Dart Music Festival Performers' Update: Martha Tilston

Martha Tilston

Martha Tilston began her musical tenure in folk duo Mouse, with Nick Marshall, releasing her debut album 'Helicopter Trees' in 2000 and a follow-up - 'Mouse Tales' in 2001. 

She released her lo-fi debut - 'Rolling' - in 2003 whilst touring Ireland as support for folk troubadour Damien Rice. 

Inspired by Damien's self-produced home-recorded hit debut  'O', she funded in 2005 the pressing of her next record 'Bimbling' through the sale of the album's canvas painted artwork. 

2006 saw her team up with band The Woods, an outfit that includes Lamb bass player Jon Thorne (who guests on 'Machines') to release 'Ropeswing', and by 2007, Martha was opening the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury with songs from her album 'Milkmaids and Architects' - garnering a nomination for Best New Act at the BBC Radio2 Folk Awards.

By 2009, Martha’s vocals had been courted beyond the folk world by producers such as J Spool and Tru Thoughts Records, Mawglee and Mangatout, and also pop group Zero7, who invited her to guest on their 2009 album 'Yeah Ghost'. 

The daughter of folk legend Steve Tilston, Martha found herself drawn to folk's protest spirit and its themes of social justice from an early age.These themes are ever present in the eloquent, politicised questioning that suffuses her latest LP 'Machines Of Love and Grace', released in late 2012 - a collection of subtly charged acoustic folk songs, tinged with electric guitar and touches of electronica. The title is a nod to a beat poem by Richard Brautigan.

Press Quotes:

“She has the power to draw an audience into her world, leaving all those present with a

smile - and a few issues to ponder, too” - Timeout

“Redolent of early Kate Bush, soulful vocals that soar around, an understated

masterpiece” – Acoustic Magazine

16th, 17th & 18th May 2014

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk  

Because listening to music at Dart Music Festival is FREE - but running it is not! - we have to charge for the Programme. 

The sales revenue is VITAL to the continuation of the Festival - thank you for understanding.

The official Dart Music Festival Programme is now on sale.

Jo Harman at the Dart Music Festival

We've been hearing such a lot of good things about 'local girl made good' blues/roots/soul singer Jo Harman  that we felt we must share them with you...

Jo's a South Devon girl, originally from the tiny village of Lustleigh, who seems to be setting the world on fire lately with her brilliant performances and newly released debut album 'Dirt On My Tongue'.

The album has received universal international acclaim as well a number of 'best of' lists (far too many to mention here) both in the blues world and beyond. Jo recently signed to V2 (stable mates include Adele, Mumford and Sons, Queens of the Stone Age etc) in Europe and 'Dirt On My Tongue' recently entered the Netherlands album charts proper.

Here are just a few of the comments about the album, and you can also see her performing on You Tube - just follow the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYMIi8LyBzM

"Brilliant...get it!" Mail On Sunday

"A must hear album" Jazz FM

"On course to be the finest female soul and blues vocalist in the UK" Daily Mirror 

"Stunning…our tip for 2013. Harman’s music mainlines the human soul" The Blues Magazine (9 out of 10)

“A landmark album” (9 stars) Country Music Magazine

“A veritable superstar on the British blues and roots scene, she really is that good….the voice is a glorious instrument, immensely expressive and with a tone that can send shivers down the spine…this is an astounding record, timeless, rich and powerful …it’s this disc that truly says that she is a star of our time.” Tone Monkey

‘"hat a voice!" – Classic Rock

A new, limited edition, live album 'Jo Harman and Company Live at The Royal Albert Hall' will be released this summer as a companion to the ongoing international promotion of  'Dirt On My Tongue'

To whet your appetite for what promises to be a stunning performance at the Festival, please read on...

"British singer songwriter JO HARMAN's work takes inspiration from blues, soul, roots and gospel - little wonder then that she was recently described in the Daily Mirror, as part of a half page interview, as 'the finest female soul blues singer in the UK'.

Having secured over 40 UK and European festival gigs in 2013, including prestigious slots at likes of Cheltenham and Edinburgh Jazz Festivals, last summer she was one of only 12 (otherwise household name) artists appearing at Parkpop in the Hague, performing to over 300,000 people. 

Late last year Jo also performed, alongside names like Robert Plant, Van Morrison and more, at BluesFest at The Royal Albert Hall in London for Live Nation (Jo's performance broadcast by Radio 2 and Radio 6 Music). Jo has appeared on prime time Netherlands TV and mainstream radio (see video below), as well as making three appearances within 6 months at the world famous Paradiso, Amsterdam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC7fe7KmMh8 (TV)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKD-i0MFFWY (TV)

2014 seems set to continue Jo's progress to becoming one of the UK's most important and respected female artists, demonstrating that hard work and real talent can provide a genuine alternative to the X Factor culture".

As if all this wasn't enough to blow you away, you can also read  a review of the recent 'Jo Harman & Company' show at the Jazz Café in London.  By all accounts it was a very successful event and we thought you might like to check it out:

http://soulsidefunk.com/2014/02/27/music-pictures-jo-harman-company-at-the-jazz-cafe-london-26022014

What more can we possibly say but WOW! Do we have a treat in store for you?? Bring it on...

16th, 17th & 18th May 2014

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk 

 

Because listening to music at Dart Music Festival is FREE - but running it is not! - we have to charge for the Programme. 

The sales revenue is VITAL to the continuation of the Festival - thank you for understanding.

The official Dart Music Festival Programme is now on sale.

Dart Music Festival Foundation funds Stephen Warbeck Workshop

OSCAR WINNER STEPHEN WARBECK RETURNS TO DART MUSIC FESTIVAL FOR A DMF FOUNDATION FUNDED WORKSHOP AT DARTMOUTH ACADEMY.

Stephen Warbeck

We are delighted to welcome back to this year’s Festival Stephen Warbeck.

  

Stephen, who has composed film scores for Billy Elliot, Charlotte Gray, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Mrs Brown and many more, will be doing a workshop with the students of The Dartmouth Academy on Friday. 

The Workshop is being totally funded by the Dart Music Festival Foundation, which was created to help local musicians.

Prior to the event the students will make some short films, without music, and during the workshop the music will be created out of the students’ ideas, with help and guidance from Stephen and his ensemble. The pieces composed will be interspersed with the films for a performance by the students, Stephen and his ensemble in The Flavel the following day.

This will be followed in the evening by ‘An Audience With Stephen Warbeck’ when he will be playing and talking about his work as one of the best known film composers working in Britain today. Probably best known for his score for Shakespeare in Love, for which he won an Academy Award, he has also written extensively for theatre, including productions at the Royal Court Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

Stephen has written scores for more than forty films and in 2005 composed his first ballet score. Last year Stephen won a Bafta award for his music for Richard Eyre’s The Hollow Crown and earlier this year he won two prizes at the Tehran Film Festival for his score for Doomsday.

The programme for the concert will include themes from several of Stephen's scores, and he will also be talking about his work. He’s invited along some very special musicians to join him this evening – full details in the DMF programme or on our website.

16th, 17th & 18th May 2014

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk 

Because listening to music at Dart Music Festival is FREE - but running it is not! - we have to charge for the Programme. 

The sales revenue is VITAL to the continuation of the Festival - thank you for understanding.

The official Dart Music Festival Programme is now on sale.