Fun concert to offer contrasting genres

August 12th, 2012
[by David Armstrong]

A fun concert with a real difference is promised when the local a capella Singing For Pleasure group hosts Nelson's "Off Your Rockers" on August 29th in St Thomas' auditorium.

Singing For Pleasure is a six-week course, part of the Motueka Arts Council's winter workshop series, which allows about 20 average Motuekan singers to get together and take on the challenge of learning a half dozen numbers without accompaniment and in four-part harmony, just for the pleasure of the resulting sound.

This year's group, which have named themselves "Barbie's Bunch", decided to put on a concert with Young At Heart to show not only how much fun they can have but also reveal how good-quality music can be built through good tuition and a bit of practice.

The "Barbie" in the title is Barbie Cole, who for many years has directed good quality choirs at Riverside and elsewhere. She has an admirable ability to teach harmonies and produce arrangements of global music that bring out the best in ordinary singers.

"Off Your Rockers" is made up of 60- to 80-year-olds who are having great fun emulating the US choir of a similar vintage which won the hearts of people around the world in the movie "Young @ Heart" a few years ago. They knock out classic rock numbers ranging from the Beatles to Pink Floyd.

They are led by singer and songwriter Katy Holland who grasped the concept and has taught the 30-plus choir group contemporary music from the 60's through to present day. (See the third photo below, borrowed from the Nelson Mail.)

The contrast, then, will add to the sense of fun for the evening. "Barbie's Bunch" will sing some beautiful, haunting spiritual numbers and rounds with words from several languages, while the rockers will keep everyone's toes tapping and hands clapping.

As both groups find as much fun in learning new songs as performing them, they will teach each other a song of their own genre, an exchange of spirit which will likely also involve the audience. For Barbie's Bunch's part, the song they will teach is an action song, and the first two photos below (courtesy of Jane Wells) show a few of their group learning that song themselves. (Barbie is on the right of the first photo.)

Tickets for the concert cost $5 and are available from Westrupp Jewellers or at the door.

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