Shed heaven

What a great pleasure it was to revisit Singing in the Shed this weekend...!

Such fabulous fun singing some beautiful and some fantastically energising pieces of music with a great bunch of blokes - even the 7:30am fire alarm that got everybody out of the hostel in the rain didn't dampen the experience.

And remember please gentlemen, "TWO rows".

Looking forward to BlokeFest already - but if you haven't already got your ticket then you had better head over to BlokeFest.net to get it as there are even fewer left after this weekend.

Two more sleeps till Singing in the Shed 2017

Not long now till many of us pack our ear plugs and BlokeFest T-Shirts and head up North and West a bit for this year's Singing in the Shed extravaganza.

Have a look at some of the interesting nuggets at https://www.facebook.com/singingintheshed/ and not forgetting that it is now only four months to go to BlokeFest which has only a few dozen tickets left on sale already so hop on over to http://www.blokefest.net/ to secure yours before they are all gone.

And happy singing, Shedders.  Hopefully some pics and stories will emerge.

Gird up your loins for BlokeFest 2016

Practicle advice as ever from Brother Bill H, resident ArtMeister at the Magnificent Website, about how to prepare for BlokeFest.  (And have a look at the rather wonderful collection of poster works at http://themagnificentak47.com/past_gigs.html whilst you are about it)

For more advice about this fantastic event visit their FAQs and OAAQ (Occasionally Asked Awkward Questions) at http://www.blokefest.net/faqs--oaaqs.html.

All very sensible stuff hidden in amongst the Magnificent and Blokey daftness...

In an English Country Garden

We like the odd event to accommodate our 30 odd blokes (some very odd) and this is an excellent example...

We will be performing something, after or around 4pm, somewhere around the Gardens at Belcombe Court, a stunning Grade I listed Georgian house situated in Bradford-upon-avon, six miles from Bath in Wiltshire.

More info, lifted from http://www.belcombe.com/

"From March until October, the British Red Cross is organising an open gardens event where you can visit over 200 gardens across the country. 

We at Belcombe court are proud to be opening the private gardens to members of the public as part of this event to raise funds for the Red Cross. The gardens will be open on Sunday 22nd May from 2pm - 6pm at £5 per adult and children under 12 will be able to visit for free.

Around the garden and in the barn, there will be specialist plant stalls, garden related stalls, and various delicious food stalls open for you to enjoy as well. 

For more information, please visit: http://www.redcross.org.uk/Get-involved/Events/Open-Gardens/WAG/Belcombe-Court"

Their Song

Featuring one or two Magnificent blokes and sure to be an interesting evening.

More details about StroudSong can be found at http://www.stroudsong.co.uk/.

Sound of Magnificent salty sea dogs

And me lads be of good cheer for our next gig will soon draw near... and to celebrate the lads being in action tonight in that there Brizzle at the rather lovely Folk House, here is the sound of them launching into "Whip Jamboree" accompanied by the sights of nauticleness as crafted together by our very own MovieMeister.

The gig is with the rather wonderful and fun bunch of blokes that are The Roaring Trowmen, top quality shanty crew (although they do other stuff too.

The show will culminate in a unique collaboration between them, from the great sea-faring port of Bristol, and us, a bunch of blokes from darkest land-locked North, North Wiltshire - a culture clash of titanic proportions (if you will forgive the sailing ship pun).

Tickets available from Skiddle

How do you get men singing? Aaargh, that be easy!

A simple question, "How do you get men singing?"

It's trickier to answer...  But one of the ways we have very successfully found in The Magnificent AK47 is to unleash their inner minstrel, inner comedy pirate, inner poster designer and inner video maker, all through the medium of BlokeSong. 

And then do all this in public, ideally with other men!

Much as we are with the rather excellent The Roaring Trowmen, they of flat-bottomed working boats from Bristol way and good friends of us and that there BlokeFest where we spent many an hour last June singing the nights away and we hope to repeat at this year's event.

