MEMORIES 2025
SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2025
DEKE MCGEE BAND
Mark ‘Deke’ McGee started playing Saxophone at the age of thirteen, after hearing Bill Doggetts 'Honky Tonk' played by the legendary Clifford Scott. He began studying the sound and the stylings of all the great Swing and Rhythm n’ Blues horn men of that classic era.
As a Sideman Deke has performed all over the world at Jazz and Blues Festivals in Montreal,London, Dublin,Paris and numerous other places. This has seen him recording, supporting and sharing the stage with names such as Buddy Guy, Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, Hamish Stuart, Zoot Money, The Fratellis,The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, and many more.
Deke and his fantastic band have a style all their own, fully exemplified by an outstanding performance at Darvel Hall last night (Saturday 15 February 2025).
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MCCOMMITMENTS
The McCommitments ARE indeed The Scottish Saviours of Soul!
One of the countries best tribute acts they are a superb 11 piece soul band who celebrated the music from the iconic movie soundtrack The Commitments. With a wonderful horn section, amazing backing singers, fantastic musicians and a powerhouse of a lead vocalist at Darvel Town Hall. The McCommitments brought ‘real SOUL’ to an appreciative audience running through a great set of classics from the likes of Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Al Green and many more 1960’s legends?
Thanks go all the acts for appearing at Darvel; our Sound and Lighting Crew (Studio 5), Kevin Kerr Photography, East Ayrshire Leisure Trust, the amazing Darvel Music Company volunteers and last but not least all the Music fans who supported us.
This concert was organised by the Darvel Music Company on behalf of DART (Darvel Area Regeneration Team).
DART would like to thank ARIA (Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition Fund), Newmilns Regeneration Association and Galston Community Development Trust for assisting with finance for this concert.
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ACCREDITATION ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF KEVIN KERR PHOTOGRAPHY
GENESIS VISIBLE TOUCH
Genesis Visible Touch are currently performing their LONG and SHORTS playlist throughout the U.K., appealing to fans of 80’s pop, rock and classic prog. Darvel was one of two Scottish dates of their tour.
Genesis Visible Touch are the ultimate Phil Collins era Genesis show.
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THE EVES
Scottish pop duo ‘The Eves’ are Marissa Keltie and Caroline Gilmour, one of the UK’s most promising emerging pop acts in recent years with their stand-out brand of uplifting, melodic pop. They have a received a wide range of plaudits across the music world and are definitely going places in the music industry.
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SKERRYVORE
SKERRYVORE are one of Scotlands National Treasures. They have appeared at Darvel many times, often kicking off their winter tour on St Andrews weekend at the town hall. Performing across the globe this dynamic and exciting band have gained thousands of fans and high praise and many accolades.
The band will be celebrating 20 years with a landmark concert on 31 May at Floors Castle in Kelso. Skerryvore have performed 12 times at Darvel. Legends!!!
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Thanks to everyone who came along to our shows and a special thanks to Kevin Kerr and Nathan B for the wonderful pics.
2023 Memories
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We would like to continue dedicating all our Darvel Music Concerts with much love and affection in memory of Billy McGuffie and Sandy Mair, dear friends who always supported us. Sadly missed but forever with us in spirit.
We have been on an incredible journey over the past twenty one years since 2002 when the first ever Darvel Music Festival took place as part of the town’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Since then the Festival has continued to grow from strength to strength and has attracted over four hundred regional, national and international artistes. Many of these acts performed Scotland or UK only gigs at Darvel which resulted in an influx of music fans from across Britain, Europe, the USA and even Japan. This has been significant in terms of increasing the prestige of the Festival, gaining plaudits from the National media and recognition across the Scottish music scene. More importantly the Festival has played its part in regenerating our wonderful town by boosting the local economy.
If you'd like to help us to put on great shows in the future, please consider making a donation to assist us.
Darvel Donations
If you'd like to help us to put on great shows in the future, please consider making a donation to assist us.
Darvel Class Acts
Rolling back the years!
Although we look forward to our new musical beginnings it is good to look back with satisfaction over the past 24 years of the Darvel Music Festival. Launched in 2002 by our friend and fellow music lover Lynn Brown, the festival eventually featured over 400 acts and most musical genres, including;
Paul Carrack, Eric Bibb, Love and Money, Hue and Cry, Richmond Fontaine, Hamish Stuart, Glenn Tilbrook, Larry Carlton, Big Dish, The Silencers, Martin Taylor, The La Fontaines, Justin Currie, James Grant, Nigel Clark, Phil Cunningham, Aly Bain, Capercaillie, Skerryvore, Ruby Turner, Maggie Bell, Eddi Reader, JJ Gilmour, Roddy Hart, Karine Polwart, Gary Louris, Mark Olsen, Larry McCray Band, The Phantom Band, Koshka, Hamilton Loomis, Endrick Brothers, Iain Morrison, King King, The Blues Band, Steve Ferrone, Molly Duncan, Kokomo, Peatbog Faeries, The Mull Historical Society, The Coal Porters and many more….
Photo Accreditations: Nathan B Photography, Jim Stevenson Photography, Stuart Robertson, Jay Mansfield, Kevin Kerr and Gordon Ingle
