BlokeFest Brilliant (again)

What can we say that hasn't already been said by anyone who attended "BlokeFest Up North"?  Nowt...

It was yet another fabulous weekend of bonhomie and beautiful singing, some of it even in the bar.

Thanks to all the Blokes who made it happen and quite so brilliant - here's to next year - an anticipation that brings a smile to one's face at the mere thought.

BlokeFest is calling us North

It might go a little quiet around here for a wee while as Magnificent activities tail off for the summer and other things take up our time, such as trogging up North for BlokeFest.

This inspired annual gathering of the clans of BlokeSong is hitching its Big Top and pitching in the very lovely locale of Ilkley, being hosted thanks to some regular BlokeFesters from thereabouts.

Its sure to be a cracking affair so we will provide a post match review in due course.

Till then, keep singing in the sun!

The sound of Singing in the Shed

Listen and marvel at the sound of a few dozen blokes singing a piece they learnt literally minutes before at this year's "Singing in the Shed" and prepared to be moved by the loveliness of the heartfelt harmony.

Some of you might recognise one or two familiar faces from the ranks of The Magnificent AK47 and other well known choral groups that have been known to congregate at the rather wonderful BlokeFest.

Click on the link above or visit https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZUNpoQoRYmU or click here to visit the BlokeFest Videos gallery to judge for yourself.

Singing in the Shed 2019

Today is the day a few of our blokes will be venturing Northwards for the first time this year for a singing weekend, but hopefully not the last... next time it will be "proper" Up North at BlokeFest (Up North) http://www.blokefest.net/.

They are on their way to the third "Singing in the Shed", erstwhile gentlemen's singing weekend inside a bit shed - more info can be found at https://www.facebook.com/singingintheshed.

Don't forget to pack your copy of the BlokeFest MAN-ual, currently available for download from http://www.blokefest.net/more-stuff.html#manual to help you remember all those songs to sing!

Blokeingly BRILLIANT BlokeFest

A picture says it all - can you spot the Magnificent Blokes intermingled with BlokeFest Blokes?  A great photo of a great weekend - with due thanks to Mr Hicks and the blokes themselves.

Now back to our humdrum lives... luckily we've got some more gigs coming up to help us through!

It's beginning to look a lot like... BlokeFest!

To (mis)quote the bard, Michael Bubblé, "It's beginning to look a lot like"... BlokeFest!

That annual event when the clans of BlokeSong gather for some #altmvc alternative Male Voice Choiring activities and general good blokey socialising that was the fruit of some particularly visionary "pub talk" many moons ago.

This year they have blokes coming from all over the British Isles and even the continent to be there and a cracking line up of Workshop Leaders.  So, expect it to go a bit quiet from here for the rest of the week and into next as we prepare and recover from another epic event.

Full details at http://www.blokefest.net.

BlokeFest - brilliant as ever

It's taken a while to recover from it, but BlokeFest was as brilliant as ever and superbly curated by the Bebington Bitter Men from up Wirral way.

Anglesey was bathed in glorious sunshine and the singing matched the sunlit mood, fab tent, great blokes, who could ask for more?  Well, everyone!!  http://www.blokefest.net/

Looking forward to BlokeFest 2018 already...

BlokeFest Dynion. Canu. Chwerthin

With all the excitement and anticipation of the Ashton Keynes Music and Arts Festival is might be easy to overlook a certain little event taking place in North West North West Wales...

Full details on http://www.blokefest.net/ and match reports after the event.

BlokeFest on the Radio?!

Now here's a phrase you don't hear every day "Karl Jenkins's Adiemus, BlokeFest" on @Radio3's The Choir...

Featuring The Magnificent AK47 singing on national radio...

Tell everyone to tune it to Radio 3 on Sunday at 16:00.

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...

Get your kit off...

Yes, it's time to get your kit off those shelves it's been sitting these long months now, check your pole and other tackle, and make sure it ready for action at this forthcoming BlokeFest as it is only just over one month away.

Now is the perfect time to ensure that your camping gear is still up to muster for the annual gathering of BlokeSong that is the Fifth Glorious Year of BlokeFest.

