The Dandelion Daily

At St Mary's Church on Totnes High Street, SONIC RITUAL: All Hallows brought people together inside the warm, candlelit building for an evening of live music where listeners were free to sit, lie down or dance. Those attending valued the gentle opening, the powerful sound and the freedom to move naturally in such a historic setting, leaving many feeling uplifted and calm.

A few practical suggestions came out of the evening. Some listeners felt the performance ran on too long, found parts of the percussion erratic, or felt the ticket price was steep for what was billed as a ritual. Others asked for extra cushions and blankets for comfort, and suggested asking the audience to put away mobile phones so photography would not distract from the playing.

Local communities have plenty to look forward to as autumn turns to winter. High above Buckfastleigh, seventy singers from the Brown Bread Choir are gathering in an old ruin for BABY, a folk opera featuring old songs, a wedding, a funeral, an apple-smashing ritual, and a giant marrow. Down in the town, the Moor Imagination Centre on Chapel Street hosts the HALLOWEEN FAMILY GATHER, welcoming people of all ages for stories, a haunted disco, games, food, and fancy dress. Looking further ahead, music lovers can head to St Mary's Church on Totnes High Street, where Martha Tilston and Dartsong Chorus will perform an evening of song with Christmas cheer, raising money for a local charity.