Dart Music Festival Venues

Just in case you have never experienced the many and various joys of Dart Music Festival before, here is a quick run-down of all the venues...

THE BANDSTAND MAIN STAGE - this year for the first time we are hiring in a stage. We had a trial run a few weeks ago and all the signs are that it will be brilliant...! (Let us know what you think after the Festival). The stage is situated in Royal Avenue Gardens and hosts many different performances this year, with some seating available. Music is free with donations requested via yellow collecting tins and bucket. Use of the Royal Avenue Gardens is by kind permission of South Hams District Council.

THE MASONIC HALL - Situated in Lower Street with a large yellow banner outside, use of this venue is by kind permission of the Freemasons. In the event of really good, sunny weather, events at this venue will be transferred to Bayard's Cove Fort. Please check each day to make sure - there will be signs outside the venue if this is the case. Bayard's Cove Fort is situated at the end of Bayard's Cove and is made available by kind permission of English Heritage. Performances will be held over Saturday and Sunday and start at 11.30 am.

THE FLAVEL ARTS CENTRE - Situated in the centre of town behind the Flavel Church, the main Auditorium, Studio and Library are all part of the events being staged. Some events are ticketed (but still free with retiring collection) to ensure a place - please check with the Box Office 01803 839530. The Music Festival Committee thanks the Flavel for use over the Festival.

THE FLAVEL CHURCH - Situated in Mayor's Avenue just past the Nat West Bank, the Church will be holding workshops, performances and Songs of Praise.

THE OLD MARKET SQUARE -Situated in the centre of town, there will be music on Friday after the market has closed and throughout Saturday and Sunday. Shops and cafes will be open and there will be a bar sponsored and run by Bays Brewery. Collections will be made via yellow collecting tins and buckets.

THE GUILDHALL - Situated in Victoria Road just up from the Old Market, there will be a large yellow banner outside the venue. Please see previous blog post for fuller info on this main venue.

ST. SAVIOUR'S CHURCH - Situated at the top of Anzac St in the centre of town, this beautiful ancient (but newly refurbished) venue will be hosting classical performances over the weekend as well as the Festival Eucharist on Sunday morning.

ST. PETROX CHURCH & CASTLE TEA ROOMS - Situated next to Dartmouth Castle out at the mouth of the river - so allow at least half an hour to walk (but it will be worth it..!). A ferry service operates throughout the day from the South Embankment - details on the back cover of the Programme.

DECKS@IVY LANE YOUTH VENUE - Situated in Ivy Lane, just off Victoria Road in the centre of town. This venue is home to events for young people throughout Saturday and Sunday, with workshops, performances and a 'Dartmouth's Got Talent' competition.

There is also music in many of the pubs, hotels and restaurants throughout the town every day - full performance details in the DMF Programme, on sale now online or from local outlets.

16th, 17th & 19th May 2014

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

Dart Music Festival at The Guildhall. Parties, music, films and fun...

Before... (2013)

We're off...!

 ...The Guildhall has been trimmed up with bunting, balloons and blow up instruments this morning - and the Old Girl really does scrub up well, if we do say so ourselves.

Our thanks to Tracey, Maggie and Brian at the Town Council for being so helpful this morning when we were setting up. 

We think you'll approve of our efforts... With a whole host of lovely plants on loan from Gardentime - thank you very much you kind people - the Hall is all set for tonight's Sponsors' Party with live music from Hot Club of Stonehouse with Becky Brine and a great bar from Bays Brewery, and will then be used for Thursday night's special Music Festival Film from Dartmouth Film Society, which this year is 'Muscle Shoals'. There will be the usual bar and a buffet and guest tickets on sale at the Windjammer Inn from 7.00 - 7.30pm - tickets are £6 for non members and £3.50 for members, to include buffet.

After (2013)

The Guildhall - as a main Festival venue - is also host to an amazing fourteen different acts this year and quite frankly we can't wait... It's such a popular venue with a fantastic atmosphere, and as well as Bays' bar this year there will be a Saturday Cafe run by volunteers from local charity Dartmouth Caring - thank you ladies, I am sure it will be great! 

We must also thank the Deep Blue Sound Co for managing the sound throughout the Festival - much appreciated, chaps...

Full performance details of the acts on at the Guildhall this weekend in the DMF Programme - we look forward to seeing you there...

16th, 17th & 18th May 2014

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk 

Jade Gall and Jonathan Watts come to Dart Music Festival

Jade Gall

Jade Gall is a classically trained saxophonist who graduated in 2013 from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama as a Master of Arts in Music Performance. 

She studied with Lara James and Gerard McChrystal during her time there and she is now going onto pursue her love for the Tenor Saxophone by increasing the awareness for this fantastic instrument.

