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Last March, in order to celebrate their Diamond Jubilee, Gledholt Male Voice Choir Huddersfield organised a Real Ale Festival; this year they are organising another one. This year’s festival is in celebration of nothing in particular unless, of course, they are celebrating the success of last year’s festival which, for a first attempt, was very successful indeed.
The choir promised and delivered 15 different Real Ales including their festival beer ‘Gledholt Guzzler’ which was brewed by Mallinson’s Brewery; literally a stone’s throw away from Heritage Lofts, the festival’s venue. They also promised a ‘right good do’ on the Saturday evening session and, to this end, they organised a ‘Big Sing’. That is to say that they arranged for a conductor, a pianist and a piano for the pianist to play, sent out a few emails to other, local male voice choirs and hoped for the best. Needless to say their optimism was entirely justified and approximately 50 thirsty singers representing approximately 6 male voice choirs entertained a packed Bistro at Heritage Lofts with an impromptu concert. This year they will present another 15 Real Ales including ‘Gledholt Guzzler II (Guzzler’s Revenge)’. However, in light of last year’s experience, all 15 will be available simultaneously and there will be a ‘drinking up session’ on the Sunday afternoon. The dates of this year’s festival are 11th, 12th and 13th of March and the venue is the same as last year the Bistro at Heritage Lofts, Wellington Mills, Oakes, which is situated about 2 miles from Huddersfield town centre and is easily reached by the 370, 371, 537 and 538 buses, which stop outside Wellington Mills and also the 343 or 501 which stop in Lindley, which is a 5-minute walk away; further details will be available shortly and the event will be advertised locally. This Lindley based choir have a proud history of raising money for charity and supporting young musicians; in recent years they have supported, in particular, Hollybank Trust and Classic FM’s charity, Music Makers. This year the charity that they are supporting is Kirklees Music School which does an incredible job in encouraging young people to participate actively in making music. The Kirklees Music School Orchestra will be the guest artists at our Annual Gala Concert at Huddersfield Town Hall on the 14th May 2011 and they are well worth hearing. A spokesman for the choir has assured me that there will be another ‘Big Sing’ this year and they will be even more organised than last year. In addition on the Friday evening, there will be a pianist playing. Food will be available and if Gledholt’s second annual Real Ale Festival is as good as the first it will, indeed, be a ‘right good do’.
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