The Pink Singers were proud this weekend to be invited to take part in the Soho Act of Remembrance on the anniversary of the nail bomb attack at the Admiral Duncan pub.
The attack on 20th April 1999 led to the tragic loss of three lives and another 79 people were injured in this hate crime aimed at the local LGBT community. It was the final attack in a series of three bombings, the other two aimed at the Black community in Brixton, and the Asian community in Brick Lane.
The remembrance event – organised by 17-24-30 NationalHCAW – began outside the Admiral Duncan on Old Compton Street before moving to St Anne’s Gardens, where those gathered for the ceremony lit three candles to remember the three people killed in the attack. Moving speeches and readings were given by the vicar of St Anne’s Soho, the LGBT+ Poet Laureate Trudy Howson, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Westminster, the family of Nick Moore, and the LGBT liaison officers for MPS Soho. The Pink Singers performed three songs as part of the ceremony: I Know A Place, You’ll Never Walk Alone, and Chosen Family.
We were extremely proud to sing at this event as one that is close to our hearts. The Pink Singers took part in the vigil held in 1999 in the immediate aftermath of the attack, and we commend the ongoing crucial work of National Hate Crime Awareness Week and so many others working to bring people together and campaign for an end to hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community.
On Saturday 21st January we performed in our 40th anniversary concert “Party”. The concert on this momentous occasion is considered as one of our best ever! Check out this review from Robert Hugil, our former Musical Director and now a music critic.
Will at the stage door!
Will, a new member of the Pinkies, takes us through the day below.
Over to Will…
“Just think, six months ago, neither of us had met any of the Pinkies and now we are going on stage with them.” I mused whilst unpacking my show outfits.
“It’s not even that.” said Max (a fellow bass newbie). “I haven’t even passed my probation at work yet.” Remembering that Max had joined the Pink Singers the same week as he moved down to London to start a new job, a nervous wonderment came over me. All the hours of rehearsals, the songs round the camp fire at the weekend away, and the additional dance rehearsal which left us all aching. So much life had been crammed into a few months. For myself it has also been impossible to recognise myself from the person that walked into the first rehearsal in Pimlico. So much has changed; choir members have become chosen family, found a healing common ground in the shared experiences, and I’ve found more of my own queer identify through seeing all different shades of the queer spectrum.
Photo credit: Jessica Rowbottom
One thing is the same as that first rehearsal, I am a bag full of nerves! At 10.30am on the day of the concert we amassed in the stalls. Our Musical and Artistic Directors both gave us a run down of what the day would look like. The morning would be taken up with a step by step walk through of the show Including getting on and off stage and the transitions between numbers. Next would be a full run, adding in strings, percussion, and the wonderful performance from Queer Tango London, with lunch acting as the interval. As the day progressed, thankfully the nerves started the fall away. There were two reasons for this: firstly, I got used to the stage, focusing on the job I had to do; secondly, all of those around me brought a relaxed atmosphere. Smiling selfies were taken, shared dislike of one particular song was voiced, and if no one else looks nervous then why should I?!
Spice Girls meets English Madrigal. Photo credit: Jessica Rowbottom
Furthermore, the amount of support around me was phenomenal. The Pink Singers is a volunteer army and it was in full evidence that day. Props, set, and projection had all been prepared in advance, specifically for this show. Which meant when I was in concert dress with my pink rose, I felt ready to pop my pink cherry, by which I mean carry on the traditional where all of the newbies have their photo taken with a cherry.
The silence as you waiting in the wings ready to go on is always the part of a show day with the most tension. “How are you feeling Will?” Rachel (an established Alto) asked.
“I feel like I could throw up.” I replied.
“It’s natural to be nervous, but just remember it is going to be amazing.”
And it was.
Our very own John Flinders. Photo credit: Jessica Rowbottom
The audience were fantastic, heck we were fantastic! Rapturous applause for every number and a standing ovation at the end. Cloud nine, doesn’t quite cover it. For those two hours we all held each other and that audience together. Shared glances, joyous smiles and the cheers as we went back to the dressing room. All of which meant the atmosphere was electric. As I am writing this 24 hours later I have not been able to stop smiling, this day is a core memory that will stay with me forever.
Ready to celebrate 40 years of Pink Singers? You are not going to want to miss this amazing concert! Join the party at Cadogan Hall for iconic queer anthems and badass ballads, featuring the musical mastery of Lizzo, Spice Girls, Mika, Cat Burns and many more.
