Singing for Laughs Marlborough 2013

We are now just a few sleeps away from a return to a very special venue and occasion with Singing for Laughs 2013 our third or is it fourth visit? We'll have to think about exactly how many it is, but either way it is indeed a historic gig for the gentlemen as it was the very first we ever did!

From the moment we struck up a nervous version of Magazena we knew that things could only get better . . . . and they have bit by bit.

Anyway, we are very indebted to Vanessa Lafaye and her chums for organizing the event so please come along and support them, and us.   The evening starts at 7:30pm Saturday 2 March 2013/St Peter’s Church, High St, Marlborough, Wilts SN8 1HQ



Other acts include:

Kait and Becs Jazz Duo
Mother’s Jam
Barbarelle
Marlborough Community Choir

Tickets £7.50/children under 12 £5 
Includes Marlborough’s only CAKE BUFFET!  

Tickets from Marlborough Box Office www.marlboroughboxoffice.co.uk  or tel. 01672 515068

Blokes Night out to Men in General

Our attention has been drawn to an event that may be of special interest to regular subscribers, and even those occasional readers.  And yes, those particularly in the know may recognize a certain figure second from left - he is known around these parts as "Gorgeous Adrian" from Spooky Men's Chorale fame.

It turns out that Adrian is not only "an Spooky Man" but also member of a touring troupe of performing artistes known as Men in General and they will be presenting their very own show entitled A CAPELLA QUINTUPLETS.


According to the blurb (from the link at the bottom), the group is "bringing together members of the The Singing Sous Chefs and The Spooky Men’s Chorale, Men in General’s show combines precise and captivating vocal harmony with comedy presentation. These five ordinary lads sing Marvin Gaye, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Billy Joel, The Beach Boys and more.

Fast-moving and funny, this five-piece force of male vocal antics is not to be missed."  More info about the men in Men in General can be found at their website www.meningeneral.org.uk/.

They are performing at 7.30PM, FRIDAY, 8TH MARCH 2013 at KINGTON LANGLEY VILLAGE HALL, Box Office Tel: 01249 750362, http://www.klvh.org/


More information and booking for the few remaining seats can be found at the website for the very excellent looking Pound Arts Centre in Corsham, North Wilts at  http://www.poundarts.org.uk/touring - some of us look forward to seeing you there.

"A Very Ashton Keynes Evening" Triumph

A big thank you to all the blokes who took part in making last weekend's "A Very Ashton Keynes Evening" such a triumph.  From the very start of proceedings when so many blokes turned up bang on time to help build the stage through to the speed with which people helped dismantle it at the end so that they could head off to the pub, it was a terrific team effort.  And the singing in between was alright too!!

Our valiant chaps are captured in a photo that may look like Chris is trying to do "scary rabbit fingers" with the lights but in actual fact this is a snapshot from a sequence of his very energetic conducting during the rousing version of "Mraval Jamier" that opened the second set.

As you might imagine, word has got round the Village Grapevine about the qualities of the evening and what is particularly interesting and pleasing is the range of compliments paid and that have been relayed by a number of people, many not noted for their effusive appreciation when it comes to local talent - which is a long winded way of saying a lot of people really enjoyed the show and told everyone how good it was!

The contrast between the acts was part of the show, with the blokes opening the show by lumbering onto the stage in their mildly intimidating way to the strains of "Let me through" and belting out their first set with great gusto, not a little aplomb, and a good deal of Duct Tape and laughter.  The ladies of Siren Sisters followed on with some hauntingly beautiful pieces that had tingles running down spines at several points.  Post interval the running order was reversed with the blokes finishing off with a fine performance of "Delilah" fully adorned with facial hair poking out at all sorts of angles.

Match Report
Chris S lead The following blokes 

Chris A, Peter B, Bob B, Ken B, Neil B, Nick B, Geoff C, Brian D, Mark F, Lars F, John G, Mike G, Stuart H, Martin H, Trevor H, Jon H, Mike P, Darren S, David T, Mark T, Angus V, Ade W, 
John  W and "new boys" Andy E and Jeff S

Who sang the following songs


Let Me Through 
Just Because
Turnip Hoer's Song 
Shed 
Duct Tape Madrigal

Mraval Jamier 
And I Love Her 
Concrete 
Dry Stone Waller's Song 
Delilah  
John Kanaka 

Evidence of which can be found at https://soundcloud.com/theverymagnificentak47/sets/a-very-ashton-keynes-evening/ so enjoy reliving the moment.

Oh what a night!

Well, what can we say apart from what a great night "A VERY Ashton Keynes Evening" proved to be!  It was an amazing community event, such a small village producing two highly entertaining but totally contrasting groups . . . very strange.

It was great to turn up to the School Hall mid afternoon to find it buzzing with activity with the performers beavering away to build the stage, lay out the tables and chairs and generally pitch in to get everything set up and ready for their unsuspecting audience.

Very soon the scene was set and the last latecomers in the audience had just settled into their seats when the blokes stormed the stage to the sound of "Let me through".  After a short set they were then followed by the lovely ladies looking very demure, polished and well dressed in total contrast to the great lumps of mis-shapen manhood that had just departed to the bar!

The sequence was reversed for the second half with the blokes finishing things off with a storming rendition of "Delilah" with full facial hairage as pictured above.

Full match report to come once the audio recordings have been processed to get them ready to post to the Interweb.

P.S. Thanks to Gilly R former Siren Sister singing along in the audience for the photos.

"A VERY Ashton Keynes Evening" SOLD OUT

As this posting hits the interweb it is only one more sleep till our hot date with the ladies of Siren Sisters, which we are very pleased to say is COMPLETELY SOLD OUT.

The group was formed in 2007 and all the original members came from Ashton Keynes, but changes of personnel mean that much like The Magnificent AK47 they have been bolstered by some "outsiders".  

The group's trademark remains a broad and eclectic repertoire with their programme ranging from Bulgarian folk tunes and medieval polyphony to Abba, Queen and Coldplay - all performed with energy and style.  

We are very much looking forward to performing in the same show with our sibling rivalry group.  How many other villages our size can boast two such divergent and large choirs?  

It will be a very Ashton Keynes evening!

A recent photo of Siren Sisters + "token male"