We are delighted to announce...

More Workshop Leaders!

at our MAGNIFICENT 12th BlokeFest !!
Friday 9th - Sunday 11th June 2023
​and thought we better mention it before you all get booked up...
See below for more details

With great pleasure we announce the return of

The Return of Roger Jackson and his merry Sea Shantying Cybernauts return - click here to go directly to the CyberSinging page to find out more.
A bit about BlokeFest 2023 plans
We all know that the world is a little less predictable than it used to be, but we very much hope that we can run yet another brilliant weekend of bonhommie and top class BlokeSong in 2023.

And we will be celebrating 15 years of The Magnificent AKs, the originators of BlokeFest, so come along and help us mark this amazing landmark with song, food, singing, and possibily some more singing. 

The essential elements of BlokeFest will remain the same - learning and singing great songs, fantastic food, (some) silly games, a cabaret and of course, good ales and good company.
About 2023's location
We are planning to return to The Cooper’s Arms in Pewsey - more below.

Feedback was that you liked the venue in 2021 and 2022 and it did us proud.

It's a friendly, thatched pub a short walk from the town centre with a big camping field. Being on the edge of town has a number of advantages – there are shops if you’ve forgotten milk for your cornflakes and B&B options if you don’t fancy the canvas option.

We’re also planning on having all BlokeFest activities in the camping field, so workshops will take place in the Big Top and there is a large marquee with a full bar as well as a wonderful vintage van for spirits & cocktails.

Big blokey (suitably socially distanced) hugs to you all
The BlokeFest Inner Circle
In case you ready to register, already...
Then hit the button

BlokeFest....
Men.Singing.And Stuff

"The best all blokes singing weekend you could imagine"

(as you can see...from our BlokeFest 2016 video)

About BlokeFest
Over one weekend in June we will be singing like blokes, acting like men and getting to be one of the guys. 

BlokeFest is a festival by good Blokes for good Blokes, who like singing or think they might if only they could do it in the right way.

Our guiding philosophy is that singing is a truly manly activity as long as you sing the right stuff, in the right way, with the right men:

Think Shanties not shandies
Lumberjack not Timberlake
DiY not R’n'B.

The plan is simple:
We  meet at a suitable venue with campsite and the weekend unfolds...

What? 
Friday Evening
We organize a gathering of the Clans of Blokedom with fellas coming from the stronghold of Ashton Keynes in North, North Wiltshire, the dreaming spires of Oxford, the big Smoke of the London, Shanty Men from Ship-shape Bristol, hordes from the North and many other blokes from all points of the compass and beyond.

Once gathered we will enjoy some sustenance then suitably nourished and invigorated we begin singing with the first Workshop to get us in the mood for the rest of the weekend.
The "BlokeFest Big Top"
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Jolly Bar Games in the sunshine as Jenga gets exciting


Then it is over to the bar for some singing, some bar games, maybe some liquid refreshment, some singing, gathering around the campsite for a natter and bed at a reasonable time - it is a busy day ahead!

Saturday 
To save you catering you can subscribe to Breakfast Specials at the Blokefest  Café or it is D.I.Y. to get yourself roused and nourished for the day ahead.

There will be numerous singing workshops throughout the day and learning blokey songs from some well-known singing men. 

We then plan to have our "Class of 2023" photo session with our official BlokeFest PhotographerMeister taking the one BIG BlokeFest photo of everyone resplendent in their BlokeFest T-Shirts.  It is now traditional to wear your T-Shirt with pride that announces that you are part of this great bunch of blokes.

At some point we may well try to encourage healthy pursuits, such as the legendary "Tonsorial Titan Challenge" where we judge who is the fairest of the hairiest in all the land.

Keeping you going throughout the day we will break for a communal lunch time meal, then some more singing workshops.

And we are also seeing if we can organize the return of an Ice Cream Van, and maybe a little something more as well...

There may also be some more "CyberSinging" sessions where blokes who have been learning pieces via the internet finally meet in person to consolidate the songs in person.

A bit more of a sing then we will assemble again for another meal  before we congregate for the remarkable moment when we are entertained by the gathered throng with the world famous "BlokeFest Cabaret".

We end the evening with more liquid refreshment and a bit more singing.
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BlokeFest 2016 5th Birthday Party
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Rainbow Blokes
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The Ice cream Van may happen again
The Class of BlokeFest 2018
Sunday
To get you going there will be Breakfast Specials at the BlokeFest Café or D.I.Y.

We have a Sunday Morning Singing Workshop to remember what we learned the day before and then possibly a gentle walk in the afternoon, but still all to be confirmed.

All plans are still, er, in plan, and subject to change but hopefully that gives you enough to be going on with for now.
 