Running for 1 hour and 30 minutes, the show will be balanced with choral versions of famous film scores and classical tunes, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. All-singing, all-dancing, all-harmonising – is there anything Pink Singers can’t do? Grab a VIP entry with a glass of fizz to toast the special anniversary in style.
From £10 to £45 for VIP tickets (includes a glass of fizz & programme). Transaction fees apply.
Our latest video project was Rina Sawayama’s beautiful and poignant Chosen Family. Tenor Paul talks us through the day we recorded the video and why the message in the song means so much to him, the choir and the wider LGBT+ community.
Paul, Tenor
I woke to the sounds of a cow mooing, in what felt like 30 degree heat and 100% humidity, with a mildly hazy head and an aching spine from having slept on a roll mat in a tent in the depths of Buckinghamshire. The realisation hit me that it was video recording day. I bolted upright, and in the space of what felt like three and a half minutes, had packed the tent, and enough camping chairs to comfortably seat a large choir, into the boot of the Peugot.
Even though the sun had been up for 4 hours, my boyfriend and I realised that it wasn’t even nine am, and the A40 stretched ahead of us, and the Sunday driver traffic had already started to accumulate, so we made it to London at a reasonable pace. On our approach into the city, the blood drained out of my face, into my boots and panic took over me when I realised I hadn’t gotten those white trousers I flippantly assumed without due consideration, would probably be on sale in most mini mart outlets in rural Buckinghamshire.
“I can’t be the only one in blue jeans” I shrieked at my weary but appropriately sympathetic partner, who’s response of a gentle nod and a furrow of the brow indicated that he actually was listening and did care just enough to not make the situation worse. In a blind panic I started WhatsApping other choir members I rapidly identified as likely to have as close to a 30″ waist and a spare pair of white bottoms AND who hadn’t yet left for the shoot. Frankly, I’d have been more successful in finding a needle in a gaystack, however I persevered and fortunately our ever ready Events Manager Rachel, happened to have a spare pair for just this exact eventuality. I almost vomited with relief. (it may have been last night’s rum at the campfire, but we’ll never know) and so i eventually pulled up to the Voces8 centre in St Pauls, seven minutes late, running with a breathlessness not dissimilar to a mild asthma attack, carrying random bits of camping paraphernalia, trying to sing the tenor harmony line on loop as a final memorisation effort. Like something from a hybrid of at least three Carry On films.
The process of stopping, catching my breath, relaxing the tension in my shoulders and finally taking in the cool air of the old church into my lungs was soothing. As my respiratory rate came back to normal, I thought, Paul, settle down, put your bags down. I looked around the darkness of the old building to see a cluster of ghostly figures all in white, collectively looking nervous, excited, bewildered, and occasionally glancing up with relief that lightning had not yet smited anyone for being an LGBT+ in a holy space.
And a religious experience it was. The acoustics lightly bounced the vocals back off the marble pillars as we began to sing, and I swear the air became clearer. The video director directed us in various groups defined voice part, or random cluster, or if you were born in January, (or something like that) and as i trotted between groups between takes, holding up my unbelted size 38″ waist white jeans (beggars can’t be choosers) I fully began to appreciate the slick well oiled machine that put this project together. The few times we did takes of the ‘money note’, I can’t lie, I wiped a little tear of joy.
Scene from the video
I was having a great time. I was surrounded by some of my best friends in the world, doing the thing I love most. Best friends who didn’t care that I smelled like I had just spent three days in a field without a shower. Best friends who bizarrely resembled a bizarre cult, or extras in SClub7 christmas music video! Now, that’s why they are my chosen family. As a group, we celebrate our unique differences and also celebrate the things that are the same. Both unite us. Sometimes the similarities to my biological family are creepily echoed. Sometimes there’s tension. Sometimes there are moments of beautiful harmony. When we have a party there’s a LOT of singing, and when we’re done we’re glad to go back to our respective domiciles, whilst simultaneously relieved it’s over but secretly aching to be back with them. This wonderful project, after two lockdown virtual videos, felt liberating and exciting. We were finally able to work on projects together, and bounce off each other and give hugs. I had missed those the most and it felt like home.
