We are delighted to announce...
We are planning our second decade
the 11th BlokeFest
Friday 17th - Sunday 19th June 2022
and thought we better mention it before you all get booked up...
We are planning our second decade
the 11th BlokeFest
Friday 17th - Sunday 19th June 2022
and thought we better mention it before you all get booked up...
A bit about BlokeFest 2022 plans
We all know what happened in 2020 in the real world...
In BlokeFest World we managed to host a thoroughly enjoyable day-long Global "Virtual" BlokeFest event on-the-line, which meant we were able to gather to enjoy workshops, videos and banter as well as the late-night whisky club with blokes from both hemispheres.
In 2021 we had been planning big things for our 10th Anniversary, but what with everything else that happened we had to have a smaller, very Covid-aware event later in the year.
And now, for 2022, we are hoping we can get many more of us back together to simply enjoy the simple pleasure of gathering and singing. Fingers crossed!!
In BlokeFest World we managed to host a thoroughly enjoyable day-long Global "Virtual" BlokeFest event on-the-line, which meant we were able to gather to enjoy workshops, videos and banter as well as the late-night whisky club with blokes from both hemispheres.
In 2021 we had been planning big things for our 10th Anniversary, but what with everything else that happened we had to have a smaller, very Covid-aware event later in the year.
And now, for 2022, we are hoping we can get many more of us back together to simply enjoy the simple pleasure of gathering and singing. Fingers crossed!!
About 2022's location
We are currently planning to return to The Cooper’s Arms in Pewsey - more below.
Feedback was that you liked the venue in 2021 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.
We are currently planning to return to The Cooper’s Arms in Pewsey - more below.
Feedback was that you liked the venue in 2021 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.
However...
If the last two years have taught us nothing else, all plans are "subject to change" so we are preparing to be adaptable
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 beer and good company.
Big blokey (suitably socially distanced) hugs to you all
The BlokeFest Inner Circle
If the last two years have taught us nothing else, all plans are "subject to change" so we are preparing to be adaptable
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 beer and good company.
Big blokey (suitably socially distanced) hugs to you all
The BlokeFest Inner Circle
In case you ready to register, already...
Click on the button below to get signed up for BlokeFest.
Click on the button below to get signed up for BlokeFest.
Else, read on a bit more...
BlokeFest....
Men.Singing.And Stuff
"The best all blokes singing weekend you could imagine"
(as you can see...from our BlokeFest 2016 video)
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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... |
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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
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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! |
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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. 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. |
BlokeFest 2016 5th Birthday Party
Rainbow Blokes
The Ice cream Van may happen again
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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. We then plan to have our "Class of 2022" 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. 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 Tug o' War gets exciting
The Class of BlokeFest 2018
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BlokeFest Tickets
Here is what you got for your ticket money this year.
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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 |
In case you ready to register...
Click on the button below to get signed up for BlokeFest.
Click on the button below to get signed up for BlokeFest.
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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 10th anniversary. |
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Who? The Organisers
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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!
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.
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Chris Samuel
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. |
Chris beaming with his surprise Cow Pie at BlokeFest 2016
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Chris curates the Workshop Leaders and will be taking our "Friday Night Welcome to BlokeFest" workshop.
He has been one of the blokes most instrumental in making BlokeFest happen from the very beginning and must have helped hundreds of blokes to #getmensinging and is looking forward to helping many more enjoy the highlight of the summer at this year's event.
Find out more from http://www.singingwithattitude.com/ and he currently gigs with an offshoot of those Aussie blokes in the UK version A Fistful of Spookies.
He has been one of the blokes most instrumental in making BlokeFest happen from the very beginning and must have helped hundreds of blokes to #getmensinging and is looking forward to helping many more enjoy the highlight of the summer at this year's event.
Find out more from http://www.singingwithattitude.com/ and he currently gigs with an offshoot of those Aussie blokes in the UK version A Fistful of Spookies.
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Leaders x 4
Utter Top Blokes Back by popular demand, our favourite multi-headed, land lubber, scurvy dogs of salty singing minstrels that ever we clapped eyes on, the brilliant shanty men, The Roaring Trowmen! |
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These hearty men sing sea shanties, and much more. Hear old favourites combined with original new songs, delivered with passion, harmony and plenty of silly banter!