Jade is very keen in promoting the saxophone as a worthy classical concert instrument, especially the tenor saxophone, which is where she feels most at home. She is always actively organising concerts in and around the Devon Area.

Although Jade is a classically trained saxophonist, she loves to play in other styles of music. Jade plays tenor saxophone for Michael Campari and the Solar System and has stood in for other Devon based bands which include Freshly Squeezed and the Simmertones. Jade will be performing with Jonathan Watts during the Festival.

Jonathan Watts

 Jonathan was born in South Wales and studied music at the University College of Wales in Cardiff.

He graduated with a B.Mus degree in 1980 followed by a Masters Degree in ‘Baroque Keyboard Techniques’ a year later. He then studied organ with James Dalton at Queens College Oxford

Jonathan is equally at home giving organ recitals, playing harpsichord and accompanying instrumentalists and singers. He is the conductor of the 160 Dartington Community Choir and is heavily involved in the annual International Summer School at Dartington as accompanist to many of the world’s leading musician

The Programme will include a variety of works by:
 J.S. Bach, Paul Creston, Singelee right the way through to more recent works by saxophonists Rob Buckland, Nigel Wood and Andy Scott. 

For full performance details check the DMF Programme, on sale now online or locally.

 

16th, 17th & 18th May 2014

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk 

 

 

Dart Festival Chorus at Dart Music Festival

 Rehearsals for Dart Festival Chorus’s 2014 concert are well underway.

This year the choir is under the expert musical guidance of guest conductor David Davies, Assistant Director of Music at Exeter Cathedral. 

The choir was the first group to hire The Cube in the new Dartmouth Academy building, which only opened 10 days before their first rehearsal, and they tell us they are really enjoying the space and the lovely acoustics!

Dart Festival Chorus is the Music Festival’s very own choir. It is made up of singers from choirs across South Devon, who come together each year and perform a festival concert on just three rehearsals. Jonathan Watts is the choir’s guest accompanist for this year’s concert, which is entitled The Grand Tour.

Following in the footsteps of the young and wealthy of the 18th and 19th centuries, the programme takes the audience on a musical journey around Europe. The itinerary begins in England and takes in France, Italy, Austria, Germany and Belgium before heading back home across the Channel.  On your travels, expect to hear some beautiful choral works by Mozart, Haydn, Vivaldi and Fauré, to name but a few.

 See you at the Festival - don’t forget your passports!

 Full performance details in the DMF - on sale online or locally now.

16th, 17th & 18th May 2014

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

Party Time at the Flavel - Dart Music Festival

 "It's Party Time at the Flavel!"
 

Come and bring your little ones along to the Flavel on Saturday 17th May where they (and you!) will be able to sing, dance, march, shake maracas and beat drums, play with the parachute and catch the bubbles, and generally have a great time.

Your free places need to be booked in advance to be sure of a place so to book go to the Flavel Box Office:

http://theflavel.org.uk/TheFlavel.dll/WhatsOn?Programme=1609334

The session is being held by Carol Holbrow from Music with Mummy who runs baby and preschool music classes in Torbay and Dartmouth.  http://www.musicwithmummyandcarol.co.uk/

See you there!

16th, 17th, 18th May 2014

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

Dart Music Festival official photos now on display

 Joe's fabulous photos now in an exhibition at the Flavel, in the centre of Dartmouth

Photo: http://www.heritage-media.tv/

Hamilton Loomis - www.joemurtaghphotography.com

Joe Murtagh, the Official photographer for the Dart Music Festival, has been covering this event in Dartmouth for a number of years now.

Many of his images can be seen on his website www.joemurtaghphotography.com

For this week and for the duration of this year's festival, Joe has an exhibition of images at the Flavel, here in the centre of Dartmouth. Drop in anytime to view a collection of Joe's photos upstairs in the bar area and also on the top floor at the Flavel.

www.joemurtaghphotography.com

The images have been described as 'capturing the true atmosphere that is the Dart Music Festival'.

The music, the variety, the mood and above all the fun of the event have all been caught on film by Joe.

The images are for sale, either framed or unframed, with several having already been sold.

www.joemurtaghphotography.com

Joe is donating 25% of the monies raised  from the exhibition to the Dart Music Festival so go along and enjoy a viewing - and maybe buy an image!

You can catch an interview with Joe talking about his images on Radio Dart  at www.radiodart.net

Joe will be covering the event again this year, so if you want great images of your bands get in touch through his website or catch him at the festival.


Here is just a sample of some of his great images:

www.joemurtaghphotography.com

www.joemurtaghphotography.com

Michael Bryan Harris

www.joemurtaghphotography.com

 

Electric Swing Circus

www.joemurtaghphotography.com

 

www.joemurtaghphotography.com

You can find Joe's exhibition from now until Sunday May 18th on the first floor at the Flavel and also in the Studio on the top floor.

