Australia’s weird and wonderful black-clad choristers are gearing up for another biennial blast round Britain.
Following triumphant UK tours in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015, they are busy packing multifarious hats in their native New South Wales, ready to whisk themselves away from the eucalyptus-infused Blue Mountains for a whistle-stop run of nearly 30 performances in England, Scotland and Wales – a veritable bounty of big summer festivals, wondrous workshops, and even a top secret Mystery Gig!
There will be first time appearances at WOMAD, Ely Folk Festival and London’s King’s Place, welcome returns to Warwick, Wickham and Sidmouth festivals and performances at iconic venues including Liverpool Philharmonic, Sage, Gateshead and Cardiff’s St David’s Hall.
In their 17 th year and with five studio albums to their name this is a line-up that totally warrants the term ‘unique’. Describing themselves as “equal parts monk, Visigoth and village idiot” they are not afraid to send up the stereotypical male to side-splitting effect. Says Spookmeister (and sole Kiwi) Stephen Taberner (he of the deerstalker hat): “The chorale attempts to explore the paradoxes of latter day masculinity with unbridled enthusiasm, a pleasing array of deep harmonies and a gentle wink towards posterity. We’re trying to master the impossible art of being both musically immaculate and blitheringly stupid.”
Hotfoot from their most ambitious Australian tour to date, the mighty 15-strong line-up’s UK show will run the bizarre gamut of surfing, gluttony, tools, mastodons, Bee Gees, body parts and how to scare off hostile neighbouring tribes – songs from their album The Spooky Man in History and the back catalogue but also from their snug latest CD Warm – an unadulterated album of shiver-down-the-spine Georgian songs.
The Spooky Men’s Chorale UK tour 2017
07/07/2017 Sheldonian Theatre OXFORD
08/07/2017 Ely Folk Festival ELY
10/07/2017 The Apex BURY-ST-EDMUNDS
11/07/2017 Subscription Rooms STROUD
12/07/2017 St David’s Hall CARDIFF
13/07/2017 Philharmonic Hall LIVERPOOL
14/07/2017 Town Hall BIRMINGHAM
14/07/2017 St. Mary’s Church NOTTINGHAM
16/07/2017 The Met BURY
18/07/2017 Sage GATESHEAD
19/07/2017 La Belle Angele EDINBURGH
20/07/2017 Town Hall CASTLE DOUGLAS
21/07/2017 Victoria Hall SETTLE
22/07/2017 Town Hall KENDAL
23/07/2017 The Paramount PENISTONE
25/07/2017 Arts Centre SALISBURY
26/07/2017 Colston Hall BRISTOL
27/07/2017 The Stables Theatre WAVENDON
28/07/2017 Warwick Folk Festival WARWICK
30/07/2017 WOMAD MALMESBURY 5
01/08/2017 Theatre Royal MARGATE
02/08/2017 MYSTERY GIG!
03/08/2017 Kings Place LONDON
04/08/2017 Wickham Festival, Hants WICKHAM
05/08/2017 Sidmouth Folk Week SIDMOUTH
26/08/2017 Towersey Festival THAME
30/08/2017 Corn Exchange DORCHESTER
31/08/2017 Royal Hippodrome Theatre EASTBOURNE