They have been performing together for over 8 years, building a strong reputation and fanbase both nationally and internationally. Inspired by the heritage of their home city of Bristol, they love their sea shanties, but include other songs with any watery theme.
At times you’ll be clapping and stomping along with them, next you’ll be melted by their glorious harmonies, then groaning at their terrible jokes.... They have graced us with their presence and immense manly harmonies in previous years and promise to receive a warm welcome from us all so come and get nautical with the Trowmen!
Whatever they bring along to teach we are sure to be in for a treat - see if you can spot them in action on our BlokeFest 2016 video. And no doubt they will be very close to the bar in the evenings!
Find out more about them at https://roaringtrowmen.co.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/RoaringTrowmen/ and no doubt other places. And they may mention that they have got a new roaringtrowmen.co.uk/musicCD's worth of material for you to purchase, and no doubt will mention this a couple of times during the weekend! Nip over to https://roaringtrowmen.co.uk/music to find out more.
They have been performing together for over 8 years, building a strong reputation and fanbase both nationally and internationally. Inspired by the heritage of their home city of Bristol, they love their sea shanties, but include other songs with any watery theme.
At times you’ll be clapping and stomping along with them, next you’ll be melted by their glorious harmonies, then groaning at their terrible jokes.... They have graced us with their presence and immense manly harmonies in previous years and promise to receive a warm welcome from us all so come and get nautical with the Trowmen!
Whatever they bring along to teach we are sure to be in for a treat - see if you can spot them in action on our BlokeFest 2016 video. And no doubt they will be very close to the bar in the evenings!
Find out more about them at https://roaringtrowmen.co.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/RoaringTrowmen/ and no doubt other places. And they may mention that they have got a new roaringtrowmen.co.uk/musicCD's worth of material for you to purchase, and no doubt will mention this a couple of times during the weekend! Nip over to https://roaringtrowmen.co.uk/music to find out more.
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Marius Frank
Performer / Arranger / Choir Leader / Bassist Marius is known to many blokes at BlokeFest from his inspiring work with the all-female choir "Sassparella", where he has been musical director for a decade and who have held several joint concerts with The Magnificent AKs.
Marius is based around the Bath area were he has been working as a community choir leader for two decades and recently started up his own choral group, Sasspafellas, who are developing a unique style all of their own. A band of brothers who are not afraid of the unexpected, the eclectic and the humorous, exploring the joy of singing together… even during the Covid crisis. He is former Director of Music at Fairfield High School, top electric bass and keyboard player, so expect some interesting stuff in his session. More about Mariue at https://sassparella.net/sasspafellas. |
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Sam Burns
Performer / Arranger / Choir Leader / Inspirer What can one say about the inimitable Mr Burns...?
Sam has been inspiring people to sing and perform for what seems like forever, from his early days as Smokin' Sam Burns, keyboards, saxophone, vocals in The Moonflowers, legendary Bristol 1980s band and beyond, to his quite outstanding and inspiring work as a choirmeister of the highest energy and intensity. He has been the inspiration behind the mighty Gurt Lush Choir, bastions of the Bristol music scene for so many memorable performances - find time to check out their immense back catalog at https://www.youtube.com/user/Gurtlushchoir/videos. Sam has also set up and run Bristol ManChorus, another insipring group and we hope to welcome many of them along with a very big, brother-in-song welcome to the man himself, returning to BlokeFest after too long. |
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CyberSinging is coming back!
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It is with immense pleasure that we welcome back once again composer, singer, choir leader, guitarist, Bluegrass mandoliner extraordinaire and the general all round BlokeFest Legend that is Mr Roger Jackson.
We have been lucky enough to his presence since the very first BlokeFest when he taught us his very own composition "(Alone in my) Shed" which has been a firm favourite of The Magnificent AKs ever since, only to be surpassed by another "BlokeFest Special", the phenomenal "Man flu". Roger's infectious enthusiasm is ideal to help nurture along whoever turns up to join this unique "for one night only" choir. More details to follow soon(ish). |
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)
“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.
You can find most of the "Frequently Asked Questions" and "Occasionally Asked Awkward Questions" by clicking here.
But in case you ready to register...
Click on the button below to get signed up for BlokeFest.
Click on the button below to get signed up for BlokeFest.
