It was all about the beat at the Vale da Telha Music Festival.

It was a day when the estimated 350 revellers;

BEAT the weather as forecasts of thunderstorms failed to dampen their spirits;

BEAT the attendance record for the annual festival hosted by Amovate and backed by local businesses and the Aljezur Camara; and;

Danced to the BEAT of rock ‘n’ roll doo-wop band The Teds until the wee small hours.

Diamond & Pearl got the whole thing off to a rousing start with their fabulous music and singing, the crowd gradually building up as night began to fall.

The three bars were doing great business and the audience also made good use of the two food concessions belonging to Nick and Kim from the Pastelaria do Parque, and the Piranha, whose cocktail bar was also a big attraction.

Then, headline act The Teds took over centre stage—a “stage” comprising the long flatbed trailer of a lorry, generously contributed by Lagoa Building Supplies.

After sorting out a few problems with sound volume, the five-piece band created a fantastic atmosphere with their rock ‘n’ roll

doo-wop style that had people dancing and jiving until well past midnight.

Amovate’s committee members, who had worked hard for the previous two days setting up the location—aided by workers from Aljezur Camara who backed the event—felt well justified for all their efforts as the crowd thoroughly enjoyed the night’s proceedings.

Steve Baker, President of Amovate’s Fiscal Council, did a fantastic job setting up all the electrics and display screen that brightened up the area and helped create a wonderful ambience for a very successful night.

But, as always, there was a serious note to the evening.

The Vale da Telha Music Festival backs Amovate’s charity fund which last year helped us buy NINE wheelchairs for Portimao Hospital.

Proceeds this year will go towards the Madrugada charity which supports people affected by life-threatening illnesses.

Residents all across Vale da Telha and the surrounding districts have been rallying around with a series of events to raise funds which are being funnelled towards the purchase of a Ripple Bed to ease the suffering of long-term bedridden patients.

Jeanette Cumberworth, who lost her husband Tony, explained: “I had first-hand experience of the comfort and care provided by Madrugada, even though unfortunately for my family we only discovered them a little late.

“I wanted to do this to help Madrugada get better and bigger to reach out to more families who need this kind of support, and also to make more people aware of the wonderful care that they give so willingly.

“They really do help people and their families in the Algarve to cope with serious illness. The community here has rallied around in such a wonderful way to help me thank Madrugada in this manner.”

Now the fund-raising effort moves to the Pastelaria do Parque.

On Thursday at 8pm they will be staging a Music Quiz, which costs €1.50 per person, maximum 6 per team.

And this coming Saturday the Summer Fair Committee will be hosting ‘Festa de Verão’ at the Pastelaria from 2pm in aid of Madrugada, with Arts and Crafts stalls, Novelty Games, Prize Raffle, music and more, as organisers hope the final total raised will far exceed the €800 required to purchase one Ripple Bed.

***Amovate would like to thank sponsors the Pastelaria do Parque, the Piranha Bar, Lagoa Building Supplies, the www.valedatelha.eu website and Aljezur Camara for their wonderful and extremely valuable support in helping to make the Music Festival the success it was.

Grateful thanks to them, and we hope you continue to support these sponsors and repay their backing for the community.

Please see below for more photos: