A COMMUNITY choir is set to take centre stage at an open-air festival this June to help raise funds for a cancer charity.
Euphoria Choir members say they are delighted to have been invited to join an eclectic line up of acts, which organisers hope will make Festival in the Forest at Hamsterley a unique and entertaining event.
Choir founder Amy Foster said: “We’re absolutely over the moon to be asked to perform. It’s all really exciting.
“Although we’ve performed outdoors before this will be our first festival.
“I had no idea when I first suggested the idea of a choir that it would be so popular. But we’re so much more than a singing group, we’re a little community.”
In the two years since the choir was formed it has gone from strength to strength and numbers 40 members now, including three musicians.
However it won’t be hymns you will hear Euphoria belt out, but an interesting mix of rock and pop including some of Queen’s best hits, a little James May and maybe some Four Non Blonde tunes.
The choir originally practised at The Witham and have performed several times at the Barnard Castle venue. Prior to their festival appearance they will join the line up for Sunday Night at The Witham on April 14.
The choir meets weekly on Tuesday evenings to practice at the Startforth Morritt Community Centre.
And although membership is full, member Esther Jackson joked they are always on “the look out for males with a lower vocal tone’”
Festival in the Forest has been organised by the Butterwick Hospice. The nine hour event will see seven acts take to the stage on Saturday, June 29. Alongside Euphoria Choir ukulele band the D’ukes of Scarth will perform as well as Renegade Jukebox, Oily Bum Print, Blister in the Sun, Toni Sidgwick and Connor Hodgson.
For more information or to book tickets, which are £12 per person (under 10s go free), contact Milly on 01388 603003.
