News: New May- Aug 2016 Programme!

The new-look programme has arrived!

After months of planning, organising, designing and proofing, the new look Flavel programme is here! Designed to be a fresh look, easier to read, and more accessible, we are delighted with it. The marketing team worked with a new design company, Wonder, who specialise in Arts marketing, to create something to fit in with our unique position as an Arts Centre in Dartmouth.  With a newspaper feel, the font has changed to make it easier to read, and we have put events into genres rather than date order. There is still a diary page for those that like to see a timeline of events though. The paper is the same grade as newspaper, which encourages customers to pick it up and have a look, and is bang on trend across arts centres nationwide. They are even producing it on the more expensive paper for the same price, for which we are very grateful.

Have a look and let us know what you think!  We would love to hear from you…

Interview: Bookends

Bookends - Dan Haynes and Pete Richards - talk about their music and their show 'Through the Years' ahead of their performance at the Flavel on 7th May. 

Could you tell me briefly about your musical backgrounds?

Dan:My passion for music began when I was 10 years old and my father made me a toy guitar which I religiously pretended to play until I was bought a real one a year later. Learning the songs of my favourite artists I honed my guitar playing skills which were further enhanced by the discovery of the fingerpicking style of Paul Simon. 

Pete: grew up with a musical family (his Mother a music teacher) and often harmonised with his brothers who both sang and played guitar. With his Father being a Simon & Garfunkel fan it was inevitable that Pete eventually discovered their music and captivating harmonies. 

How did you get together to form Bookends?

Pete and myself met in the first year of secondary school and we quickly became close friends. We would regularly share musical tastes and started learning the songs of our favourite artists but it was the music of Simon & Garfunkel which seemed to immediately sound natural and we discovered our voices blended together as well as the famous duo's. 

What drew you to the songs of Simon and Garfunkel?
The music of Simon & Garfunkel naturally lent itself to two voices and a guitar, just how Pete and myself were playing songs. There is no other music quite like Simon & Garfunkel's and the songs are timeless. 

This music is all about wonderful harmonies - is it difficult to sustain that throughout a show?
From the very first Simon & Garfunkel song we learnt we immediately enjoyed replicating the impeccable timing and diction of their harmonies, something which comes naturally to us. We react so quickly to each other on stage it can sometimes feel like we're reading each others minds! 

Your shows are clearly very successful - do you perform other types of music as a duo or as solo artists?
We don't perform any other music as a duo, although in the past we have performed some original music and some of other artists but nothing ever sounded quite as good as when we sang Simon & Garfunkel (often pointed out by our friends and family). I do write and occasionally perform my own songs and I also have an album of original music which I sell after our shows!

To find out more and to book tickets click here: http://theflavel.org.uk/TheFlavel.dll/WhatsOn?Programme=2657134