Community Events with Selena Mara
Singing and dancing together through the turning year
About Selena Mara, Celtic Indie Folk Singer
I make music in a way that gets people involved. Through the year I lead the singing and dancing at various free community celebrations around Dartington and Totnes, including Wassails, Maypole dances,
World Water Days and more.
My choruses and chants are made for joining in, with lyrics that are uplifting and meaningful. I deliberately get people singing along whenever possible so it becomes a joyful community experience.
Wassail Gatherings at Huxhams Cross Community Orchard
Every winter our community orchard in Dartington holds a Wassail, an old custom of singing to the apple trees to bless the coming harvest.
I lead the singing.
We start with the traditional wassail songs, then I lead my own Imbolc song and everyone sings it with me. Song sheets go round and we make a good racket to wake the trees up.
It's free, everyone's welcome, and the orchard fills up with local people of all ages.
Wassail 2025: Everyone singing together around the apple trees
Singing my Imbolc song for the gathering around the fire
Leading the singing at the Wassail with my accordion
A joyful participatory gathering of locals and orchard members
"Selena's singing and songs touch the
earthy, primal parts of my being,
connecting me back to the earth through
roots deep in the tradition of our folk
heritage. Music for people and planet
collectively co-creating.”
Andrea Goring
Activist and community builder
We lived in circle
under the stars...
We lived in circle around the fire under the
stars, sleeping in canvas shelters. By day
and by night we took different, exciting,
creative actions to protect the land.
We went 'bulldozer- diving', stopping the
destructive machinery by swarming all over
it or pouring sugar in the petrol tanks. We
snaked across the down under the
moonlight, under a homemade,
multicoloured 'Chinese dragon.' We erected
boundary defences like tripods and
ramparts.
And in later months we had huge marches
with hundreds of campaigners and occupied
construction sites.
"Regaining lost chances, discovering our powers, reclaiming the streets and the land that is ours - From my song 'The Spirit Survived'
"Selena's singing and songs touch the earthy, primal parts of my being,
connecting me back to the earth through roots deep in the tradition of our
folk heritage. Music for people and planet collectively co-creating.”
Andrea Goring
Activist and community builder
May Celebrations
Every May at our community orchard in Dartington we hold a May Day / Beltane celebration, the traditional beginning of Summer.
We have a whole afternoon of music, dancing and feasting. I lead the maypole dancing. You don't need to know the steps, everyone picks it up as they go, and the ribbons get plaited beautifully down the pole by the dancing. It's a gorgeous community achievement and lovely to watch.
I sing my original Beltane song, to share the fuller meaning and customs of this special time of year.
It's a free event organised by the orchard members and lots of local people attend every year.
"Beautiful songs to nourish the soul....pure magic ✨"
Sonia Beithe
Singer-songwriter
Leading my water song with Paula Thomas
World Water Day Celebrations
On World Water Day we come together to honour and bless our local rivers and the waters of the world.
Down at the river Dart in Totnes we sing to the water. I often lead the songs, including my own song Sacred Waters, and people join in with the chorus.
Then we float flowers on the river and send our prayers with them.
This year (2026) it was indoors instead, a whole weekend of music, talks and offerings at the Civic Hall in Totnes, raising money for local charity Friends of the River Dart.
We Are Water 2026: Singing for a fundraiser for the River Dart at Totnes Civic Hall
Singing the chorus of my Sacred Waters song (with the group, not on camera)
Group singing by the river Dart
Flowers and prayers being sent out onto the river
Singing Together at Gigs and Gatherings
Wherever I sing, I get people joining in. I play, perform and lead singing in many places: at the community roundhouse in Pondfields, Dartington; at open mic nights; at the Totnes Wheel of the Year ceremonies. Also at festivals, camps, environmental action campaigns and more.
My choruses and chants are made for everyone to sing, so I teach people the words and tune and get them singing along as I perform. People love it.
"Beautiful songs to nourish the soul....pure magic ✨"
Sonia Beithe
Singer-songwriter
From Travelling to Settling...
Between us, we played a whole array of musical instruments... Penny whistles, recorders, mandolins, mandolas, guitars, drums. Gradually we shifted to more complex instruments like bagpipes, hurdy- gurdys, accordions and bombards.
A lot of our music was recorded on the Tribal Voices tapes.
We brought a lot of people together in joyful French and Breton Dance events.
But eventually, the tribe broke up in the year 2000. Then I moved to Totnes in Devon with my partner Josh.
In 2005, we moved to Landmatters Permaculture Project in South Devon, a low impact community which we founded with my partner and one year old daughter, and about 15 others.
'Come and nourish the earth, Come and nourish your heart now, Even these dark times, Cannot keep us apart now? - From my cong' Tune In To Your Power".
"Beautiful songs to nourish the soul....pure magic ✨"
Sonia Beithe
Singer-songwriter
From Travelling to Settling...
Between us, we played a whole array of musical instruments... Penny whistles, recorders, mandolins, mandolas, guitars, drums. Gradually we shifted to more complex instruments like bagpipes, hurdy- gurdys, accordions and bombards.
A lot of our music was recorded on the Tribal Voices tapes.
We brought a lot of people together in joyful French and Breton Dance events.
But eventually, the tribe broke up in the year 2000. Then I moved to Totnes in Devon with my partner Josh.
In 2005, we moved to Landmatters Permaculture Project in South Devon, a low impact community which we founded with my partner and one year old daughter, and about 15 others.
'Come and nourish the earth, Come and nourish your heart now, Even these dark times, Cannot keep us apart now? - From my cong' Tune In To Your Power".
Don't Doubt Yourself at the Barrel House Totnes - with audience singing along. 2024.
A full house at the Barrel House in Totnes. 2023.
Singing traditional Breton songs for the dancers at a Bal Folk night in Devon. Nov 2024
Time of Bounty - Autumn Equinox song at the Barrel House September 2026
A fireside night of performance and participatory singing in the roundhouse at Pondfields. March 2026.
Bring Singing To Your Event
Seasonal celebrations, ceremonies, festivals and community events.
I'll get your whole gathering singing together with joy and purpose. Get in touch to book me.
CONNECT WITH SELENA
We welcome you to get in touch with us for any reason - to book Selena for a gig, event or festival, to licence our music, or to find out more about what we offer.
07904-218461