All Donations Make a Difference..!

Yes, it's that time of year again...

  

.....when the thoughts of the Dart Music Festival committee turn to financing and fundraising for the next Festival, which previously has cost £55,000+ to put on but which with today’s constantly rising prices may cost even more for 2015.

We’re sure that everyone realises by now that the Festival is self-funded and that although our policy is ‘Free Music For All’ that doesn’t mean that any of the services, equipment and most importantly musicians are free – which is why we depend so heavily on the generosity of local businesses and residents who have so very kindly sponsored us in the past.

The Festival is eighteen next year – yes, honestly! - and it is no exaggeration to say that it really couldn’t happen without our valued sponsors. Indeed any donation – large or small – really does help, and we do realise how lucky we are to have such brilliant support from all the people who help to ensure that we can go ahead with the Festival again.




 

Probably the greatest benefit of becoming a sponsor must surely be the feel-good factor - to be able to look around at all the happy people enjoying the artists enjoying what they love to do – which is to play their music for the people – and realise that you helped to make it all possible. There are many other benefits too, of course, depending upon the level of sponsorship - please see below:



 

PLATINUM £500+ - Logo and link on DMF website; invitation to exclusive Sponsors’ River Cruise and also Sponsors’ Private Party; Free programme and 2015 Sponsors’ badge; Logo on back page of programme; banner in Royal Avenue Gardens; window certificate for relevant businesses.

GOLD £150+ - Listing in DMF programme; listing and link on DMF website.; invitation to exclusive Sponsors’ River Cruise and also Sponsors’ Private Party; Free programme and 2015 Sponsors’ badge; window certificate for relevant businesses.

SILVER £50+ - Listing in DMF programme; listing on DMF website; invitation to Sponsors’ Private Party; Free programme and 2015 Sponsors’ badge; window certificate for relevant businesses.

BRONZE up to £50 - Free programme and 2015 Sponsors’ badge; window certificate for relevant businesses.

 

The DMF Sponsorship Team will be out and about soon and will be contacting our existing sponsors with a view to helping fund the next Festival, so if you are interested in becoming a 2015 sponsor please contact the DMF Sponsorship Secretary at Ivy Cottage, Ivy Lane, Dartmouth TQ6 9QD or e mail: dmfsponsors@gmail.com – she will be happy to give you further details.

Huge thanks - as always - for your generous support. Remember - all donations really DO make a difference! Couldn't do it without you...

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk 

 15th, 16th & 17th May 2015

           

Strictly Come Dancing is back! And so are we...

And the good news is, we had our first Committee meeting after our summer break this week and decided that we enjoyed running the Dart Music Festival so much this year, we are going to do it all over again next year...

The Bandstand at night - Joe Murtagh

We are really excited to announce that due to public demand we will once again be holding our famous and fabulous fundraiser - Strictly Come Dancing.

This hugely popular event will be held at the Guildhall, Victoria Road Dartmouth, on Saturday 22nd November from 7.00pm - 10.30pm. Doors open at 6.45pm and the dress theme for the evening is black and white.

Six competing couples will wow us with their dancing skills - from waltz to jive to cha-cha and more - to music from 22-piece live band the BRNC Royal Naval Volunteer Band.

Whilst the judges are making their difficult decision, there will be a cheese platter supper and quality raffle before the results and trophy presentation to the lucky winners, followed by a general dancing session - so don't forget your dancing shoes...

This event has always sold out very quickly so please make sure you don't miss out - tickets on sale now from No. 11 Clothing , Victoria Road, and selling fast.

Strictly Come Dancing with the BRNC Royal Naval Volunteer Band at The Guildhall, Dartmouth on Saturday 22nd November from 7.00 - 10.30pm. 

Tickets £17.50pp to include cheese platter now on sale from No. 11 Clothing Victoria Road. 

See you there..!

Crowds enjoying the sunshine and music on our new stage in the Royal Avenue Gardens. Photo Joe Murtagh 2014

 We'll be back with more updates and news as soon as we have it - watch this space...

Dart Music Festival - 15th, 16th and 17th May 2015

Dart Music Festival - Emily's photos

DMF Star Collector Elaine at Bayards Cove Fort. Photo Emily Dickinson

Local girl Emily Dickinson has shared some kind words and great photos with us....

"Hello - I'm Emily Dickinson, I'm 16 and I'm local.

