What we do

We are a Samba band based here in Pembroke Dock. We have around 25 active members of all ages with the youngest being 10 and the oldest over 65, so our rehearsals provide a rare opportunity for a truly inter-generational experience. We meet in Pembroke Dock, but are from all over the UK with different backgrounds and range from accomplished musicians to those with no previous musical experience.

To date we have concentrated on mastering pieces that combine the traditional samba sound with reggae, raga and funk influences. In performance variety and excitement is created through the development of breaks of varying complexity along with call and response patterns.

We are continually  developing new pieces and performance techniques to expand our range for an increasingly crowded gigs list which includes processions and parades at community events around the county as well as workshops and performances at larger events in the county calendar such as Pembrokeshire Fishweek.

How to contact us

We are always happy to welcome new members if you fancy learning a new skill or perhaps you want to book us for an event. Either way, please contact us on 07870 938316 or just drop in at one of our weekly rehearsals on Thursdays between 6.30 and 8.30pm at St Teilo’s Church Hall, Pembroke Dock.

History

Samba Doc emerged out of a series of samba workshops that took place in Pembroke Dock throughout the autumn of 2008. The workshops were supported through the communities first music trust fund and music on the move and were led by Fliss Fleck a samba teacher based in West Wales. The purchase of a starter kit of samba instruments was made possible through a small grant from the Communities First Trust Fund.

The series ran for eight consecutive weeks and was a great success with an average of around ten people attending each week. The project culminated in an outdoor public performance at the head of the annual Pembroke Dock Midwinter lantern parade. The band got drenched, but the buzz and excitement of this first public performance was not easy to forget and Samba Doc was well and truly on its way.