page_title: The Dolmen
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: The Dolmen / History
caption_attribution_description: English: The Dolmen at the Elf Fantasy Fair in Haarzuilens in 2011
context_page_description: The Dolmen are an English, Weymouth, Dorset-based, Celtic rock/folk rock band that incorporate elements of Celtic, folk, pagan-themed, and historically based musical works into their largely original repertoire. Current group members are singer and songwriter founder/member Taloch Jameson, guitarist/vocalist/lyricist Josh Elliott, bassist and vocalist Kayleigh Marchant, drummer Chris Jones; flautist Anja Novotny, and fiddle/violin player Sebastiaan Hidding.
  Essential non-musician members of the band are lyric contributor and collaborator, Mark Vine; sound engineer Kirsty Kelly, and Marloes Visser, general manager.
  The majority of the band's songs and music are composed and produced by multi-instrumentalist Jameson. Guitarist Josh Elliott and bassist Kayleigh Marchant have collaborated with Jameson on the most recent albums, contributing lyrics, musical composition and production assistance.
context_section_description: The Dolmen began rather informally in or about 1990, with their first public appearance at The Duke of Albany pub in Weymouth, Dorset, where they debuted as a mainly folk music oriented group.  Since that time, they have become well known on the local and surrounding areas music scene, appearing over the years for repeat performances at many major UK music venues and festivals; among them the  Glastonbury Festival in 1995 and 1997, the Farnham Jazz and Guilford Festivals, The Children of Artemis Witchfest,  and The Pagan Federation festivals.  They have also appeared frequently at Stonehenge in support of The Dolmen Grove, a United Paths Pagan organization based in the South of England.
  In 2007, members of The Dolmen were invited special guests at the first New Seven Wonders of the World ceremonies in Lisbon, Portugal, Jameson's original composition having been chosen as the official anthem of that year's "Wonders" contest.
  In 2011, the band debuted the continental European leg of their "Storm Tour" with performances at the Elf Fantasy Fair in Haarzuilens, Netherlands.
  The Dolmen also appeared over the summer of 2011 at the Keltisch Midzomer Festival, Fantastyval Wouwse Plantage, the Sneek Festival; and in September 2011, at the finale of the Highland Games, in Hank, Netherlands.
  Summer 2012 tours for the band included several festival appearances from June through September at the "Mittelalterlich Phantasie Spectaculum" in Germany and also in the Netherlands. 2013 saw the inauguration of the band's "Nuada God of the Sun" tour.
  In August 2014 the band performed at Castlefest in Lisse, Netherlands. In October 2014 they performed at the Gothic & Fantasy Fair in Rijswijk, Netherlands and in December 2014 they performed at the Midwinter Fair in the Archeon in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands.
  In 2019, The Dolmen were named "Best International Live Band", at the Bastaard Fantasy Awards, where they also won "Best Album Of The Year" for their  2018 album, "Wytches and Cunningfolk".  In addition, The Dolmen were named "Best Pagan Band UK" in the 2018 "Pagan Events UK" competition.
caption: The Dolmen at the Elf Fantasy Fair in Haarzuilens, Netherlands (2011)
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