Early Bird Tickets All Gone!!

ToneFest Early Bird Tickets may be Unbeatable....but they're all gone!

Right! I'm back after my little ToneFest organising break :-), although, I must admit to getting involved with a few ToneFest bits and pieces when I should have been working and getting ready for Christmas!

So, the Early Bird Ticket Offer has ended and I am chuffed that far more tickets have been sold than planned which is a always a good thing. It would seem that the festival has gained some strong interest from much further afield than ever before. In fact, far more tickets have been sold to people outside of Dorset than live in Dorset! MAD!! Festival sites and Forums have been in contact to show their wonderful support and their really seems to be a need for 'small' grassroots, non corporate events like ToneFest. So, on we go, keener than ever. Those that are reading this, that have shouted from the hill tops about the Festival and have asked friends to buy early.... I am honestly so so so grateful. Early support means so much and really helps us plan the best event possible. For those that keep meaning to sort their tickets, please do as I really can't get you a ticket once they've all gone as I'm not risking a licence for anyone.

So more news to follow and here's to a good one!

Big T x

Sloe Jam booked for the Free Peace Suite!

Like warm honey dripping through a really classy malt, Sloe Jam's laid-back acoustic sound is for grown-ups who have lived a little. Imagine heart-wrenching Clapton-esque guitar overlaid with sweet and bluesy passion-clad vocals, singing your life story back to you. Come and see Sloe Jam on the Stoned on Love stage in the Free Peace Suite and be mellowed to within an inch of your soul.

Sloe Jam are from Nunney in Somerset and gig extensively across the South West and London, zigzagging their way across musical genres and playing their songs the way they go - and fiddling with other people’s occasionally, too.

More to follow......

Big Tx

Sunday Is A Day Of Rest.... I Think Not!!

My Dad always said that Sunday is a day of rest, a time to get ready for the week ahead and recharge the old batteries, well no disrespect me old mate but the Sunday at ToneFest has just got a whole lot louder! I am pleased to confirm the Fantabulous LADY WINWOOD's MAGGOT will be playing an hour of Wonderful Music at about 4pm! Now that's how ALL Sunday afternoon's should be spent, you'll certainly be ready for whatever the world throws at you the week after that!

For those that don't know the Maggots, check them out on MySpace here: www.myspace.com/ladywinwoodsmaggot2

More to follow....

Big Tx

Jake Morley - Freddie Laid The Smackdown

Oh Yay, Oh Yay, Oh Yay!

A festival in Dorset would not be the same without my mate Chris "The Wimborne Town Crier" Brown...FACT! So for the first time, Chris will be helping compare the event with me and others and will also be changing hats from time to time and dropping some wonderful old Trojan classics in the "ToneFest Arms" under the guise of the One & Only "DJ Dapper Dan", hopefully joined by the right hand man of all right hand men... "The Macassa Man".

I'm excited about them coming along and know they'll add something wonderful to our "BIG" little gathering!

More to follow!

17 days left to get your Early Bird Tickets and spread the cost between 2-5 months. SPREAD THE WORD!

Big Tx

From Little Acorns Oak Trees Grow!

"Let me tell you a story!" :-)

Once upon a time when I was 39, I had an idea that grew and grew and grew and before I knew it, my idea of an afternoon and evening camping with a small group of friends turned into a 2 day festival. Many of my 'friends' are guilty of helping this idea grow, with lots of "you could do this" or "what about if you" and lots of "I can get you some x,y,z".

One friend, became an online talent scout and wrote to me one day with details of a young lad from London he had found on YouTube. I checked it out and thought it was clever and a bit different and contacted him, asking if he would travel down and play. He agreed.

Mr Jake Morley turned up on the Friday and joined in with the festivities and then played a fab set on the Saturday, with his guitar flat on his lap and a loop station helping his sound, he bought a friend called Randall Stevens AKA Tom McQ, who also blew everyone away with his fresh Dylanesq sound and brilliant lyrics. After the festival, they made a big point of saying how much fun they had had and that they would love to come back again and play if I ran another festival :-)

So they returned last year and wow how Jake had grown musically. He was amazing.

I was fortunate enough to help Jake put a night on at Mr Kyps last month with his new band, consisting of Harry Mead on percussion (Colour of Sound/Jason Donovan) ;-) and John Parker (1/2 of Nizlopi). Again Jake took the roof off and showed again that he just isn't in the mood to slow down or stop getting better and better. I'm really looking forward to seeing them play the Stoned on Love stage in the Free Peace Suite Tent next year.

You can also catch Jake and Band again (with the Brilliant Kevin Pollard on Keyboards this time!) at Mr Kyps in Jan/Feb, when Jake tours the UK to release his fantastic debut album, Many Fish to Fry.

Tom McQ also returns and brings his amazing successful "Stoned on Love" Festival from Camden to ToneFest. (More about that in an earlier Blog).

Anyway, JAKE AND BAND WILL HEADLINE THE STONED ON LOVE STAGE ON SATURDAY!!!!!

More to follow.......

Big Tx

P.S. My Friend Richard who discovered Jake has never seen him! He works tirelessly with Disabled Children, giving them opportunities to take part in outdoor pursuits and has been busy the last two year events. Fingers crossed, he'll be there in July!

The Sound of Music!

Am super chuffed to announce that the BRILLIANTLY Fantabulous PULSE SOUND ENGINEERS will be monitoring the wonderful sounds made by the bands and acts entertaining you at ToneFest. Chris 'Percy' Young and his Team provided the PA etc at last year's festival and did a magic job of providing top quality sound at just the right levels. What I love about them is they are so professional and work really well with the artists and to top it all they're nice guys as well :-)

However, they work too hard and if you see them with an empty glass or looking a bit thinner than early, please refill their glasses and plates!

More to follow.....

Big Tx