Darvel Music Festival facts for kids

The Darvel Music Festival is an exciting music event held every year in the town of Darvel, East Ayrshire, Ayrshire, Scotland. It started in 2002 and brings together many different kinds of music.

This festival is a special project led by the community. The Darvel Music Company manages and supports it. The festival lasts for ten days and features seven concerts. About twenty-five international and national performers play at Darvel Town Hall. It usually happens in May. Since 2009, the festival has been held every two years. People from all over the Irvine Valley and even from other countries come to Darvel. This helps tourism and the local economy.

How the Festival Started

The Darvel Music Festival largely came about because of Neil McKenna and his wife, Sheila. Sheila is the festival's director. Neil wanted to create a music festival in Darvel. He explained that in 2002, Darvel was celebrating its 250th anniversary. He helped organize many events for this. He wanted to make Darvel known as a "music town." Darvel was already famous for its lace and for being the birthplace of Alexander Fleming. Neil hoped it could also become Scotland's first music town.

The McKennas have been very involved in the festival. They even pick up artists from the airport and cook for them. Sometimes, bands stay overnight at their home. Over the years, the festival has attracted many well-known bands. It now draws visitors from all over the world. To encourage people to come to Darvel, organizers ask bands not to play in Glasgow. This helps make the Darvel festival a unique stop. People from places like Japan, Canada, Italy, and Germany have visited. This increase in visitors has helped Darvel's local businesses.

What to Expect at the Festival

The main Darvel Music Festival takes place at Darvel Town Hall. This hall can hold about 360 people. The festival usually runs for ten days in May. It features seven concerts with many international and national performers. New acts perform each day. Tickets for a day usually cost between £15 and £20.

The festival is known for bringing in some of the best acts from Scotland and other countries. It has a friendly atmosphere and features many different artists. You can hear a wide range of music styles. These include soul, Latin, funk, country, indie-pop, rock, and blues.

The 'Fringe' Event

Before the main festival, there is a special 'fringe event'. This event showcases new and upcoming bands from the local area. It's a way to start the festival celebration. The 'fringe' event aims to support new talent. It gives these bands a chance to perform with professional sound and lighting. Many bands and solo artists ask to play at this event. The festival committee chooses who gets a spot.

In 2009, unsigned bands from West Scotland performed at the 'fringe' event. Five acts played each night. All the money from ticket sales and merchandise goes to a fund. This fund supports live music and youth development. Tickets for the 'fringe' event are cheaper. They usually cost between £5 and £7. Like the main festival, the 'fringe' event is also held at Darvel Town Hall.

The Darvel Music Company

The Darvel Music Company is a community group. It was started in April 2008 in Darvel. Its goal is to promote music, culture, and live performances. It helps Darvel and other nearby communities in East Ayrshire.

The Darvel Music Company recently took over organizing the Darvel Music Festival. They also plan to hold smaller concerts at Darvel Town Hall. They want to arrange music 'sessions' in local pubs too. The company is run by volunteers. It operates as a non-profit group. This means they don't make money for themselves. They rely on grants, sponsorships, and fundraising events to pay for their programs. Sheila McKenna, who directs the music festival, is also the chairperson of this company.

Awards and Support

The Darvel Music Festival has received special funding more than once. It got money from Event Scotland's Regional Awards Program. This funding helps market the festival. For example, in 2009, it received £10,000. This money paid for design fees, festival banners around town, and national advertising. Paul Bush, a leader at Event Scotland, supports the festival. He likes that it successfully brings visitors to East Ayrshire.

The Darvel Music Committee (DMC) also applies for funding from other groups. These include Awards for All and the East Ayrshire Council. Other companies also provide support. These include Scottish Power Renewables, Atrium Homes, Gibson Wright Engineering, and Klin Homes.