News of The Brue Boys

News of the Brue Boys
Updated 30th January 2012

New Year Rehearsals

The Brue Boys have enjoyed a 'buoyant' start to 2012 with several new boys swelling our numbers to over 40 so we now have three rows at practices.
We are presently preparing two new songs for 2012 concerts: A lively arrangement of the well-known traditional song 'When The Saints Go Marching In' and the little known 'To Where You Are', a gentle and melodic song in total contrast. We are also starting sing the well known hymn 'Aberystwyth' by Joseph Parry again, perhaps better known by the first line 'Jesu, lover of my soul' which we haven't ever sung in concert.
Our Conductor and Leader Jennifer Martin now looks down at us at rehearsals thanks to a new stand made recently by Grayson - so no hiding place now for those of us not paying attention!

2012 Concerts

Tickets can be booked for our 24th March Concert at Yeovil College now - see the Future Concerts Page for details and dates for Glastonbury, Tilham Farm and Babcary Church events later in the year.

2012 Dinner

The Brue Boys 2012 Dinner will be held on Friday 9th March 2012 at the Castle Cary Rugby Club and is being organised by Andrew Look.

Brue Boys Released without Charge

The Brue Boys gave a concert at Shepton Mallet Prison on 11th January, also getting the inmates to join in as they also have a singing group. Unfortunately one or two failed to bring ID and were not able to sing; but fortunately all the Boys were allowed home for good behaviour afterwards! We look forward to a return, but regret that the audience may not be able to see our other concerts!

Final 2011 Concert

The Brue Boys sang to members of the Street and Glastonbury Rotary Club at the Wessex Hotel on 19th December 2011.

Street Concert

The Brue Boys and friends presented a concert at Street Methodist Church on Saturday 26th November. Our supporting acts included Carolyn accompanying Phil Jackson on the saxophone and Gail Cornish who again delighted the audience with two songs, and Sophie Negus who sang two sets, the first playing the piano herself and the second to her own guitar. A fine young singer, Sophie, also composes her own songs as well as covering some of the best modern songs eg by Adele. It was also a pleasure for the Boys to help the Street Methodist Church raise funds for the Children's Hospice South-West who were the beneficiaries of the proceeds.

Butleigh Review

The Brue Boys performed with other local acts in St Leonard's Church Butleigh on Saturday 19th November. The Boys sang Waltzing Matilda, a version in rounds of and the spiritual Wade in the Water, and the Irish folk song Carrickfergus for the first time. This means the Brue Boys have a repertoire of 50 songs sung so far in concerts - see our Music Page for details of all these fifty titles.

Gwyn Arch October Workshop

Gwyn Arch put us through some rigorous practice at The Stalls on Sunday 2nd October during an afternoon workshop. Gwyn has arranged many of our songs and is an experienced conductor so we enjoyed his expert tuition, challenging us to improve and also entertaining us with some stories.

Avalon Rotary Club
Anniversary Dinner

The Brue Boys provided entertainment in the form of songs before and after pudding during Avalon Rotary Club's Anniversary Dinner held at our own Stalls on Monday 26th September. Rotarian Bob Burns provided us with a generous buffet supper and drinks in Tilham Farm and it was good to sing in concert so early in the new season.

Artist's Impressions

Artist Annemarie Blake's two paintings
show images of the Brue Boys
while singing at the 2009
Stourhead Festival of the Voice.

Annemarie's work (including Brue Boy images) are presently showing in a Summer Art Exhibition in the Bishop's Palace, Wells.

Future Events

See Future Concerts Page for dates of forthcoming Brue Boys' concerts.

Palace Summer Performance

The Brue Boys and friends presented a summer concert in the beautiful gardens of the Bishop's Palace in Wells on Friday 15th July.
See the 2011 Concerts Page for a report.

Michael Eavis
gives Brue Boys a step up

Thanks to a most generous donation of £1300 from Michael Eavis we have purchased professional stands for us to use in concerts. These were used successfully for the first time on 15th July.

Rain and Shine at Stourhead

The Brue Boys sang for the third year running at the Stourhead Festival of the Voice. See our 2011 Concerts Page to find out about the two contrasting performances.

2011 Dinner

The Brue Boys returned to to the Isle of Wedmore Golf Club for their fourth annual dinner. See the 2011 Dinner page for a report and photos of the 68 who attended.

Need a choir ?

The Brue Boys welcome enquiries from event organisers.
See the Next Concert Page for further details.