But before that you can see us all in a fantastic double bill at Bristol's rather lovely Folk House.  Tickets available from Skiddle

#getmensinging

Workshop with us

Just in case you haven't already got your tickets can we encourage you along to the workshop that precedes our gig with the mighty Glorious Chorus this coming Saturday in the P. R. of Stroud?

By all accounts Helen Yeomans is a very special choir leader and we are all very much looking forward to seeing and hearing her in action and judging by the joint piece the blokes have been working on it will be something very special.

Book your Workshop tickets from the Sub Rooms website at http://www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk/whats-on/singing-workshop/ and show tickets from http://www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk/whats-on/from-the-ridiculous-to-the-sublime/.

From the Ridiculous to the Sublime, via Magnificent?

Just a quick plug for a couple of events featuring us truly in the People's Republic of Stroud where we welcome the rather wonderful Glorious Chorus from way down south.  

More shall be muttered but suffice for now to warn you that it is on, it will be hot, and possibly quite sublime, and we will be quite possibly ridiculous whilst being utterly Magnificent.

Find out more at http://www.subscriptionrooms.org.uk/whats-on/from-the-ridiculous-to-the-sublime/ and stick this one in your diary.

What ARE they doing?

What ARE they doing?  

You may well ask yourself, and possibly others too...

Could it be

• They are thinking whether they left the gas on at home?
• They are pondering as to why any self respecting bloke hasn't already got his ticket for BlokeFest?
• They are desperately trying to remember the words?
• They are practicing hard for what promises to be a memorable Grand Day Out on board the SS Great Britain and singing in and around Bristol Docks?
• They are practicing hard for what promises to be a Magnificent workshop and show in Stroud with the devastating Glorious Chorus in a couple of weeks' time

What do you think it might be??

What connects The Croutons and The Proclaimers?

What connects The Croutons and The Proclaimers?  And possibly Genesis?

Well the answer is easy when you know...  it is Ripples, the monthly local magazine from around these parts, or a rather lovely song.

The Magnificent AK47 feature heavily on pages 26 & 27 of this month's Cricklade edition after our sell out show in St Sampson's Church, Cricklade back in March.

BlokeFest is unleashed

---

It's been officially unleashed!  The biggest gathering of the clans of BlokeSong in the known universe, or so some might claim.  It certainly will be the biggest set of blokes given the amount of food that is on offer this year, and Birthday Cake too!

Whatever it is, it is great fun and the highlight of many people's summer so get yourself over to the BlokeFest 2016 website as it is now available to register for the general public at http://www.blokefest.net/register-2016.html to #getmensinging & #getmencycling.

Lost in music?

"Losing yourself in a choral group can be a uniquely satisfying experience."  So says a recently spotted article reporting "More Evidence of the Psychological Benefits of Choral Singing

New research finds it fulfills deep-seated needs of bonding with a group."

As a bunch of misfits who gather together to collectively look "cool" in "Dad-joke-chic faux fancy dress" stylee, we can empathize (because beneath the bluff exterior, we are modern men so can do empathy because of our heightened unemotional intelligence) with this notion that singing in groups is good for you.

Anyway, don't believe us, see for yourself this coming Sunday at the rather lovely Victoria Hall in the town of Radstock.  

Our belovéd ChoirMeister will be leading a Sing Like a Bloke workshop starting at 14:30 followed at 19:30 by a performance from the full troupe doing a double set showcasing our firm favourites and newer numbers to an enthralled audience.

And have a read of the original article thanks to Alan H.

Roll on Radstock

We are now on to our third leg (!) of our "March Madness" for 2016 as we travel further afield than we have done for a while into deepest darkest Somerset to the historic mining town of Radstock, which interestingly enough has a connection with us up in North North Wiltshire with its ancient links to the Fosse Way.

We are very pleased to be venturing to a new venue for us, the rather neat looking Victoria Hall in the town of Radstock.  