I come down to the music festival every year and I love it! It's really enjoyable, in fact so enjoyable that my parents' friends come down from the North every year. 

Phil King playing at Bayards Cove Fort. Photo Emily Dickinson

I've recently got interested in photography, so this year I went around to different performances and took a few snaps which I thought you might like to see, and I do have a few more...

Thank you!"

And thank YOU, Emily!  Good luck with the photography - the photos are great.

It is so rewarding and heartwarming when artists and visitors give us feedback on their experience at our wonderful Festival...

...so if you played - or visited - here this year please let us know - we'd love to hear from you. 

Please send your thoughts and comments to: valdepledge@hotmail.com

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

Dart Music Festival - more...

More lovely feedback...

 

Chris from Slapface and the Hoagies says:

 

"Thank you once again for inviting us to play at the music festival.

 

I'm now sitting back at my desk wishing I was still there!

 

We had a great time and I must applaud you all for your hospitality and for having such a well organised festival. 

 

 

The weather was on your side, but the rest of it you did on your own. The whole atmosphere was terrific. Very relaxed and chilled."

 

Mama Takus. Photo: www.joemurtaghphotography.com

And this lovely comment from Mama Tokus:

"Hi Hilary and the team

I just wanted to say a big thank you for booking me to play at the Dart Music Festival.

I had a ball, loved meeting some great audience members and really enjoyed the venues where I played.

 

 

Everyone was so helpful and I do hope you're getting a chance to rest up after your sun-drenched triumph!

Visitors really appreciated your efforts, let me tell you. I was really proud to be involved. Hoorah!"
- Mama Tokus

 

 

 

It is so rewarding and heartwarming when artists give us feedback on their experience on performing at our wonderful Festival...

...so if you played - or visited - here this year please let us know - we'd love to hear from you. 

Please send your thoughts and comments to: valdepledge@hotmail.com

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

Dart Music Festival - more testimonials

The new stage in Royal Avenue Gardens. Photo: www.joemurtaghphotography.com

 

More feedback from happy festival-goers and artists - please keep them coming...

 

"Wow! What a gig Sunday night, place was buzzing. Great festival as always - iit was a cracking gig. Many thanks and congratulations on another triumph!" - Chris, Big Foot

 

 

"What a fantastic Festival! The weather obviously helped, but the whole weekend was magical, thank you. I was born and bred in Dartmouth and I feel very proud when I see what a wonderful music festival my small home town can put on. It is way better that my local Bath one, where most of the events are ticket only and high price at that.

From the sheer brilliance of Ji Lui on the piano to the energetic De Fuego and then the informal Harry Brown in the magnificent appropriate setting of the Castle Tea Rooms. the variety was amazing and it was often difficult to choose what to go to!

I hope that you raised enough money to carry on the great work next year and many congratulations to all the team of organisers and helpers." - J.T.

 

"This is just to say thank you. Me and the Torbay Folk Choir had a lovely time singing at the festival. Lovely programme, lovely staff, lovely audience..." - Rebecka, Torbay Folk Choir

 

Thank you!

 

It is so rewarding and heartwarming when artists - and visitors! - give us feedback on their experience on performing at our wonderful Festival...

...so if you played or visited here this year please let us know - we'd love to hear from you. 

Please send your thoughts and comments to: valdepledge@hotmail.com

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

Dart Music Festival Testimonial - The First Raitt Band

  It is so rewarding and heartwarming when artists give us feedback on their experience on performing at our wonderful Festival...

...so if you played here this year please let us know - we'd love to hear from you. 

Please send your thoughts and comments to: valdepledge@hotmail.com

First Raitt Band

Our thanks to the First Raitt Band for entertaining us so well. Seems like they enjoyed playing here too...

"Just wanted to say a huge 'thank you' for having the band at the Windjammer this year.  We cannot tell you what a fantastic evening we had, despite the real stress over the non-arrival of our bass man who was stuck on the M5.  We managed to turn it round and give the audience some additional time.

The boys were blown away by the whole weekend, and the highlight for me was seeing the young Kezia at Bayards Fort, just so refreshing to hear such an amazing voice and lyrics from one so young - amazing talent.  The weather was perfect, people so friendly and generally a great feel good feel to the whole weekend.