The Ancient Tug o' War gets exciting
BlokeFest Tickets
Here is what you got for your ticket money this year.
Full Weekend Ticket - Big Bloke or Youth Bloke
Two night's camping* + 
Four catered Meals +
Five Workshops

Friday night Workshop activities +
Friday evening meal +
All the other workshops +
Saturday Lunch AND Evening Meal + 
The Saturday Night entertainment including the BlokeFest Cabaret +
The Sunday Workshops & events + "Traveller's Lunch"

Class of this year Photo +
Final Parting songs
Saturday Day Only Ticket - Big Bloke or Youth Bloke
All three Saturday workshop sessions + 
Saturday Lunch & Evening Meal + 
The evening entertainment
Please note:  There has been a slight increase in the cost of Weekend ticket prices, but this has been kept well below the increase of some of our costs and the general increase in the cost of living, so represents even better value than before, in our humble opinion.
In case you ready to register...
Click on the button below to get signed up for BlokeFest.
Why?
BlokeFest is the deranged brainchild of The Magnificent AKs, (depicted in some of their manly glory to the right) - they're the Singing Blokes of Ashton Keynes of North, North Wiltshire in the border badlands with Mid South East Gloucestershire.

They’ve been singing and performing their own brand of testosterone stoked tomfoolery since 2008 and wanted to share the adventure with other men so dreamed up BlokeFest.

Visit their website at themagnificentaks.com to read about their many, many adventures and their 15th anniversary.
Who?  The Organisers
Blokes of the Best kind
Since the concept of BlokeFest popped into being we have been very lucky to have had a brilliant set of Blokes beavering away for months in the background to attend to every detail to make the weekend the highlight of the year for so many others.

If you spot them without a drink in their hand, do the right thing and offer to buy them a pint for all the hours of hard graft they put in making the whole event happen!
Who?  The Workshop Leaders
At BlokeFest we pride ourselves with being able to get some of the absolute top talent of the Choir Leaders and have helped many nurture their careers with our special "BlokeFest Experience" of harnessing our motley crew into beautiful harmony singing in a ridiculously short time.

We have a few exciting announcements up our sleeves and a couple more eyes and teas to cross and dot, so full details very soon.

Chris Samuel
Master of Ceremonies & the legend that is...

The embodiment of a top singing bloke if ever there was one. He leads five community choirs including The Magnificent AKs and performs with the awesome Spooky Men's Chorale when they tour the UK and Europe.  He is also one of the Artist Curators for the Nationally recognised Voices Now.

He enjoys legendary status with all who know him for being a very generous performer and a gifted teacher - you should hear what he has managed to do with The Magnificent AKs, turning them from a bunch of pot bellied blokes from North North Wiltshire to being "the sound of testosterone" and a formidable sonic formation and a terrific show.
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Chris beaming with his surprise Cow Pie at BlokeFest 2016

Anna Tabbush
Choir Leader / Festival Leader / Inspiration

Anna also sings with highly acclaimed a cappella quartet, Oaken and professional women’s choir, Corra Sound. She also organises SingFest, a weekend of singing in Surrey now in its 17th year. 

Anna will need no introduction to many BlokeFest regulars who also enjoy attending our brother event, Singing in the Shed (SitS), as she has led workshops there for a couple of times to great acclaim. 

Anna is somewhat of a veteran of the community choir world with over 20 years of choir leading experience under her belt. Her compositions are sung by choirs up and down the country and around the world.

Anna also sings with highly acclaimed a cappella quartet, Oaken and professional women’s choir, Corra Sound. She also organises SingFest, a weekend of singing in Surrey now in its 17th year.
There’s something about Anna that makes her different from all the other workshop leaders we’ve had at Blokefest - we can't quite work out what it is… could it be her joie de vivre?  Her ability to hit those higher notes?

Could it be her arrangement of “Why do fools fall in love” that was the huge hit with attendees at SitS in 2019?  You can witness it’s beauty in this clip and we are delighted to welcome her to BlokeFest for the first time, knowing she will not only lead a crackingly good workshop but will also play a big part in the pub singing! 

Check out some of her back catalog, including the haunting Harbour, which many of us know and will hopefully get a chance to sing, at www.annatabbush.com.

Craig McLeish
Conductor / Arranger / Choir Leader/ Top Bloke

We welcome back the wonderful Craig McLeish who left us with an absolute BlokeFest Belter, his version of “We’re your friends”, which is still a staple in the set of The Magnificent AKs to this day as their opening song and a complete classic.

