Back for its magnificent
SEVENTH
glorious year
BlokeFest RETURNS
Friday 15th - Sunday 17th June 2018
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About BlokeFest 2018
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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Workshop warm-up exercises making "scary faces"
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Then it is over to the pub for some singing, some pub games, maybe some liquid refreshment, some singing, gathering around a big BlokeFest Bonfire 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. Keeping you going throughout the day we will break for a communal lunch time meal, then some more singing and then a returning favourite from the last couple of years, the "Elective Session", where attendees pick one of the sessions that focus on a particular aspect of singing in smaller group. And we are also seeing if we can organize the return of an Ice Cream Van, and maybe a little something more as well...! 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", where the blokes entertain each other performing song, skits and recitations, and one or two surprises this year.... |
BlokeFest 2016 5th Birthday Party
Ice cream may happen again
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We end the evening with more liquid refreshment and a bit more singing in the pub and gathering around a big BlokeFest Bonfire.
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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 and then we do some things to encourage healthy pursuits, such as the legendary "Tonsorial Titan Challenge" where we judge who is the fairest hairiest in all the land, and the testosterone engendering "Tug o' War" contest where blokes get suddenly everso politely competitive! We then plan to have our "Class of 2018" 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. And to finish off this year we are planning a BlokeFest Farewell! when we have a have a final song and break camp. Sunday lunch this year is a sort it out yourself affair either getting a pre-booked "Cricket Tea Traveler's Lunch" baguette from the BlokeFest Café, snaffling some food in the pub, or other source of sustenance before wending your merry way home, smiling all the way as you reminisce about another great event. |
The Tug o' War gets exciting
BlokeFest 2017's whiskery contenders
BlokeFest 2016 5th Birthday sing
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BlokeFest 2018 Tickets
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Full Weekend Ticket - £90 or Youth £45
Two night's camping* + Three catered Meals + Five Workshops Friday night Workshop activities + Friday evening meal + All the other workshops + Saturday Lunch AND Evening Meal + The entertainment evening + The Sunday Workshops & events + Class of 2018 Photo + Final Parting songs |
Saturday Day Only Ticket - £65 or Youth £35 *
All three Saturday workshop sessions + Saturday Lunch & Evening Meal + The evening entertainment * - We appreciate this skews things towards the Full Weekend tickets and this is intentional to encourage full participation even if it might be mathematically imbalanced!! We hope you understand the ethos we are trying to encourage. ;-) |
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Why?
BlokeFest is the deranged brainchild of The Magnificent AK47, (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 themagnificentak47.com to read about their many, many adventures as they sail towards their 10th anniversary this very year. |
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Who?
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Chris Samuel
The embodiment of a top singing bloke if ever there was one. He leads five community choirs including The Magnificent AK47 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 AK47, 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.
Other Workshop Leaders - tbc
We are very excited about some of the new names and some firm favourites who will be returning but will let you know exactly who very shortly.
We are very excited about some of the new names and some firm favourites who will be returning but will let you know exactly who very shortly.
Elective Sessions - you get to chose
A new innovation and MASSIVELY popular at BlokeFest 2015 was the introduction of "Optional Sessions" where the attendees get to chose which session they want to, er, attend, if at all.
The plan is that you will work on a piece or two that you can bond together and maybe showcase in the BlokeFest Cabaret later that evening.
More details soon!
A new innovation and MASSIVELY popular at BlokeFest 2015 was the introduction of "Optional Sessions" where the attendees get to chose which session they want to, er, attend, if at all.
The plan is that you will work on a piece or two that you can bond together and maybe showcase in the BlokeFest Cabaret later that evening.
More details soon!
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Where?
This year we are returning again to darkest mid Wiltshire camping at, and drinking in The Bruce 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 as it was a bit of a squash in 2015 - but what a fabulous session. And a similarly brilliant session was had in 2016 so we are looking forward to another great sing. The venue for BlokeFest can be found at The Bruce Arms Easton Road Easton Royal Pewsey Wiltshire SN9 5LR We will also be coordinating a "Cycle to BlokeFest", the place is easily accessible by road and Pewsey has a rail station only a couple of miles from the pub. Phone: 01672 810216 Mobile: 07968 580804 Email: thebrucearms@btconnect.com |
The Bruce Arms at night
Classic old pub sign
Worthy recipient of a CAMRA Blue Plaque
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The Bruce Arms, nicknamed the Gammon, is situated between the villages of Easton Royal and Milton Lilbourne near Pewsey in Wiltshire. Built between 1848 and 1855 by the Salmonach Estate, which owned many pubs. It came about after the original Coaching Inn, The Gammon of Bacon, situated opposite, burnt down. The only part of the Inn remaining is the water pump - which still works!
There is access via foot or cycle to the the glorious Pewsey Vale - Crofton Beam Engines, Wilton Windmill and the Kennet and Avon Canal. The Games Room offers Darts, Pool, Table Tennis, Skittles and even Short Mat Bowls plus of course the space for whatever we want to do and we will have our very own BlokeFest Big Top ! for the workshops and Cabaret. |
CyberSinging
No need to worry about signing up just yet, all will be revealed soon, but you can read more on the CyberSinging page.
No need to worry about signing up just yet, all will be revealed soon, but you can read more on the CyberSinging page.
In case you still need convincing, have a look at our video from BlokeFest 2016.
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!
“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!
In 2017, BlokeFest went "international" with our first trip to Wales with a hugely successful BlokeFest Cymru, featuring songs in Welsh in a fabulous setting in Anglesey where we were blessed with amazing weather as you can see from our collage
Got this far down the page without registering...?
Then nip over to the Registration page to sign up before all the places get snaffled up by others.
Then nip over to the Registration page to sign up before all the places get snaffled up by others.
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.