Our 10th Chesil Rocks music and arts festival took place over three days this year, starting with a Comedy Night in our marquee on Thursday 15th June. This sold out event was compered once again by an excellently on-form Tom Glover and featured comedians Burt Williamson, Dan Evans and Tom Deacon. Sponsored by Dorset Wood Fired Pizza, all guests received a complimentary pizza during the interval.
On the Friday evening, our Prelude of Classical Music and Opera took place, where guests – many of whom had dressed up for the occasion - were greeted with a glass of Prosecco on arrival and able to wander around the beautiful grounds of Higher Farmhouse before moving to our marquee and enjoying performances from the Dorset String Quartet and concert pianist Duncan Honeybourne. During the interval, everyone was treated to delicious Asian light supper and then some wonderful opera and lighter pieces from internationally renowned tenor Tom Hudson, to complete a most magical evening.
On the Saturday, the main Chesil Rocks event took place and featured acoustic rock from Melcoda; the Portesham Ukulele Band; a variety of music from the Venn Collective; the Bridport Big Band; hip-hop from 2 Dwellers; party music from Hustle; Dylan covers from the Million Dollar Bash; EDM songstress Sarah de Warren; soul from Jess Upton and the Guilty Pleasures; fiddle driven festival favourites Tom Parker and the False Alarms and ending with the Great Gig in the Sky performing the whole of the iconic Dark Side of the Moon album - plus a few other favourites from the legendary Pink Floyd.
Following our events this year, we are delighted to be able to give the Dorset branch of Samaritans £18,000. This represents nearly half of their annual budget and will enable them to focus less on fundraising and more on what they do best. We would like to convey our most sincere thanks to our sponsors - and in particular to RiskStop Group Ltd, Symonds & Sampson, 3SC Scaffolding, Robert Mayo and one sponsor who wishes to remain anonymous – although we know who you are!
We would also like to thank our multitude of volunteers and helpers – totalling nearly 100 people this year - singling out John Lewis, Martin Pearson, Steve and Sarah Killingbeck, the Portesham Volunteers, Max Honcharenko and Max Neilson-Howes - whose dedication and commitment were unparalleled, and to our amazing photographers Neil Crick and Serghei and Nataliia Honcharenko.
The Chesil Rocks 2023 video (courtesy of Nataliia Honcharenko): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXLIx4_AYQg&t=48s&pp=ygURY2hlc2lsIHJvY2tzIDIwMjM%3D
Photos taken at Chesil Rocks in 2023 - courtesy of Neil Crick and Nataliia Honcharenko – will shortly be available in our GALLERY
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