New beginnings.
In Autumn 2024, taking a break from HCS Voices, I returned to Holmfirth Tech for the first time since the pandemic. Previously the home to the Singing for Fun group but this time to sing with Dan Price’s Soul Choir.
The Soul Choir sings a varied mix of Soul styles including Motown, Blues and Gospel, learning by ear. On my first evening with the choir, we covered uplifting songs by Bob Marley, Carole King, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield and Diana Ross & The Supremes.
On my second evening Dan introduced me to the Northern Soul group MVPS and their hit ‘Turning Their Heartbeat Up’ that he had arranged in three parts. A really enjoyable sing amongst a list of foot tappers!
Holmfirth Picturedrome
My first gig with the Soul Choir saw a return to the Holmfirth Picturedrome, this time in the main theatre rather than the Box Office Bar. The rehearsal midweek had been my first time in the main theatre, despite having performed in the Box Office bar 3 times with Open Mic nights including with the Singing for Fun group.
That was a really good experience with an excellent band, great songs and a brilliant audience reaction. Our seven song set:
- River Deep, Mountain High (Tina Turner)
- Is This Love (Bob Marley)
- Son of a Preacher Man (Dusty Springfield)
- Ain’t no Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye / Tammi Terrel)
- The Night (Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons)
- Caravan of Love (The HouseMartins)
- You’re wondering now (The Specials)
The Huddersfield Gospel Choir delivered some delicious harmonies and joyful sing-along.
Meanwhile the young True Talent performers melted the hearts of everyone with their enthusiasm and captivating delivery.
Leaving the stage whilst singing ‘You’re wondering now’ by The Specials is a very special memory of the concert.
Christmas Sing-along
Our final event for 2024 was a joyful Christmas sing-along at a packed Holmfirth Civic Hall.
We really didn’t want it to end! So we managed to coax Dan into reprising the ‘Caravan of Love’, originally by the Housemartins, a song that we had performed at the ‘Sing into Christmas’ concert at Holmfirth Picturedrome.
New Year, New Venue
The Soul Choir entered the new year with exciting developments and new songs. The Wednesday & Thursday sessions at Holmfirth Tech have now merged in order to create a space in Dan’s schedule to host a new branch in Wakefield on Thursdays.
To accommodate the merger the choir also relocated to the Holmfirth Methodist Church. It was sad to be leaving Holmfirth Tech again but this new venue works really well.
Marsden Cuckoo Festival
The Marsden Cuckoo Festival is held annually in April. Marsden village celebrates the return of the cuckoo and the hailing of spring’s return.
The Soul Choir performed in St Bartholomew’s Church.
We had a nine song soul set for our 40 minute slot but the audience wanted more so we performed two encores.
Honley Show 2025
The Soul Choir is set to return to the Honley Show on the 28th June, 2025. I joined the Choir in Autumn 2024 so missed this experience of performing at another Honley Festival.
I last performed in Honley at the Christmas Lights Switch on with The Awesome Choir of Rock back in 2018