Warm harmony | Torbay's Music Legacy - 5 Decades of Sound

Supergroups and local legends of the past, present and future find harmony in John Tomkins’ feature music doc Torbay’s Music Legacy – 5 Decades of Sound.

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ABBA are so big they are now hologrammed onstage. Back when their rocket was fresh in its ascent, their first gig after winning Eurovision was live in Torbay. It’s just one of the stopping points on the weave that sees the Bay not only as a top venue but as a vibrant, fertile and nourishing environment for homegrown and grassroots music.

Fittingly, rock ‘n’ roll impresario Lionel Digby ushers in the documentary. Torbay’s Music Legacy – 5 Decades of Sound feels very much a Part Two to director John Tomkins’ doc Music Scene Memories at Torquay Town Hall, which put Lionel front and centre. Now he is the pivot to springboard into the future.

Taking on 50 years of music is an epic endeavour, especially as the film was conceived as three shorts shot over five days. It’s a testament to the interest and momentum that the process inspired through director John’s tender tenacity. And he doesn’t shy away from the scope of covering all the styles, genres, moods, ambiances, fans, and musicians who have peppered, salted and spiced up the various scenes.

Voices

Hullo...

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There are tunes, videos, stills, but most of all voices. John says he spoke to over 100 people in the making of the film. Those voices include fans, organisers and musicians, each adding their own timbre.

It unearths stories, relationships and memories: local talent that supported the summer season, the pubs that programme live music every night, the open mics and venues that support first gigs and growing friendships.

Warmth and care

Music is about family, says John, who lost his mum during the filming. He was determined that his experience wasn’t going to impact on the film. Maybe it didn’t, but the doc embraces you with warmth, along with care. The health and emotional wellbeing of getting together to perform or listen to music is made clear. Along with the artistic and professional expression that has thrived, as well as economic benefits for the towns and region.

Creative characters

There have been mutterings of a third music film to pursue those performers some more, but so far this has been an object lesson in grassroots filmmaking. John’s determination to capture the knowledge, experience and characters that have made the fabric of the Bay’s creative scene – those who shaped their contemporary to leave a lasting legacy – has been a live process of connecting. It has injected urgency into the future, and restored some confidence in the region’s own standing.

It’s an active reflex of heritage, which not only recollects and celebrates but offers a cultural muscle memory to now.

Unifying

We were going to wax about threading communities together, but what better working metaphor for Torbay’s Music Legacy – 5 Decades of Sound than a musical clef. You know, the ubiquitous squiggle that seems so obvious, so simple, so inspired, and yet ties all those dots together.

Torbay’s Music Legacy – 5 Decades of Sound will be screened in Torbay and Devon.