Our belovéd ChoirMeister will be leading a Sing Like a Bloke workshop starting at 14:30 followed at 19:30 by a performance from the full troupe doing a double set showcasing our firm favourites and newer numbers to an enthralled audience.

Come along if you can.

The sound of testosterone!

The sound of testosterone!

#getmensinging

Off down South, Marlborough way

The poster says it all really...  

Three choirs, bar, cake and FREE to get in - you only have to worry about making enough of a donation to get out after a wonderful evening of song.

And you could enjoy the sounds of the blokes in fine voice as witnessed last Saturday with our opening number for the year.  

Hear for yourself and come along and hear much more.

Cricklade show SELLING OUT!

Well, we don't like to worry you, but we are getting close to selling out another very decent sized venue.  

Congrats to all the blokes involved in organizing the gig and to those who have managed to get tickets (it's not hard, just buy your tickets without dallying) - we hope we will provide a show worthy of the venue and the good causes.

For those of you still pondering, please get a move on and call 07517 847 816 or email gigs@themagnificentak47.com pronto!

If you want to see us soon then check out our gigs page with notices of our Marlborough gig, Radstock workshop and gig, and next big show at Stroud Sub Rooms.

Male voice choirs 'good for your health' - Bloke voice choirs even better!

The world of BlokeSong was stunned in the last 24 hours by the news that one of its leading lights has become a TV celeb!

Young Dominic Stichbury, he of ChapsChoir and Bellow Fellows and BlokeFest  and Singing in the Shed fame, has become even more famous overnight.  

He was featured on itv NEWS for The London and a pretty chunky video posted

According to the blurb "Male voice choirs are making a comeback and they're good for your health. Dominic Stitchbury who runs the Chaps Choir from Islington and Dr Emily Falconer from the University of Westminster have been researching the impact on its members."

Well, as you know, we could have told them that Blokes gathering together is good for their health and well being as The Magnificent AK47 and BlokeFest have proved these many years.   And it is great to have such a vibrant scene at either end of the M4 and Manchoir and little old us in between.

Well done Dom.

Watch for yourself.

Male voice choirs are making a comeback and they're good for your health. Dominic Stitchbury who runs the Chaps Choir...

Posted by ITV London on Wednesday, 24 February 2016

#getmensinging + #getwomensinging = Singing for fun

Just to add our voice to nudge anyone along who might be interested, this recently received.

"Singing for Fun - an afternoon workshop with Gilly Riddington (local choir goddess seen leading the massed chorus at the most recent "Beer and Carols" evening). 

Are you a closet crooner?.. Do you sing in the car?

Whether you are an experienced singer or a beginner, feel free to come along!

No need to be able to read music, all songs will be taught by ear in joyous harmony parts.

The White Hart back room this coming Sunday 28th February, 3-5pm inc tea break

£5 on the door

Text Gilly (07813 097402) to guarantee a place, or just turn up and hope she's not full.  More info at https://www.facebook.com/events/881097351987937/.

Singing in a pub, what could possibly go wrong?"

Overrunning, is one thing, given that The Magnificent AK47 have a workshop just afterwards...!

TMAK47 Gigs - available in all good stores??

This just in from the Magnificent Cartoon Meister.  Modern art with a meaning (without innuendo for those suspecting of some...) as it perfectly encapsulates the frustration of your average citizen on finding that they are not able to purchase tickets for our shows in a retail outlet.

But help is at hand!  Should still require a ticket or reservation for our forthcoming show in St Samapson's Church, Cricklade on Saturday 5th March then you can now march confidently into the Ashton Keynes Village Shop and purchase your tickets to secure your seat.

And you would be wise to do so as quickly as you can for sales have been brisk and we are now at the stage where we are having to coordinate closely amongst our various distributors so as to not over-sell...  A good problem for us to have but not if you are thinking about just rolling up on the door - the message is clear, please buy your ticket in advance or contact us via gigs@themagnificentak47.com.