Well done to all your team, you must have been so pleased with how it all went.  Bear us in mind for next year, we would be more than up for it!!!!!  Got some nice gig leads from around the area, so a mini tour may beckon next spring.....

Best wishes from all the Bristol crowd"

Caroline, First Raitt Band

Says it all, doesn't it..? Thanks to Caroline for the kind words - see you again soon.

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

 

Dart Music Festival Testimonial - Jo Harman

Jo Harman - all photo credits www.joemurtaghphotography.com

Jo Harman and her band were simply stunning on late Sunday afternoon with their performance on the Bandstand Stage in Royal Avenue Gardens. We all had fantastic time - and it looks like they did too! Please read on...

This is from Jo's agent:

 

"Can you kindly pass on our sincere thanks to everyone involved. Jo remarked to me that she felt the on stage sound she had at Dart Music Festival was the best she can remember ever having. When you consider some of the festivals and venues (Royal Albert Hall, playing to 300,000 people at Parkpop in Holland included) Jo has played, internationally, that is quite some kudos to your sound crew. 

I have to say the out front sound was quite magnificent too so please pass on our appreciation to the guys - they were even kind enough to give us a recording of the show.

It was a wonderful day, in wonderful weather, at a wonderful setting. We thought Nick, the compere, was hilarious - what an introduction! - first time I needed a dictionary to understand an MC ('happen chance', 'apposite', etc etc) and please pass on our thanks to everyone, not least the lovely Hilary and the bookers for booking us."

Well - what can I say? Except thank you so much to Jo and the band - your great  feedback has given us the feel-good factor!

It is so rewarding and heartwarming when artists give us feedback on their experience on performing at our wonderful Festival...

...so if you played here this year please let us know - we'd love to hear from you. 

Please send your thoughts and comments to: valdepledge@hotmail.com

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

Dart Music Festival Testimonial - Meet on the Ledge

Meet on the Ledge on the Bandstand Stage

Everyone really enjoyed Meet on the Ledge on the stage on Sunday, and they were brilliant later on in the evening in the Windjammer pub - what a great way to end a Festival..!

Here's what the band have to say about the event:

"On behalf of all the members of Meet on the Ledge, I'd like to thank the organisers of the Dart Music Festival for what was a very enjoyable weekend for us.

All of the band commented on how well organised the festival was, and that it was obvious that a great deal of work must have gone into it.

There was such a variety of artists for people to see. The atmosphere was really good, and it was great to see the town bustling with people enjoying the music.

The fact that everyone joins in the festival spirit for the weekend, (including the parking warden), certainly added to the experience for us, and even the weather was in our favour, so many thanks for having us at the festival."

Thank you so much for the great feedback guys - we really enjoyed having you here!

It is so rewarding and heartwarming when artists give us feedback on their experience on performing at our wonderful Festival...

...so if you played here this year please let us know - we'd love to hear from you. 

Please send your thoughts and comments to: valdepledge@hotmail.com

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

Dart Music Festival - Testimonial from Slim Semora

It is so rewarding and heartwarming when artists give us feedback on their experience on performing at our wonderful Festival...

...so if you played here this year please let us know - we'd love to hear from you. 

Please send your thoughts and comments to: valdepledge@hotmail.com

Slim playing at the Guildhall - photo credit  www.joemurtaghphotography.com

Thank you to Jayne, Slim Semora's wife, for these kind words:

"On behalf of Slim and myself we wish to thank you for putting on such a great event. 

Slim ended up on Radio Devon just before his 2pm set at The Guildhall and between that, and getting lost en route, we ended up running quite late. However, Val and the others at the Guildhall were great at handling things. Everything went smoothly and there was an appreciative audience at both venues, which is always nice. 

It seems we may also have some future bookings in the area as a result, so thanks so much for booking Slim and we hope that he can come back again – if he remains in the UK or tours here.

I would like to add that it was a pleasant surprise to see you had taken advantage of using one of Slim’s songs on your Dart Festival CD. "

http://suitcaseslim.com

Slim - known as the 'One Man Texas Band' - played the most amazing slide guitar and with his bass suitcase-drum and harmonica had the audience at the Guildhall spellbound. 

Thank you Slim for your great music! We hope to see you again.

www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

 

Dart Music Festival 2014 - Testimonial from Ji Liu

It is so rewarding and heartwarming when artists give us feedback on their experience on performing at our wonderful Festival...

