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If the Dartford Festival can be relied upon for one thing it’s that there will always be something for everyone. For years now, the festival has been consistently offering quality entertainment. You could say it was very good value for money - if it wasn’t for the fact that it is absolutely free.

This year is no exception. The programme for  2008’s festival provides a mix of well known names and cover acts of other well known names while continuing to promote the profile of local up and coming talent, including dancing from Len Goodman’s dance school and a local Irish Dancing group. From the music of the Beach Boys to that of the Killers, there was always going to be something there to tickle your fancy.

Saturday’s offering provides a broad spectrum of cover bands. Amy Winehouse, Bob Marley, The Killers and The Beach Boys (or the “Beached Boys” as this group would prefer to be known): all on fine form.

Covered Up

While some try to keep in character (the Amy Winehouse tribute proclaiming “I’ve been a good girl lately - well, not that good: I’ve got my reputation to think of”) others, such as the Bob Marley cover act prefer simply to lead the crowd in a walk down Reggae Memory Lane. Classics like “Buffalo Soldier”, “One Love” and “Jamming”. People sing along; others dance. Even the sun comes out. Today is going to be a good day.

These young steel drummers took part too

The sunny feeling continues with the help of the Beached Boys. The band wear the staple blue and white striped shirts that make them look like deck chairs come to life. They were here for the festival last year and this year’s performance is just as good. Even when the sun hides behind a cloud it doesn’t matter. As long as we have “Surfing USA”, “Get Around” and “Wouldn’t it be Nice” to sing along to, it will always be summer.

Becoming More Like……

A lesser known name to appear at the Dartford Festival (though no doubt a genuine article this time), is Alfie Cicale. His is a cheery sounding brand of misery (“Jackie’s Dead” features the line: “There’ no need to be alive when you’re 25”) which can be filled under “New Glam”.

With a voice to match Liam Gallagher and a face to match a slightly more youthful Alice Cooper, this man has rock legend in waiting written all over him.

Local Talent

The band that causes the most excitement among the under 20s is a local act called The Soundcaster. The band feature a guitarist with a khaki guitar (you never know when you might need to play the introduction to “Smoke on the Water” while under camouflage).

They play a mix of covers and original material. But it is clear what the band are most excited about. Renditions of “Chelsea Dagger” by the Fratellis and “When the Sun Goes Down” by the Arctic Monkeys are sandwiched between their own songs: “Basically You”, “The Soundcasters” and “My Ex-Girlfriend’s Best Mate”.

Back on Stage

The more eagle-eyed among this year’s festival go-ers might just recognise the lead singer from last year. Tom James performed on this very stage back then with an acoustic set  as a solo artist. Now that he has acquired a band behind him, the sound is more upbeat and confident.

Their music brings traditional Rock ’n’ Roll kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century, aided and abetted by a honky-tonk piano and harmonies so close that Keira Knightley would have difficulty fitting between them.

The Man From Down Under

Of course, the reason that many people are here is Jason Donovan. Pop stars from the past (and I’m think mainly of Chesney Hawkes her) have something of a tendency to refuse to play their old favourites (and I’m thinking here mainly of “I am the One and Only”) in favour of promoting their new material.

I for one would be very disappointed if Mr Donovan were to ditch “Two Many Broken Hearts” in favour of some experimental German Hip Hop he had been working on during the intervening years.

Fortunately, we are spared such musical diversions in favour of not one but two “Too Many Broken Hearts”, each book ending the Donovan experience. The first version is an acoustic one performed with two guitars.

Too Many Too Many Broken Hearts?

It’s unrecognisable at first - the speed taken right down, but once it gets going, there’s a flicker of recognition in the crowd and everyone starts singing along.  The song then segues straight into “Sealed With  a Kiss” which has something of a dusky, dusty Spaghetti Western feel to it.

After another acoustic performance, this time of “Any Dream Will Do”, it’s time to dump the guitar and sing along to backing tracks of other hits. As they songs continue we all start to realise exactly how old we really are. Was it really 20 years ago that I first heard all this stuff?

“I Don’t Want to Talk About It”

In a moment between songs, Donovan dwells on this himself. He considers himself very lucky to have played such a definitive part in the formative years of so many people. He also talks about his murky past and how doesn’t want to talk about it, only it wasn’t so good and now he’s in a better place - but he doesn’t want to talk about it. You get the idea…….

A couple of cover versions later (an inexplicable a cappella rendition of the Home and Away theme tune and Take That’s “Back for Good” - inspired by a chance meeting with Jason Orange in a petrol station) and we’re onto the grand finale: the full Europop-tastic version of “Two Many Broken Hearts”.

A bit of a Ding-Dong

It’s been a fantastic day at the Dartford Festival, not just on the main stage, but also around the ground with steel bands and even a set of miniature church bells for budding campanologists to try their hands at.

There’s still another day to go, climaxing with the triumphant return of Chas and Dave. But today is enough for  this reporter. Time to go home, put the notepad away and recover from with a nice old cup of tea.

Here’s to a fantastic festival this time next year.