Shakespeare in Love' and many more, including 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', 'Charlotte Gray' and 'Billy Elliott' - to name but a few.



The Dart Music Festival is delighted to welcome this talented and inspirational musician, who will be speaking about his work and playing pieces from his film scores, along with some very special musicians who are joining him for a unique evening's entertainment at the Flavel. 



 They are: 
Sarah Homer - clarinet; John Paricelli - jazz guitar; Rob Millett - percussionist; 
Paul Clarvis -percussionist; Nick Cooper - 'cello; Steve Watts - double bass

Book your free ticket from the Flavel on 01803 839530. 
There will be a retiring collection with a suggested donation of £8.00 - all donations gratefully received!



Smooth jazz quintet Winelight play sophisticated smooth jazz and latin music - a rich blend of jazz funk and authentic latin grooves, world class jazz saxophone and soulful female vocals - with music by Bill Withers, Randy Crawford, George Benson, Grover Washington, Donald Fagen, Stevie Wonder and many more.
  • Debbie Isaac- vocals
  • Mike Isaac - Bass
  • Martin Dale - Tenor Sax
  • Gavin Martin - Keyboards
  • Alex Smith - Drums
The band perform their music in a cool and unhurried way, so dance if the feeling takes you..!

As leader Mike Isaac often says "Exciting but not excited!" 






Winter Mountain were discovered in a tiny bar in Donegal and signed on the spot by Irish singing luminary Cara Dillon and husband/producer Sam Lakeman (brother of Seth) to their label.

With a sound reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel with a contemporary edge, and fresh from finishing their debut album, make sure not to miss them.

Winter Mountain




10th, 11th & 12th May 2013





Tuesday 7 May 2013

Teddy News - Bear's Birthday Bash at Dart Music Festival

Big Reg
Calling all Bears...

Hello fellow teddy bears - Big Reg here..! 

Please come to my party at the Flavel Studio on Saturday morning from 10.30 - 11.15 am to help me celebrate my 4th birthday.

If you own a child between 0 - 5 years old, I'd love you to bring them along with you to join in all the fun.  



My friend Carol will be helping, and we'll be singing and dancing, shaking and banging, and generally having a lot of musical fun - so make sure that you (and your kids) wear your party best if you can!

Oh, and you'll also need to bring along a grown-up with you - just make sure they are well behaved...

See you there - love Reg

P.S. This event will be limited to 15 children aged between 0 - 5 years, and all children must be accompanied by an adult.

Book your free ticket in advance by calling the Flavel Box Office on 01803 839530 


10th, 11th & 12th may 2013



Dart Music Festival - performance updates 9


The Sunrunners

Rob and Laura Williams from South Devon are a talented pair of singer/songwriter siblings playing a wide variety of music from full-on rockers to smooth, mellow numbers.

They sing, harmonise, and play a combination of guitar.piano, mandolin, ukulele, cajon, triangle and shaker - sometimes all at once..!






Troy Faid

Originally hailing from Lincolnshire, Troy Faid now travels and performs regularly at festivals & gig venues throughout the UK, entertaining with his fingerstyle guitar blends of  ragtime, jazz, folk, blues and much in between, and with a voice appreciated by many and influenced by a myriad of musicians and thinkers, from Django Reinhardt to John Fahey... Terrence Mckenna to Erich Fromm.

BBC's Tom Robinson recently recognised Faid as a “stunning guitarist and songwriter” and he’s been otherwise described as ‘a cat on fire, bristling with leashed passionate blues and folk’ - often likened to an unusual mix of artists; John Martyn, Billy Bragg and Bert Jansch. 

His songs, beautiful in conception and poignantly eloquent in performance, have been characterised as ‘decidedly English, wistful and modern troubadourish refrains, reminiscent of a time now lost.’






Vince Lee Big Combo
Vince Lee is a long established blues guitarist, vocalist and band leader based in the South West, who has performed at Dart Music Festival several times over the years with his trio, the Big Combo and the Becca Langsford Band. 

Vince has put together a special line-up for this year's festival featuring some of Devon's finest blues musicians. 

A rare chance to see an impressive line-up - not to be missed!  








10th, 11th & 12th May 2013




Monday 6 May 2013

Lower Ferry Closure news - Dart Music Festival

Just to let you know that the Lower Ferry between Dartmouth and Kingswear will not be running over the Festival as both the ferry slips are still under repair.

The Dartmouth to Kingswear Passenger Ferry will be running as usual, but will continue to have the usual early evening break as follows:

Last ferry from Dartmouth - Kingswear 6.15pm
Last ferry from Kingswear - Dartmouth 6.20pm

Ferry from Dartmouth - Kingswear resumes 7.00pm
Ferry from Kingswear to Dartmouth resumes 7.10pm

Follow the link for more info on operating times:
http://www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk/times-fares/dartmouth-kingswear-passenger-ferry

The Higher Ferry which takes vehicles and foot passengers is still operating as normal - if travelling from the Torbay side of the river this is the only vehicle ferry running at the moment. Please follow the link for times and tarrif info:
http://dartmouthhigherferry.com/tarrifs.cfm

We hope you will find this information helpful - have a great Festival.


10th, 11th & 12th May 2013

Dart Music Festival - performance updates 8


The Electric Swing Circus
The Electric Swing Circus – a 6 piece Electro Swing troupe that fuses cool 20′s swing with fiery electro beats in a dazzling live show.
The Electric Swing Circus burst out of Birmingham in 2011 to take up residency of the Hot Club De Swing, and Electro Swing Club UK wide.  After just 3 months they earned the coveted title of BEST LIVE ACT in the ElectroSwing Peoples Favorite Awards 2011.


Fronted by the sassy Sisters of Swing with the addition of live drums, fretless bass, gyspy jazz guitar, keys synths and swinging samples. The Electric Swing Circus hotfoots it through their own unique blend of Electro Swing, fused with everything from Breakbeat, house, Drum and Bass, Dubstep and more…

http://www.electricswingcircus.com/



The Nauti Bouys 


The Nauti Buoys

The Nauti Buoys are a Dartmouth based shanty band who have been described as being four old fools and a drink problem...

(Actually there are five of us and one of us is a girl and therefore no fool. She doesn't have a drink problem either)



http://www.nautibuoys.co.uk/



The Organisation
Six piece party band playing pop and sould tunes, with plenty of modern classics featuring vocals, hammond organ, sax, drums, bass and guitar.

Music by artists such as Abba, The Kinks, Stevie Wonder, Booker T and many more...








10th, 11th & 12th May 2013





Saturday 4 May 2013

Dart Music Festival - performance updates 7

Young singer Becca, from Cornwall, is joined by Vince Lee and Martin Vowles ('The Wildcards') who will be playing at The Windjammer Inn to give us a stunning performance of blues, soul and gospel music.

For more info please visit: www.beccalangsford.com






The Carrivick Sisters are one of the UK's top young bluegrass and folk acts. Twins Laura and Charlotte perform their original songs and instrumentals along with a few carefully chosen covers on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, and clawhammer banjo. 

Their busy touring schedule is rapidly building them a reputation for engaging and entertaining live performances with tight sibling vocal harmonies and multi-instrumental virtuosity. Having grown up in South Devon, an area rich in folk lore and legends, much of their original material is inspired by their local surroundings and history.




Goat Roper Rodeo Band
The Band describe themselves as 'players of cosmic country blues' and are guaranteed to get their audiences moving and put smiles on their faces. 

They play a heady mix of country, blues and rock 'n' roll - influenced by everyone from Gram Parsons to the Rolling Stones.







 10th, 11th & 12th May 2013