The Flavel, Flavel Place, Dartmouth

01803 839530

16th, 17th & 18th May 2014

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

Dart Music Festival T Shirts - new design just in

http://www.joemurtaghphotography.com/

The Dart Music Festival T shirts are now in...

http://www.joemurtaghphotography.com/

...and they're looking great - in a variety of sizes and colours...

http://www.joemurtaghphotography.com/

...with a funky new design for 2014 courtesy of local artists Simon and Theri Hart...

 

Kids' T shirts -http://www.joemurtaghphotography.com/

...with something for the kids too...

http://www.joemurtaghphotography.com/Add caption

...in fact something for everyone..!

http://www.joemurtaghphotography.com/

Check out the T shirts and all the other Festival goodies on offer ....

...at the Merchandise Tent - open throughout the Festival, in front of the Fountain in Royal Avenue Gardens. 

Our thanks to official photographer Joe Murtagh for the great photos.

Six days to go now - and counting...

We look forward to seeing you at the Festival.

16th, 17th & 18th May 2014

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

Dart Music Festival Sampler CDs just arrived..!

The much sought-after DMF Sampler CD has just arrived,  and it sounds great...

With more than twenty brilliant tracks kindly donated by some of this year's musicians to help raise funds for the Festival, the CD compilation is a fantastic mix of genres and styles, making it a perfect souvenir to take home with you so that you can enjoy your favourite Festival moments again and again.

The cover has been designed by local artists Theri and Simon Hart, and we really love the retro look CD! There will be an image of it here very soon so watch this space...

The CD costs just £5 with all proceeds going towards funding the Festival. It will be available from the Merchandise Tent situated this year in front of the fountain in Royal Avenue Gardens and also at the Guildhall.

In the unlikely event of there being any copies left over, they will be sold online from the website after the Festival.

 A word of warning - there are only a limited number of copies this year, so do make sure you don't miss out - once it's gone it's gone...

16th, 17th & 18th May 2014

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

 

Dart Music Festival Merchandise - just in...

Obviously we've ordered a hot and sunny weekend for the forthcoming Music Festival, so what do you think of our cool new sunglasses??

Photo credit: www.joemurtaghphotography.com

We're really pleased with them and had a great time trying them on as soon as they arrived, in fact we snapped some up for ourselves right away - but don't worry, we've left a few pairs for you.

Photo Credit: www.joemurtaghphotography.com

The only problem might be which funky colour to choose - to be honest they all look pretty good on so the choice is yours...

Photo Credit: www.joemurtaghphotography.com

In addition to that we're also introducing the new 

  Music Festival 

Must-Have Mug 

in a stylish white and denim blue and sporting a great DMF logo - new this year, and designed by local Dartmouth artists Simon and Theri Hart - which also appears on the new 2014 DMF tee shirts.

  

Supplies are limited, so make sure you visit the merchandise stall early so you don't miss out...!

  

How can you possibly go home without one...??

As well as the new mugs and sunglasses, the new tee shirts (images to follow soon) and the fabulous Dart Music Festival CD - more details of this limited edition Festival souvenir in a forthcoming post - will all be available at the merchandise stall throughout the Festival.

Previous stock available to purchase from the Merchandise Tent - now situated in front of the fountain at the entrance to Royal Avenue Gardens - includes:

* Caps * Umbrellas * T-shirts * CDs * Ponchos * Jackets * Hoodies * Bags * Aprons * 

Stripey Rugby Shirts * Plain Rugby Shirts*  - and pens..!

Our thanks to official photographer Joe Murtagh for the great images.

16th, 17th & 18th May 2014

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk 

Goulash and Champagne...??

Goulash and Champagne it certainly was..!

Credit: www.joemurtaghphotography.com

The Dart Music Festival’s latest Fundraiser, held out at the fabulous barn venue at Little Dartmouth Farm, proved an evening of colour and sparkle from the rich goulash and delicious sweet delights to the music-driven phenomenon of The Budapest Cafe Orchestra, a band that was ready to enthrall their audience. 

Credit: www.joemurtaghphotography.com

The infectious energy of the BCO swept all off their feet...

They took us through a journey from one emotional pole to another: from a desperately tragic evocative heart-rending ancient Jewish melody to a dance from Romania or Russia and all the fiery exuberance that goes with it. 

Credit: www.joemurtaghphotography.com

With the help and support of The Dart to Mouth Deli and Dartmouth Fine Foods who fed us, and Commodore Jake Moores, Master of Ceremonies who administered the fantastic auction of exciting lots the evening certainly proved a major fundraising event aiding the coffers for the Festival - now only two short weeks away.......!

Our thanks also to official DMF Photographer Joe Murtagh for the great images!

16th, 17th & 18th May 2014

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk