A music festival with meaning

A new Music Festival is coming to South Norfolk this summer – a partnership between The Black Dog Music Project and Clinks Care Farm. Here, those involved explain more

A new music festival is coming to South Norfolk this summer, featuring 10 bands from The Black Dog Music Project, a non profit user led charity which enables people in and around Norfolk who experience mental health challenges to discover or rediscover a passion for music. Taking place on Sunday August 3, this will be the first such festival at Clinks Care Farm, a 143-acre Norfolk County Farm in Toft Monks near Beccles.

Kerri Madders, Chair of The Black Dog Music Project explains more about the charity: “The group accommodates beginners, intermediate and advanced musicians in their chosen instrument(s). The members go on to form bands and perform regularly. We promote recovery and build confidence through the therapeutic benefits of using music as a tool. We aim to give every member of the group a real chance of changing their lives through positive social interaction with fellow group members as well as in the community and learning new skills.”

There will be 10 bands performing in all. Freyja Thomas, a performer in The Vampires, says: “I’ve been involved with Black Dog for just over a year now and it has had a huge impact on my life. I am agoraphobic, have several mental health challenges as well as some physical restrictions, but being involved with black dog gives me somewhere other than my own four walls that feels safe and accepting and it has helped to grow my confidence and give me a sense of purpose. I am looking forward to the challenge of being a part of putting this event together with everyone and bringing people together.”

Iris Van Zon, Director of Clinks Care Farm, explains what happens at the Farm: “People participate in various tasks on the farm from animal husbandry to market gardening. The natural and social environment has a positive effect on mental and physical health. It provides a meaningful activity and opportunity to learn new skills. People who attend Clinks care farm find their confidence and self-esteem increases. Many people have gone back to employment or college or engage actively in their local community as a result of coming to Clinks Care Farm. We are delighted to work in partnership with Black Dog Music. Their work is inspiring and fits in well with our ethos of focusing on people’s abilities and talents, instead of disability and ill-health. Clinks Care Farm has organised an annual ceilidh and Blues on the farm. It is a great place to come an enjoy live music.”

Also on the committee is David Robertson, who started investigating whether a festival partnership between The Black Dog Music Project and Clinks Care Farm could be a possibility, a few months ago.

David says: “I am looking forward to the day itself. Wondering what the weather shall be like, and seeing some people mingle who often have less mingling to do.”

Farmyard Music Festival takes place on Sunday August 3 at Clinks Care Farm, Church Road Toft Monks NR34 0ET, from 3-9pm. Visit Eventbrite. This is a family friendly event, with food and drink vendors, a bar, parking and closer drop-off disable access. Tickets £5 in advance/£7 on the gate (accompanied children under 12 go free). Also, visit Clinks Care Farm and The Black Dog Music Project.

Featured images of The Black Dog Music Project, House Band and The Vampires – supplied