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 grows 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..??)

Val Depledge