Darvel Music Festival

NEW SHOWS ANNOUNCED

As part of the Darvel Music Company's commitment to help raise funds for the town's gala day, two additional concerts have been confirmed for June. The first show on Friday 11 June will feature the brilliant soul sounds of Counselled Out, and on Saturday 12 June, a tremendous line-up of Scotland's finest new bands, when Attic Lights, A Band Called Quinn, the La Fontaines and the Rudiments will take to the stage. This particular show is being funded through the Scottish Arts Council's, Youth Music Initiative. Both Darvel Music Company and Andely Wine Store will give a financial contribution from the concert raffle and bar proceeds.

Tickets go on sale for the new concerts on 1 March 2010.

If the Darvel & District Community Council receive the public's support and raise enough funds then more 'live' music will be provided as part of the gala day entertainment programme on Saturday 19 June at Morton Park.

The Darvel Music Festival provides 'great value for money', 'an intimate-friendly atmosphere' and 'top-class entertainment', just three of the many positive comments the Darvel Music Company received from music fans attending last year's event.

The Company decided that this year they would spread the festival over four seasons and by holding the concerts at weekends local people and visitors from far and wide would benefit from regular and more accessible live performances at Darvel Town Hall.

The spring concerts are fast approaching, with the first show taking place on Friday 26 March, featuring the excellent James Grant, JJ Gilmour and Maeve O'Boyle. The next evening showcases the talents of soul-bluesman, Hamilton Loomis and jazz-blues chanteuse, Niki King. The Hamilton Loomis Band hail from the USA and the Darvel concert will be their only Scottish performance.

Another Scottish exclusive concert will take place on 7 May as the fantastic Blues Band have picked Darvel as one of a select list of UK dates to celebrate their 30th anniversary. They will be ably supported by Main Street Blues and the Larry Miller Band.

The Darvel Music Company will also be supporting the Irvine Valley Walking Festival by providing music entertainment at the Black Bull Inn during the afternoon of 7 May.

Kassidy have been tipped by the N.M.E and many music industry experts as one of the top new acts in Britain. The band will headline at Darvel Town Hall on 8 May. Joining them on the bill are London based, Vandeville Falls and Balfron's finest, Yorick Cormack (ex - Endrick Brothers) with his new band, the First Charge of the Light Brigade.

Darvel Music Company Director, Sheila McKenna said "we hope that our musical programme for 2010 will have something for everyone and we will be announcing a further four concerts planned for autumn and winter over the next few months. Details of acts and dates will be publicised on our website at www.darvelmusicfestival.org and in local and regional press".

Sheila added, "on behalf of the Darvel Music Company Committee, I would like to thank East Ayrshire Council, GMB Scotland, Gibson Wight Engineering, Noble Dental Laboratories, Loudoun Medical Company, Gibbs of Galston, Gerald Eve, Chartered Surveyors, and Andely Wines, Darvel for their financial support. It costs a lot of money to put on these concerts and as volunteers we put many hours of work into planning and delivering a successful music festival, so if any other company or business can offer us financial or in-kind assistance we would be most grateful. Our contact e-mail address is info@darvelmusicfestival.org ".

Tickets can be purchased at the festival website via PayPal, at Walker & Connell in Darvel, Valhalla Music in Kilmarnock and Tickets Scotland in Glasgow.

Our new community organisation has been set up in Darvel to promote music culture, music development and 'live' musical performance within Darvel and other communities within East Ayrshire.

The Darvel Music Company held its inaugural meeting on 30 April and will take over the organising and running of the prestigious Darvel Music Festival. The new company which will be run by music loving volunteers will also stage smaller concerts at Darvel Town Hall and plan a series of music 'sessions' at local pubs over the coming months.

New Chairperson Sheila McKenna who is also Director of the music festival is looking forward to the challenges ahead. "Our new committee members all have a passion for music and are experienced in event management, marketing and public relations". "We hope to offer a variety of concerts for Darvel residents and have exciting plans for the future". In addition we are looking to form strong partnerships with innovative arts and cultural groups across East Ayrshire.

The Darvel Music Company will be operated on a not for profit basis and will rely on grants, sponsorship and fund raising events to finance their musical initiatives. If any companies or local businesses are interested in providing financial sponsorship or prizes for raffles in connection with the 2008 weekender or the main festival in May 2009 then please contact Sheila McKenna by emailing info@darvelmusicfestival.org.

Please support all of our artists by purchasing their CD's on-line, from music retailers or through their own websites. CD's will also be available to buy at concerts.