Saturday 15th October, saw Rob and I off to the Elgiva Theatre in Chesham to take part in an evening of Barber Shop music organised by the Barber Shop choir known as The Knights of Harmony. Every year the Knights hold a concert and every year they invite a musical act from a different genre to add a little variety into the evening.
Rob and I have been lucky over the years to have been well treated by a whole range of folk club and festival organisers. However, the welcome from the Knights of Harmony was truly remarkable. They had thought of everything and they were kind and helpful to us throughout. We were given a superb green room, which we shared with national Barber Shop champions Steel and next door to the national female champions, Miss Demeanour. When we got in there, there were sandwiches, fruit and water waiting for us. We were given a hand to get our kit in and out of the building, and on and off the stage – all done with the cheeriest of smiles and good humour. We had chance to do a full and proper sound check with an excellent p.a. and sound technician while the Knights of harmony, who would be confined to their dressing room once the show began, taking the chance to listen to us and cheer us on. We likewise took the chance to watch Steel, Miss Demeanour and the Knights of Harmony all do their sound checks. This is a kind of music which I am very unfamiliar with - other than seeing it on films in my youth. So, it was a real treat to see it up close and in colour! There is so much skill in those arrangements and harmonies.
As the time for the show approached, we retreated to the green room feeling more than slightly under-dressed for the occasion. This was a proper show with co-ordinated suits and things! However, no-one seemed to mind. We watched the Knights and Miss Demeanour perform on the TV provided in the green room. We then tip-toed to the back of the stage and, with military precision and the very kindest of words from the MC, were brought on stage to do our first 15 minute slot, which seemed to go down very well – ours were the only instruments played all evening, the rest was all acapella. Then Steel came on, wearing their national medals, and took the concert to a rousing first half end.
Following the break, a slightly different order was adopted but we did a further well appreciated 15 minutes, retreated to the green room to watch the rest of the show. We then returned to the stage to re-join with all of the other acts for the grand finale – a song called The Irish Blessing. Thankfully, we had had an earlier rehearsal of this, new-to-us song and, as such, we did a better job of joining in than John Redwood, the former Tory Minister did when caught on telly trying to sing the Welsh National Anthem when he was Secretary of State for Wales.
After the show, as is the tradition with barber Shop concerts, Steel and Miss Demeanour did some further song renditions in the theatre bar amongst members of the audience. This is something that is known in Barber Shop circles as the ‘afterglow’ – which seems a very apt term for that time after a good live performance. To join in with the spirit of the evening, Rob and I did a few extra danzas.
There was genuine interest all night from the most genuine of people in our music and instruments. We also saw some good CD sales and gathered a few names for our mailing list. This was a really lovely experience and we are very very grateful to all at the Knights of Harmony for giving us such a night to remember, and we hope they will remember us too for our contribution to what a truly excellent event.