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And look what i found in the time-capsule! A clip from last year’s concert at Blackheath. (Thanks Rod.)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1YapuiXBCo&w=560&h=315]

And the finale song, Solidarity of course! Thanks to Gerri Wood and Barry Spooner for the lovely duet at the start. And the members of the Sydney and Newcastle choirs of course, for joining us.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH6e2aBCpRw&w=640&h=360]

With many thanks to our friends from Sydney and Newcastle Trade Union Choirs who came from their festival gig a little earlier to sing with us at the Blackheath Choir Festival. It was so fab to almost double the numbers on our last 2 songs. You sounded great. Thanks for watching me like a hawk and getting the dynamics right, as well as those pesky ever changing words!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk4QRA_UzqQ&w=560&h=315]

It was a lovely sunny day inside and outside the little old church in Blackheath – packed full of audience – to hear our concert. Here is the video of the Eric Bogle song we sang for the first time. Very moving, well done guys. And a big thanks to our courageous tenors Zlatko Jevic and Rod Mackenzie for singing the heartfelt verses for us.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmn2G4dWbaA&w=560&h=315]

We had a great day at the Blackheath Choir festival, such lovely venue and audience. Plenty of support from the audience with this one, always a crowd pleaser. Especially the line about the bonus for the Chairman of the Board…
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5CECfgzV4E&w=560&h=315]

We’re learning 2 new songs for Blackheath, and here are some practice tracks for you.

Comrades! The May Day toast is on! Off to the Hellenic Club we go. As per tradition, we warmed up in the Disabled toilet, prior to our performance. (Great acoustics!) This year, Arthur (MC) got me a microphone, and I used it to grab attention, announce the songs, and get the crowd involved. Zlatco sang his solo on mic also, to loud rousing cheers of appreciation. Coal Seam Gas went down very well. Run list was: Step by Step, Non ngayajeta, Coal Seam Gas, Solidarity, Internationale.

Mairi’s thoughts on the National Folk Festival in Canberra (and photo courtesy of Bill and Diane):

Singing on the stage with so many people – even if the stage collapsed towards the end – was an amazing experience and one which I will remember for a long time.  Even our quick exit off stage seemed as if it was planned.  Many of my friends thought that was in the plan – that we would sing the last couple of songs down with the audience!  We were so orderly getting off stage it was amazing.

Our street choir gigs went off well I think.

So, a huge thank you to all of us who went to Canberra

I feel so very sorry for those who could not make it.  You missed a great weekend.

A huge thanks also to Catherine’s Mother who made such a lovely banner for us.  We proudly carried it along the street, and it was greatly admired.

When we sang our first streert choir numbers a woman from Dubbo invited us to a Singing Workshop weekend at Dubbo on the first weekend in May.  It sounded really good, so we might like to think about it.

As well, I noticed there is a Dorrigo Folk and Bluegrass Festival on October 26th-28th.  Dorrigo is a beautiful little village on the north coast of NSw.  Maybe we might like to think about that too.

As we said last week, we will not have Choir this coming Thursday.  I think we deserve a bit of a rest.  So see you all on Thursday April 19th.

Regards,
Mairi