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Firsts
For The Music Festival
The
Dart Music Festival is back – the biggest and best it’s ever
been - on May 16, 17 and 18. ‘The best small music festival
in the country’ returns with one of its most exciting line-ups
– which, as always, caters for everyone. No matter whether you
prefer music to make you want to get up and dance, or to sit
quietly and contemplate, there is something for you at this
music festival.
This year as every year there are innovations, which this year
include:
-
The New Angel cocktail lounge, on the first floor of the
restaurant, will be hosting 2 events over the Festival weekend.
On Saturday 17th May Nicky Swann will be combining her mellow
guitar playing and soulful vocals from 1.00 - 2.30pm. On
Sunday 18th May Steve Osman will be performing a chilled
solo guitar session from 1.00 - 2.30
-
Kinzli has cancelled her gig on Saturday at Bayards Cove
on Saturday at 12.00. She is replaced by a band called The
Fallen Apples (Folk, Bluegrass)
The Strike Nineteens playing in the Market Square on Saturday
night have had to pull out due to illness. They are being
replaced by Buffalo Squeeze (who are also playing at The
George & Dragon on Sunday) And unfortunately Amy Sayer has
pulled out due to ill health. She is being replaced by Steve
Osman - solo guitar (his music was used on Rick Stein's
French Odyssey Programme on TV)
We also have booked an extra gig. The Fallen Apples are
now playing at the Harbour Bar in The Royal Castle at 7.30
on Sunday.
-
Snake Davis will be doing an interview on the Judy Spiers
show on Radio Devon on 15 May.
- The
Market Square Programme: recognising that the friendly and
convivial atmosphere of this unique venue could be used
to greater advantage, a ‘Festival within a Festival’ has
been arranged. During the events on both Friday and Saturday
evenings a range of excellent ‘foods to tickle your taste
buds’ will be on offer as well as a bar selling wine and
beer . The stalls will be run by chefs from Spice Bazaar,
Rob from the Market Square Café and Chirizo Co, and seating
will be available. While the music is unticketed, there
will be a small charge of £2.00 for entry to the square
to cover security and insurance. This will only apply after
6.30 pm and will allow you to come and go for the duration
of that evening. Donations towards the cost of the Festival
music will be solicited during the evening by collectors
as at the other events in the Festival.
- This
year too, for the first time, two organ recitals are being
given in St. Saviour’s church, by internationally renowned
organists, Andrew Millington and Christopher Gray. The addition
of the Roger Kempton Memorial Concert in St Saviours Church
marks the affection and respect with which Mr Kempton was
held before his sad and untimely death last year. He was
one of the founding members of the music festival, loved
organ music, and was always ready to give his support to
any venture that would benefit the festival. This year for
the first time it is intended that the organists will be
filmed; with support from Dartmouth Community College, the
Dartmouth Film Society and Toby French audiences will be
able to watch the musicians on a screen in the church as
they play.
-
In previous years the Festival has been invited to visit
Britannia Royal Naval College only on the Saturday afternoon.
This has all changed this year as there is a unique opportunity
on the Friday evening to hear the Eberle String Quartet
play within the College. Widely acclaimed in Britain and
abroad for their informal and welcoming style, the group
has chosen for this special concert some of the most lovely
chamber music ever composed; as well as pieces by Boccherini
and Mozart, they will be joined by Rickman Godlee to play
the ultimate, Schubert’s String Quintet in C Major, a fantastic
opportunity to hear this haunting and melodic piece, considered
by many to be the most beautiful of all chamber music. The
usual Security and parking will not be a problem as the
audience will be taken to the College by bus from the Natwest
Bank. Tickets, limited in number, are available from Dartmouth
TIC, 01803 834224.
And, to use a familiar phrase ‘Here’s
one I prepared earlier’, another first for the Festival
is a change to the published programme: Britannia Choral
Society will now be singing one of Handel’s most popular
works, Acis and Galatea (nymph meets shepherd, jealous Cyclops
kills shepherd, nymph transforms shepherd into stream),
a splendid revenge which is also delightful to hear: they
were unable to sing it at Easter due to the illness of their
conductor, Gareth Perkins. We wish him a speedy recovery.
-
Throughout the weekend the streets, pubs and concert venues
around the town will be filled with music of all kinds –
every available space seems to be used for performances,
and each year new ones are added. This year the Dartmouth
Yacht Club, St Saviours, St Petrox and St Clements Churches,
Bayard’s Cove fort, the Castle Tea Rooms, and the Britannia
Royal Naval College will all host music, along with virtually
every licensed premises in the town, and of course the Bandstand
and Royal Avenue Gardens. Another first at the Festival
is that on Sunday, from morning till mid afternoon, food
will be available from a barbecue in Royal Avenue Gardens
courtesy of The Royal Castle Hotel, half the proceeds of
which will go to the Festival.
-
The big draw for Folk Music lovers this year is of course
the internationally renowned, Mercury nominated and multi
award winning Folk Musician, Seth Lakeman. Mr Lakeman will
bring his youthful interpretation of the folk traditions
of Britain to the bandstand on Sunday evening from 6pm until
7.30pm. Get ready for an inspiring and energetic performance
from the young Devonian, who has made time in a hectic schedule
to play at the Dart Music festival. He continues the fine
tradition of the festival that the best musicians love coming
to the town because the organisation and atmosphere here
are so good.
-
The full Festival programme with its distinctive yellow
cover is available from most shops and pubs in the town.
The cover price of £2 (£2.50 inc. p & p) goes straight towards
the Festival and the fine bands and artists everyone enjoys
each year, so you can buy happy in the knowledge you are
supporting this vibrant and fun event. And please remember
that the musicians have to be paid for, and give generously
to the official collecting tins which circulate during the
Festival.
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