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Our 31st consecutive London Pride

We’re delighted to be taking to London’s streets for the 31st consecutive year to march on Pride.

Pinkies at Pride in London 2013
Pinkies at Pride in London 2013

As well as performing with a myriad of other LGBT groups in the parade, we’ve been invited to perform on stage at 6:30pm, alongside acts such as the fabulous London Gay Big Band and La Voix, Samantha Fox and Eurovision-winner-par-excellence, Conchita Wurst!
It’s a great line-up and we really hope to see you there next Saturday!
 

One month until Notes from a Small Island!

A month today we’ll be on stage at Hackney Empire performing the best of British composers and songwriters for your delectation, joined by the wonderful South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus and Citi Choir.
We’re so excited that, yes, like last autumn, we got a bit excited and made another silly trailer. Here it is for your enjoyment.

Tickets are selling briskly for Notes from a Small Island – especially for the good seats – so get yours now if you want a good spot!

Back to the Empire!

Philip R
Philip R (OBE)

We’re thrilled to be heading over to Dublin next weekend for Various Voices 2014, a fantastic festival bringing together LGBT choirs from across Europe and beyond. We’ll be sharing our experiences as we go, too.
Having just celebrated our thirtieth anniversary last year, we couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. We’re returning to the Hackney Empire on Saturday 19th July to celebrate the best of British performers and composers – and it will be 25 years since we hosted there the 5th European Lesbian and Gay Festival of Song, now known as Various Voices.
Fourteen LGBT choirs came to London for four nights from 11 – 14 May 1989 to support the British gay movement in its fight against Section 28, a law which banned the “promotion” of homosexuality (just like Russia in 2014). As the law was championed by the Thatcher Government we called the Festival Singing The Blues Away.
The event was jointly organised by the Pink Singers and the Pre-Madonnas, a feminist choir so called because “we were famous before SHE was and we like to have our own way”! We received no government or local authority support but were sponsored by MPs Chris Smith and Linda Bellos along with Sir Michael Tippett, Sir Ian McKellen, and Miriam Margolyes.
Around 500 singers came to Hackney from Sweden, France, Holland and Germany. The local Wimpy staff wondered why so many people kept singing in the restaurant and asking for “weggie-burgers”.
We finished each evening with all the choirs singing Dame Vera Lynn’s famous song “We’ll Meet Again”. And we have! The Various Voices Festival returned to London at the South Bank Centre in 2009 and will be in Dublin from 13-16 June with 80 choirs from around the world. We can’t wait!

Notes from a Small Island – tickets on sale now!

Four nations, three choirs, one fantastic evening, celebrating the best of British songwriters and composers.
London’s iconic Hackney Empire plays host to the capital’s biggest LGBT choir this summer, on Saturday 19 July!

Join the Pink Singers for a splendid choral performance celebrating the best of British, including music from Edward Elgar, Annie Lennox, Elton John, John Tavener, Adele, Benjamin Britten, Pulp and more.
We’ll be joined on stage by special guests Citi Choir, and the talented South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus.
Stunning eight-part harmonies, classic British songs and choral works and an historic venue – it’s bound to be everyone’s cup of tea.
Tickets: £10, 15, 20, 25, 30 plus booking fee.
Discounts available for concessions / groups of 8+.
Book now online or call the Hackney Empire box office on 020 8985 2424.