Week One - Another Train

This term we are starting a new song every two weeks, and working on it over the subsequent weeks. This week we enjoyed learning the chorus of Pete Morton's classic song of hope, "Another Train".

There's another train,
There always is.
Maybe the next one is your's.
Get up and climb aboard another train.

We'll start on the verses next week. Our version of the song has been inspired by The Poozies, who played at Woodford Folk Festival and Illawarra Folk Festival this January. Click on the links to find out more about the band and the festivals.

Below is a youtube link of The Poozies singing Another Train, and also check out the songwriter himself, Pete Morton. That link is his own site, and here's an interview he did on the BBC. They start talking about Another Train at 6:05.

The Folk Choir starts again on Thursday 4 February!

Welcome to The Folk Choir for 2016, and prepare yourself for delicious singing and great new songs. We start a new year of singing on Thursday 4 February, at the Red Hill Community Sports Club, Fulcher Road, Red Hill (next door to the Broncos). We sing from 7.15pm - 8.45pm.

First term will be quite short, as Easter is early this year and we always take a term break for the National Folk Festival. First term will be seven weeks long, and we will start four new songs and revisit older songs in that time.

Looking forward to singing with you in harmony!

cheers
Nicole

TODAY! Our big concert!

Flying Fiddles and Soaring Voices, our concert collaboration with the Brisbane Celtic Fiddle Club, is on today at 4pm, at the Danish Club in Austin Street, Newstead, Brisbane.

We are showcasing some wonderful songs, and looking forward to singing a song with all those great fiddle players.

Doors open 3.30pm, and there will be coffee and danish pastries on sale, and a raffle with four prizes!!

Folk Choir - a new term at a new venue!

New term AT NEW VENUE!

It's time for a new term, and I'm very excited to announce that we're moving to a new venue! The Folk Choir will meet at the Red Hill Community Sports Club, on Fulcher Road, Red Hill, from the start of term 3.

Term 3 dates: Thursday 16 July - Thursday 17 September.

Venue: Red Hill Community Sports Club, Fulcher Road, Red Hill (next to the Broncos)

The new venue has plenty of parking, is a little more central, and is becoming a bit of a folk hub, with Morris dancing and the Red HIll Folk Club both happening there on Wednesdays. We are starting on July 16 because the venue already had a booking for July 9, but we'll still go for 10 weeks.

Come along and enjoy new songs and old, harmonies, warmups and good company. Because it's winter, Nicole will be bringing along a big pot of hot soup, so don't be worried that you can't fit in cooking dinner before choir. The soup will be delicious, and fairly allergen-free (which means dairy and gluten free, with low salicilates and amines, and vegetarian with no onion). Come and socialise over soup at 6.45, and sing from 7.15.

Fees remain the same, $120 for the full 10-week term, or $15 a night to attend casually.

We're looking forward to a big sing, and I can't wait to see you again!

Maleny Celtic Winter School

Before choir term starts, it's time to enjoy the beautiful wintry atmosphere of Maleny, at the seventh Maleny Celtic Winter School. This year I'm teaching a 2-hour singing workshop on the Saturday afternoon, and the songs will be new to the choir. Do come up to lovely Maleny for a sing, and stay on for the ceili on Saturday night at the RSL Club. The ceili is always a wonderful night out for dancers of every age. The band includes most of the tutors, so a huge all-star live band, the entertaining Davydd Macdonald calling the dances, and a great evening for all.

Thanks to Rebecca and Donald.

I would like to thank Rebecca Wright for capably taking on the directing of The Folk Choir while I was away with John and Emma on our Clouded House UK Tour. And I would like to thank the wonderfully supportive Donald McKay for assisting her so well. I'm sure it was a terrific term, and I've asked them to keep conducting the songs they introduced, as I want to enjoy them too!

best wishes

Nicole

Term Two, with the fabulous Rebecca Wright

Hi, Folk Singers all,

This term, Cloudstreet will be touring in the UK, on our "Clouded House" tour as a trio (Nicole Murray, John Thompson and Emma Nixon). While we're away, the wonderful Rebecca Wright will be running The Folk Choir, with support and Scottish songs from Donald McKay.

The term runs from April 16 - June 18, and you are very welcome at any time to come and join in the harmonies and fun. Come and experience Rebecca's nurturing style and great harmony choices, and sing away the encroaching cold weather!

As usual, the choir meets from 7.15 - 8.45pm on Thursday nights at the West Ashgrove Uniting Church Hall downstairs, it's $15 to attend and a cuppa and a welcome are provided.

If you'd like to see where Cloudstreet is touring, visit www.cloudstreet.org.

Welcome to The Folk Choir for 2015!

The Folk Choir will sing again from Thursday 12 February! New songs and old, chorus songs and shanties, parts and spontaneous harmonies. Enrich your week with a good sing!

We Raised the Roof!

Congratulations to everyone who sang at the Raise The Roof concert, at the West End Uniting Church on Saturday 11 October. What a fabulous concert in a gorgeous venue, and The Folk Choir nearly took the tiles off with "Unison In Harmony", including that great line, "raise the rafters, we don't care if the roof's beyond repair"!

Now the excitement of being part of the West End Festival has settled, we're getting excited about two new projects, our concert with the Brisbane Celtic Fiddle Club on 2 November (poster below), and our participation in the community choir Peer Sing on 8 November.

Please tell everyone you know about the Flying Fiddles and Soaring Voices concert on 2 November at the Danish Club, it will be wonderful.

The Folk Choir is singing every Thursday (EXCEPT 13 NOV, WHEN G20 IS ON) until 11 December, so come and have a sing!