CAPS LOCK DAY AND OTHER ODD DATES TO CELEBRATE

IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT IT IS A VERY SPECIAL DAY TODAY...

But enough of that "shoutyness" because it is nearly over and also because on closer investigation via the wonders of the Interweb our diligent researchers have come across a page at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unofficial_observances_by_date which has even more interesting days...

Jan 21	National Hugging Day (USA)	A lovely idea
Feb (First Saturday)	Ice Cream for Breakfast Day	Surely a plot by Ice cream sellers?
Feb 17	Random Acts of Kindness Day (USA)	Always to be encouraged
April 22 (UK)	Administrative Professionals' Day	Appreciating the underappreciated
May (First Sunday)	World Laughter Day	What’s not to like?
May 6	International No Diet Day	Just for one day
June 28 (& Oct 22)	CAPS LOCK DAY	REALLY?  TWO ALTERNATIVE DATES?
July (First Sat)	International Free Hugs Day	On a global scale
Aug (First Friday)	International Beer Day	A great idea to appreciate this wonderful stuff
Sep 1	Random Acts of Kindness Day (NZ)	Just in New Zealand?
Sep 19	International Talk Like a Pirate Day	One of our favourites
Sep 28	Ask a Stupid Question Day	Just the one day a year?
Oct 6	BlokeSong Day	Worthy of celebration, surely

Please feel suitably prompted to share this knowledge across your universe for the betterment of whatever life-form you encounter along the way.

What next?  Universal Courier Font appreciation week??

Pow Wow 2017

Most years we have what we call a "Pow Wow", which is basically an Annual General Meeting (or AGM) renamed to make it sound a bit more interesting and fun (which of course it is...).

This year we thought we would double check we are using the term even vaguely correctly and the venerable Wikipedia has this to say about the term:

"A pow wow (also powwow or pow-wow) is a social gathering held by many different Native American communities. 

The word is derived from the Narragansett word powwaw, meaning "spiritual leader".  A similar gathering by California Natives, usually in the fall, is called a Big Time. 

A modern pow wow is a specific type of event for Native American people to meet and dance, sing, socialize, and honor their cultures. Pow wows may be private or public. 

There is generally a dancing competition, often with significant prize money awarded. Pow wows vary in length from a one-day event, to major pow wows called for a special occasion which can be up to one week long."  Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pow_wow.

So, maybe some passing similarity to our events, but strangely you won't find too much dancing going on, but plenty of singing, socializing, and honouring our culture - so, maybe more similar than one might have initially thought.

Makes you think that maybe people ain't so different after all...

We'll see whoever turns up in the Back Room of The White Hart Inn, Ashton Keynes, from 20:00 Wednesday 18th Oct for most of what goes on at a real Pow Wow, but maybe not the dancing..., well, not this time.

Black Sheep Union

Us...?... With another group of lovely singing ladies...?...  In a very modern high-tech venue in the centre of Keynesham, near Bristol...?...  This coming Friday night...?...  With a sheep leitmotif...?...  With our reputation...?...  What could possibly go wrong??!

You'll just have to jaunt over via your hypertext link purveyor to the Black Sheep Harmony Ticket outlet http://www.blacksheepharmony.com/dbpage.php?pg=view&dbase=events&id=54096 and grab your tickets whilst you still can to find out.

Once you've done that you might like to have a peruse of our partners in song for the evening at http://www.blacksheepharmony.com/About-Us and a bit more about the venue at https://www.facebook.com/The-Space-Keynsham-1673109446348941/.

And expect a few early "fireworks" at the end...

Back to School

Hopefully all the blokes will be re-invigorated and ready for getting back into action for a packed Autumn and into the Midwinter.

Forthcoming highlights include:

• Singing in a massive resonant space in Birmingham Central Station
• Recording a new LP's worth (ask anyone with grey hair kiddies...) of, er, recordings
• Performing with two lovely lady choirs at our three gigs
• Another big gig in Cirencester's Sundial Theatre
• Getting in the mood for Yuletide with some singing in the pub
• Thinking about going to Cork Festival next year!!

And no doubt there will be more as we bring a close to Year 9 of Magnificents and brace ourselves for celebrating our 10th year of lowering the tone with our high jinks.

And to get back into gear we are literally going back to School with our first workshop back in Ashton Keynes School Hall, Gosditch.

It may go a bit quiet round here for a while...

Says it all really...

Much happening in the background and expect to burst back into life in September.

In the meantime, enjoy the Summer, what there is of it and see you when the nights start to draw in again and we all feel the need for a sing to cheers ourselves up.

If you go down to...

... the woods pub tonight, you're sure of a big surprise

The blokes in some woods.  

Tonight they, and "some others" will be in the pub for "not your average Monday night", even for Ashton Keynes...

But, shhhh, it's a secret.

And here is what it might sound like and something from the Magnificent Archive.

Another Spooky Summer of Love

They are big (& small), they are in black and they are rather superb... The Spooky Men's Chorale are back in the UK for another Summer of Love as they sing their way around these isles sprinkling sonic joy wherever they go.

These guys are the granddaddies of BlokeSong and the inspiration for our very own The Magnificent AK47 nearly a decade ago (!) and are a sight to see and a sound to luxuriate in with their deadpan humour and drop dead Georgian harmonies.

Check out their remaining tour dates at http://spookymen.com/gigs/ and maybe witness them slightly nearer to home & Magnificent HQ.... watch this space for more Magnificent Spooky news.