And for those local lads, what better tip than to suggest you nip down to Cotswold Outdoor at the end of the Spine Road nearby to Ashton Keynes, the finest purveyors of all necessary accouterments (and many totally unnecessary but none the less desirable) for the highlight of the summer which is the annual jamboree organized by our kindred spirits.   Some fantastic bargains to be had that will help save your valuable cash so you have more to spend on other things, like getting a round at the aforementioned festival.

BlokeFest is unleashed

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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.

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

Get Well soon Dave!

News reached these parts of the "not-as-well-as-he-could-be-ness" of one of our big mates from up North, no less than one of THE original BlokeFest Workshop Leaders, the Magnificent Dave Stewart, as seen here conducting the assembled blokes in the open air.

We wish him a very swift and full recovery from some major surgery and would like to dedicate the following song to him that he taught us at the BlokeFest 2013 and has become a firm favourite with us and our audiences ever since.

This one's for you Dave.

BlokeFest 2015 is over but lives on

 

Thanks to all those from The Magnificent AK47 crew who attended BlokeFest 2015 - a truly MAGNIFICENT event and a triumph of the ethos that we embody, unleashing ourselves from our humdrum lives through the medium of song, good company and other blokey activities like walking as you can see in this photo.  

The shot captures the blokes who went on the walk and contains a good number of our current members - can you spot them?

Some GREAT moments and many escaping via https://www.facebook.com/BlokeFest and other media - more soon.

But our blokes don't have long to recover, we are back in the harness this coming Sunday with our next rehearsal in preparation for the next gig with spectacular BelleFleurs - see http://themagnificentak47.com/gigs.html or our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/themagnificentak47 for more info.

BlokeFest Starts today

Today is the day that many of our blokes have been looking forward since this time last year, BLOKEFEST is back and bigger and even better than before with NINE workshop leaders all pictured above.

More info at the very wonderful http://www.blokefest.net/ and pictures and reports to follow.

Four more sleeps till BlokeFest 2015

BlokeFest Ahoy!

That annual gathering of the BlokeSong clan is in sight when we get to meet up with singing Blokes from points (very) North (Aberdeen!!), South, East and West of North North Wiltshire as we congregate near Pewsey in Middle Wiltshire.

More info at http://www.blokefest.net/

BlokeFest 2014 = Big Smiles all round!

 

What a (Big) TOP weekend we all had at BlokeFest 2014.  

One hundred of us gathered from all points of the compass, a large contingent from Ashton Keynes, many from ManChoir in Oxford, a good number from London Village way, a whole bus load from the Wirral and one or two from Westest Wales.

We sang, drank, ate, snored, and sang some more to great sonic effect as you can hear by delving a little further into the recordings that are beginning to emerge on the links below.

Seven more sleeps till BlokeFest 2014

Our annual "singing boot camp" is nearly upon us - BlokeFest 2014 is only one week away!

The BlokeFest Inner Circle have been beavering away over many months to organize an amazing cultural, historical and singing weekend.

Full details can be found at the amusing and informative http://www.blokefest.net/ with all the details of the goings on, including the souvenirs, the BlokeFest map (!), the BlokeFest MAN-ual with all the best songs in the BlokeFest canon.

Most of the Magnificents are going to be attending and there are blokes from quite literally all over the country, including a bunch from near Liverpool and another bunch from Man Choir in Oxford and many other places.

More snippets at https://www.facebook.com/BlokeFest and no doubt some photos will emerge eventually 

BlokeFest 2014 cranks into action

"BlokeFest cranks into action" shocker according to a recently spotted update on http://www.blokefest.net

At long last, we hear you say . . . what have they been doing??!!  

Well, to be fair, with our insider knowledge we can reveal that they have been busy behind the scenes plotting during the long winter nights and are about to emerge butterfly-like from their chrysalis to flutter around and enliven the summer with their beauty and delicate ways.

A more believable image is that they are about to emerge "bear-like" from their pit of a cave and collective slumber, scratching their nether regions, yawning and stretching before launching into devastating action to produce this year's event that promises to have More Men! More Singing! More Stuff!

Check out the updates and complete the Expression of Interest form at the bottom of the page to get ahead of the rest of the blokes to have a better chance to secure your place when they finally open up official registration.