Emilie Heard & Simon Geen imagine the memories of a Great Festival.......
THE CLANS
The Planners
The Campers
The Drifters
Day 1 - Fri.16th May 2014
The Planners
16:45 Purchased refreshments
16:55 Arrived in Market Square in time to secure perfect location for Sax Appeal viewing
18:30 After truncated encore for Sax Appeal - 2 claps only, must dash - use pre planned route to effect exit through excited crowds with minimum shoving to get to Guildhall for…..
18:35 Blues Brothers Collective - Brenda concerned by 5 minute tardiness but appeased with Campari & Soda
19:35 Straight to Spice Bazaar for pre booked meal. After a fine Goan Fish Curry settled down to listen to Polly Ortuso.
22:25 Alight the 22.30 bus to Park & Ride and home for cocoa and full debrief.
The Campers
Arrived at the Bandstand at 1.30pm, blanket on ground, bags loaded with snacks, forgot humus but decided to soldier on. Rounded up kids to impress upon them ‘we are here, this spot, here, this is where we will be, here, do not forget…..here’. Watched Krakatoa & Esme singing on the banstand with the School Children from 2pm-3.30pm. Fed kids. Watched the fine Dartmouth Academy singers. Fed kids.
6.30 and Dad starts to ‘relax’ into Gimi Hendrix Experience, air guitar paloosa!….Fed kids. 8pm Mum happy now as Giles Robson & The Dirty Aces play superlative harmonica. 10pm food run out so dragged all home, can’t wait for tomorrow.
The Drifters
Parked VW Bug and spent a few minutes gazing at the beautiful town. Sun glinting on church led us to wander up and discovered the amazing Esperanto guitar duet - sooo uplifting - drifted off and found ourselves seeing some dude called Chris Thomas wowing the crowd at the Royal Castle Hotel. Quest for tofu snacks brought us back into the sunshine where Jocasta happened across an amazing choir in the Flavel Church called Dartmouth Rock - Beautiful harmonies! After time out to gaze at the river wandered over to the Windjammer for great ale and First Raitt Band then off to the Seale Arms to bop to the Alfi Romeo Band. Rest of night spent partying with new found friends…..names escape me.
Day 2 - Sat. 17th May 2014
The Planners
10.30 Arrive Castle Tearooms for Nauti Buoys Sea Shanties and hearty breakfast.
11.35 Power walk back into town, saw Reginald but could only accord a cursory nod as late for,
12.00 Flavel Flutes at St Saviours Church – beautiful.
13:00 Luncheon
13:45 repair to George & Dragon for a glass of something nice and the Fabulous 59 Ford rock & roll. Neville throwing some shapes sustains soft tissue injury.
17:00 Evening repast
17:50 Market Square for Chaz Thorogood. Brenda commented that he was indeed ‘Thoroughly Good’ – I agreed.
19:50 Arrive Floating Bridge to round off day with Sam Fearon (I had underlined this in my programme in red ink!)
22:25 Alight the 22.30 bus to Park & Ride and home for cocoa and full debrief.
The Campers
Arrived at the Bandstand at 2pm, blanket on ground, bags loaded with snacks, remembered humus...forgot breadsticks but decided to soldier on. Rounded up kids to impress upon them ‘we are here, this spot, here, this is where we will be, here, do not forget…..here’.
Mum excited by Marcus Bonfanti (is it the guitar playing?). Fed kids. Kids dance cutely to Company B while mum wanders off to get Marcus Bonfanti’s CD signed. Fed Kids. Dad starts telling kids ‘this is proper music’ to Winter Mountain and Martha Tilston. Fed kids. Swift exit after Dad’s public dancing display brings shame on whole family during Black Friday gig. Can’t wait for tomorrow.
The Drifters
Awoke in the bug....still sunny....result! Floated around and saw so many bands....can’t remember most of them. Pretty sure there was Drum Workshop at the Guildhall, James Harris’s Beatbelt at the Dolphin, Reggie’s Band at the Market House (turns out not the Reggie I know but hey). Some famous dude at Flavel called Stephen Warbeck – he was awesome!
Oh yeah there was a fort......with music in it! Wow! Seriously, like a little castle.....with music! Ended up at the George & Dragon watching Jefferson Archive....I think. Rest of night spent partying with new found friends…..names escape me...
Day 3 - Sun. 18th May 2014
The Planners
10:50 Arrived for Torbay Folk Choir at the Guildhall and stayed in position for De Fuego and their Flamenco Guitars. Brenda commented that they were ‘flamin’ good’, I agreed but felt uncomfortable with the language.
13:35 Luncheon
14:45 Dart Festival Chorus at St Saviour’s Church
16:25 Jake Friese-Greene & Nino at Royal Castle Hotel
17:35 Evening repast
18:55 Ended day at Bayards Cove Inn with the Zoe Lambeth and Steve Dow Duo. Brenda started on about dance lessons again but I sharply pointed out I will not move my bridge evening for anyone!
22:25 Alight the 22.30 bus to Park & Ride and home for cocoa and full debrief.
The Campers
Arrived at the Bandstand at 2.30pm, blanket on ground, bags loaded with snacks, forgot humus and breadsticks and down to last pot of olives. Soldiered on. Rounded up kids to impress upon them ‘we are here, this spot, here, this is where we will be, here, do not forget…..here’.
Mum got all emotional over Gary Quinn’s country music, kept repeating ‘I have, I have laid my blanket on the ground’. Fed kids. Dad excited by Jo Harman (is it the vocals?). Fed Kids. Kids dance cutely to while Dad wanders off to get Jo Harman’s CD signed. Everyone exhausted but happy.
The Drifters
There was music on Sunday??
To summarise
Best Dart Music Festival EVER!
Best Dart Music Festival EVER!
Best Dart Music Festival EVER!
To make sure you get the best out of the festival, go online to the Official site - to purchase your Official Programme or, alternatively, buy a copy from one of the many participating local shops.
