It’s amazing to look back and see how far we’ve come since first meeting in January 2025. It’s hard to believe that a whole year has passed since we attended the Bristol Dovetail December 2024 concert and then launched our own Cardiff group just a month later. Throughout 2025, we’ve been building and refining our repertoire across our Spring, Summer, and Autumn collections – and we’re still creating new pieces every week. There’s truly no stopping the creative flow!
Autumn has been another wonderfully busy term. Our members have taken on a whole range of new instruments, and it’s been fantastic to watch them grow in confidence as they develop new skills. Our percussion section has even begun mastering the drum kit, glockenspiel and xylophone – bravo!
One highlight was our joint concert with a local jazz band in support of Space4U, a centre supporting people seeking sanctuary in Cardiff. Together, we raised £440 to help support the hundreds of asylum seekers and refugees who rely on their services each week.
We’ve also been collaborating with documentary students from the University of the West of England. They’ve been capturing our rehearsals and interviewing our brilliant players to explore what it is about Dovetail – and about music – that sparks joy, builds connection to heritage, and strengthens ties to Cardiff. We can’t wait to see their final 10-minute documentary once the editing is complete.
Another exciting development this Autumn has been our brand-new tech! Thanks to some recent purchases (and a borrowed PA system), we’re now fully equipped with vocal and instrument mics, stands, and a new mixing desk. The difference in sound has been incredible, and the smiles at our first rehearsal with the new setup said it all – very happy Dovetailers indeed!
Looking ahead, we’re excited for our end-of-term concert on 11 December, where we’ll perform our favourite pieces from the year. You’ll hear everything from music created in our very first session to brand-new work written just last week – a real celebration of the creativity and dedication our group has poured into 2025.
As for the future? A one-year celebration of Cardiff Dovetail is definitely on the horizon! Expect music galore, dancing in the aisles, and plenty of delicious food. We’re also exploring the possibility of getting our Cardiff Dovetail songs professionally recorded so we can share them far and wide. Stay tuned – exciting things are coming!
