Chesil Rocks will be taking place this year over three days, with a Comedy Night on Thursday 16^th June, an evening of classical music and opera on Friday 17^th June and our main event on Saturday 18^th June...

Raising funds once again for Samaritans of Dorset, the events will again be taking place in Langton Herring, with the Comedy Night taking place in the village hall and the two other events in the grounds of Higher Farmhouse as in previous years.

An amazing line-up has once again been secured and with local comedian Tom Glover compering the Thursday comedy evening (suitable for adults only), doors will open at 7.30pm and there will be a bar. Dorset Wood Fired Pizza is sponsoring this event, and those attending will be served with half a 12” pizza during the interval.

For the Friday evening of classical music and opera, concert pianist Duncan Honeybourne will be performing, as will the Dorset String Quartet and opera singer Stella Brading. Gates open at 6pm and those attending are invited to dress accordingly and will be given a glass of Prosecco on arrival and in the interval, a light supper from sponsors WAGAMAMA.

For Saturday’s event, we are very excited to announce that Tankus the Henge – with somewhat of a cult following – will be headlining, and we are delighted to welcome back our other headlining acts The Leylines, Sarah de Warren and the internationally renowned London Gay Men’s Chorus. Other acts performing include N.U.M.B. (Never Underestimate Musical Belief), Hustle, Stealing Whiskey, the Bridport Big Band, the Dorset Wrecks, Wessex Musical Theatre, the Portesham Ukulele Band and for their first performance, the newly formed local band Venn Collective. With gates opening at 12pm, the event will end at midnight. 

Chesil Rocks is a happy and family friendly event, with brilliant activities for children, including professional face painting, a treasure hunt, nature trail, magicians, a play area and storytelling. 

The food outlets will again be exceptional, seeing the return of the Brace of Butchers, the Dorset Wood Fired Pizza Company and the Bradford Curry House. Expect also delicious cream teas once again from Samaritans. 

There will be an amazing bar selling real ale and cider fresh from the barrel, our Caribbean themed rum shop will be selling cocktails, wines and other drinks and based on the experience of previous years, there will be a very well stocked Prosecco bar!

We are still inviting applications from people of all ages to take part in our Environmental Song Competition, where finalists will be rewarded with £1,000 of cash prizes to share – generously donated by an anonymous donor – together with the prospect of being invited to perform at Chesil Rocks on 18^th June.  We are looking for songs that effectively raise awareness of the current climate emergency. The closing date for submissions has been extended to 1^st June. More information from the Chesil Rocks website: https://www.chesilrocks.com/blog

Around 18 people each day in the UK take their own lives, 3/4 of them men, although there has been a notable increase in female suicides in recent years. Suicide disproportionately affects certain occupations such as those involved in farming, medicine and the construction industry, but also mothers of young children and young people generally. Many people know of someone who has been affected by suicide, and of the devastation and heartbreak left behind. Samaritans receive around 5 million calls for help each year – most on their national free phone number 116 123 – but receive very little government funding and they get none in Dorset.  This is why we support the Dorset branch of Samaritans – based in Weymouth and staffed entirely by volunteers – and are very proud to have become their biggest fundraiser in the county. Having raised around £70,000 for the branch since 2012, this has enabled them to focus less on fundraising and more on what they do best.

We are hugely grateful to our sponsors, in particular to RiskSTOP Group Ltd, 3SC Scaffolding, Symonds and Sampson, WAGAMAMA, Dorset Wood Fired Pizza, farmer Robert Mayo and our anonymous sponsor.  We are currently looking for donations of raffle and tombola prizes.  Those able to assist are asked to contact organisers at chesilrocks@gmail.com

Chesil Rocks has sold out in previous years, so it is recommended that people purchase their tickets in advance through the website: http://www.chesilrocks.com