The original artist, Rina Sawayarma’s lyrics encourage us to tell each other our stories, and with a diverse choir, the stories are vividly abundant. (and that’s just our beloved Soprano, Sally-Anne). There are many interesting, slightly risque, defiant, often sad, or joyful stories that educate us and inspire us, and that define us as individuals.
Today we made another one.
The moral of this story? For me, it’s to take time to listen. Don’t just wait for someone to stop talking so that you can relay your version of the discussion. The details are important, and it’s how we connect. But we’re so preoccupied with a million other things swimming around our brains, it’s easy to realise it’s been nearly a month since you called your mum or haven’t seen your bestie in weeks. This song relays the comfort and security that connections bring. Have a listen, spend some time thinking about who your chosen family might be, and how you might be able to maintain and strengthen those ties. When those ties are laid out they form the fabric of a community.
If you don’t have a community but do have a longing, then the first step may be easier than you think. Reach out. It’s a journey, and it requires effort, but it’s worth it. It might change your life. It might just be ‘quite nice’ and not half as melodramatic or barf inducingly romanticised as I’m making it out to be. As cheesy and twee as this all sounds, you might even end up making beautiful music together.
If you need someone to reach out to, then try our friends at LGBT Switchboard.
Duong talks through a busy Pride for him and the choir and how this year has been particularly poignant. He talks of how thankful he is to those who have campaigned for our rights over the past 50 years and how the past few days have given him a new perspective on being human as well as LGBTQ+.
Duong, Tenor
Wednesday 30th June
After a full on weekend performing with our friends Voces Gaudii and marching in Warsaw Pride the choir were back 72 hours later at the Science Museum lates. We’ve performed here before, so it was familiar territory and is always a fun gig. It was the first opportunity for many of our members to perform some of our new repertoire and the audience were really enthusiastic throughout our two sets. Some of us also partied into the small hours.
Friday July 1st 2022: Afternoon
Charly picked me up on the way to the Gay Liberation Front march at midday. We carried the Pink Singers’ banner, excited and happy, as we knew there would be brothers and sisters marching with us.
Fifty years is a long time in LGBTQ+ history, but it is even longer in the lifetime of human being. The Pink Singers are so fortunate to have Philip as one of our members and I am so proud of what he has done for the LGBT+ community. Philip was there in 1972. He was part of the Gay Liberation Front and he was involved in the first Pride march in London.
The original marchers reunite for the 2022 GLF march
When the original marchers from 50 years ago stood together under the rainbow flag to start the 2022 Gay Liberation Front march, I could not hold back my tears. Being queer today is not an easy life, but I realised that I have taken so much for granted. And without Philip and all the members of the GLF who stood up for what they believed in and who have relentlessly campaigned over the years, I know that my life could be so much worse.
Duong with Philip and Charlie
Philip, thank you very much for fighting for us, for teaching us not to give up and for telling your story. We love you!
Friday July 1st 2022: Evening
I went from the march to perform with the Pink Singers at the Liberal Judaism Synagogue. I confess that I know very little about religion (not just the Jewish religion, but other religions too). I grew up in a non-religious household and whilst every street has a pagoda, they were more like communal gardens than a holy place. Having said that, I am aware of being respectful of any religious space.
As with any other performance, the choir first warmed up, got organised and then got ready to be on stage. But this time things felt different. I don’t know whether there is a strong connection between the LGBTQ+ and the Jewish communities but what I did see was that music and love connected us all. The synagogue was filled with emotions from warm hearts. Audience members of all ages clapped, danced and sang with us and above all, joined our love. It was very touching that after our performance, many people came to us sharing their feelings about our music. I realised that there should be no barriers between humanity. No one was born with prejudice and no one should be judged by their sexuality, gender or faith. I learnt a beautiful lesson on that night.
Saturday, July 2nd 2022
This year The Pink Singers again sat out the main Pride in London parade while the organisers are working on some equality and diversity issues. But we still celebrated Pride by gathering at a picnic in Embankment gardens. It was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine and it was an opportunity to catch up with people that I haven’t seen in a very long time. We sang (as if we ever don’t) and felt the rainbow atmosphere from London. There were lots of Pinkies hugs and kisses after watching and waving to LGBTQ+ friends in the parade. I could not ask for more.
Sunday July 3rd 2022
To round off a full-on Pride week the choir gathered together to record the audio track of our next video. It will be super special as it is being done with a brand new artistic idea visually. All will be revealed soon…. Can you guess what song it is?