...so if you played here this year please let us know - we'd love to hear from you. 

Please send your thoughts and comments to: valdepledge@hotmail.com

Ji Liu - Photo credit www.joemurtaghphotography.com/

Here is what the brilliant young concert pianist Ji Liu had to say after he wowed the audience with his Friday concert in St Saviour's Church:

"I have had a most lovely time in Dartmouth, and experienced a wonderful concert here with these supportive and nice audience.  

I have to say that it was such a great joy and pleasure to share my playing here, and the piano and the acoustic in the church is fabulous. It would be superb if I could come back again and share my music-making to the sweet audience here at some point in the soon future. And another good news is that I sold lot of CDs.

And I am VERY MUCH grateful to Marilyn's kind hospitality and support during my short but happy stay - great thanks!

By the way, I think our programme with different things including modern, classical and jazz worked quite well, and I very much enjoyed playing it!" - Very best wishes, Ji

Thank you Ji - we 'very much enjoyed' listening to you! Please come back soon...

 www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk

Dart Music Festival Gallery 3 - last images from Sunday...

Our thanks to official DMF photographer Joe Murtagh who took literally hundreds of fabulous photos throughout the Festival. 

 

Just the last few photos from Sunday 18th May - for more please visit Joe's website: http://www.joemurtaghphotography.com/

 

Meet on the Ledge on the Bandstand Stage

Full house at St Saviour's Church...

Dart Festival Chorus

 The fantastic Jo Harman again...

...and again - Jo Harman

Land of the Giants

Land of the Giants

Happy poncho-dancing crowd in Royal Avenue Gardens. You just had to be there...

 

 

That's it for now - with a very big thank you to Joe for all his sterling work over the Festival. 

 

If you have any great pics from the Festival that you'd like to share on this blog please e mail them to: valdepledge@hotmail.com

 

Thank you!

Dart Music Festival Gallery 2 - Sunday again...

Our thanks to official DMF photographer Joe Murtagh who took literally hundreds of fabulous photos throughout the Festival. 

 

Further images from Sunday 18th May - for more please visit Joe's website: http://www.joemurtaghphotography.com/

 

Land of the Giants on the Bandstand stage

Torbay Folk Choir at the Guildhall

BRNC Volunteer Band in the Royal Avenue Gardens

Denis Kigongo's African djembe drumming workshop in the Flavel

Children from the audience playing percussion with the BRNC Volunteer Band

Dartmouth Orchestral Society in St Saviour's Church

Dart Music Festival Gallery - Sunday

Our thanks to official DMF photographer Joe Murtagh who took literally hundreds of fabulous photos throughout the Festival. 

Photos from Sunday 18th May - for more please visit Joe's website: http://www.joemurtaghphotography.com/

BRNC Volunteer Ban in Royal Avenue Gardens

Gaz Brookfield

Jess Vincent and her band at Bayard's Cove Fort

Mama Tokus at Bayard's Cove

Becky Brine

Jo Harman and her band on the Bandstand Stage

Jo Harman

Dart Music Festival Gallery 3 - Saturday Late Afternoon/Evening

Our thanks to official DMF photographer Joe Murtagh who took literally hundreds of fabulous photos throughout the Festival. 

 

Further images from Saturday 17th May - for more please visit Joe's website: http://www.joemurtaghphotography.com/

 

Company B on the Bandstand Stage

Winter Mountain in the Market Square

The Fabulous 59ford at the Guildhall

Vocal Works Gospel Chorus in St Saviour's Church

Black Friday on the Bandstand Stage

Crowds in Royal Avenue Gardens enjoying Black Friday - on Saturday night...

Dart Music Festival Gallery 2 - still Saturday...

Our thanks to official DMF photographer Joe Murtagh who took literally hundreds of fabulous photos throughout the Festival. 

Further images from Saturday 17th May - for more please visit Joe's website: http://www.joemurtaghphotography.com/

 

Taiko Journey - Drumming Workshop at the Flavel

The Bookshop Band entertaining in Dartmouth Library

Jade Gall and Jonathan Watts in St Saviour's Church

Martin Neil's Drumming Workshop in the Flavel Church

Marcus Bonfanti on the Bandstand Stage

'Suitcase Slim' Semora at the Guildhall

P & P Duo in St Saviour's Church