We are hopeful for another pearler from this exceptionally talented and super smiley bloke and also very much hope we can lure him to the pub singing to teach him more about the ways of the PubSong!
According to his website, Craig McLeish has been Musical Director of Young Voices UK for over 19 years, composing, selecting and arranging a varied programme of music for large school choirs to sing together in arenas across the UK with live band and solo artists, and, has directed many of the UK’s top artists, including BlokeFest...!

Find out more at https://craigmcleish.com
Ben & Dom
Performers / Arrangers / Choir Leaders / Double Value
Another returning workshop leader is the now legendary Dom Stichbury, he of BlokeFest, Singing in the Shed, The Spooky Men’s Chorale, Chap’s Choir, BellowFellows fame, which is quite a roll call of honour in the canon of BlokeSong.

Dom was an instant hit from the second he started at BlokeFest, longer than we can (accurately) remember, although we are pretty sure it was for our 2016 event, when he blew us away with his confidence, capability and general all round loveliness, coaxing quality singing from all within earshot.

Dom also has a strong connection with Anna being part of a top-flight vocal group Oaken, whom some of us have been lucky to witness in action on stage and running workshops.
Dom is now part of a singing duo of beautiful, mellifluous music in the shape of Ben & Dom and the pair will be gracing us with their vocal talents and workshopping skills.

Ben & Dom have taken their voices and songs around the UK. Recent performances include a set at Cambridge Folk Festival, opening for The Young ‘Uns at Blaxhall and supporting Tom Robinson with his band and solo.

Their debut EP ‘Shoulder’ has 
been well received by audiences and industry, with widespread coverage on blogs and radio “Just amazing” (Tom Robinson). Their songs have been played on BBC 6Music & Radio 3.

You can find out much more about these talented and generous singers at their website https://www.benanddom.com/.  
Andrew Price
Wearer of Suits / Leader of Choirs / Practitioner of BlokeSong
Andrew has been singing with Melbourne's Men in Suits for 13 years, and has been co-director of the group for the last five. 

He also founded and directs a local community choir, the Woodend Warblers, which now has over 60 regular members, and regularly runs pop-up choir projects with Fred Smith doing his Urban Sea Shanties material.

He loves getting people together to sing, and believes that, not only can everyone sing, they can do it together in a way that sounds amazing!
Men in Suits explore the workings of the male mind hidden behind the business suit. Using harmonic delight, these men reflect on issues confronting the modern male.

They sing wittily inappropriate songs to unsuspecting audiences in an eclectic, irreverent style, covering a wide range of material.

Check out some of his back catalog, including the stereotype busting "The Loaner Tie", which explains why he may be wearing a suit in the photo above, but no neck ornament at https://meninsuits.com.au/.
Roger Jackson
Song writer supreme / Song Leader / Utter BlokeFest Legend
What can we say about Roger? 

Simply that he is a top bloke, has been with us since the very beginning and is an utter legend and we love him!

Join his CyberSinging session and you will see what we mean.
He has been a stalwart of the CyberSinging concept where we put out a piece ahead of the event, blokes become familiar with piece and Roger helps hone then during the course of the weekend.

See more on the CyberSinging Page.

Where is it? 
By popular request (by some...), this year we are returning again to darkest mid Wiltshire camping at, and drinking in  The Coopers Arms near Pewsey in the heart of Wiltshire.

We will be making better use of the bar space to give more room for the singing in the pub in a Covid-aware way - but what fabulous sessions. 

The venue for BlokeFest can be found at

The Coopers Arms
37-39 Ball Rd
Pewsey
SN9 5BL

Phone: +44 (0)1672562495

Email:  thecoopersarmspewsey@outlook.com
Web: https://www.facebook.com/The-Coopers-Arms-Pewsey-2210505409212212/

QUOTE UNQUOTE
“BlokeFest has always been surprisingly good fun but BlokeFest 2016 surpassed all others.  It was just brilliant from start to finish.  Some great pub singing, amazing workshops, quite stupendous range of talent in the Cabaret and most of all a wonderful relaxed and friendly atmosphere.  And to top it all the Concert Party was just such a wonderful example of simple, heartfelt fun - can't wait till the next one, I'm smiling already thinking about it."

A very satisfied BlokeFest 2016 attendee.  One of very many!

QUOTE UNQUOTE
"Speak with a man, and he becomes your friend.  Sing with a man and he becomes your brother.  And we have brothers all over the country." 
A rather emotional and very happy BlokeFest 2016 organiser! 
(With thanks to Sara Mohr-Pietsch of Radio 3 fame for the original quote)
Just in case you still want to know more...
You can find most of the "Frequently Asked Questions" and "Occasionally Asked Awkward Questions" by clicking here.
But in case you're ready to register...
Click on the button below to get signed up for BlokeFest.