Fascinating Rhythm Delights at Singing City in St George’s Bristol

On Saturday, 31st May 2025, Fascinating Rhythm took to the stage as part of the first session of Singing City, a joyful day-long celebration of community choirs at the stunning St George’s Bristol. The event, part of the city’s Festival of Voice, brought together vocal groups from across the region in one of the country’s finest acoustic venues.

The day began with a warm and spirited group vocal warm-up led by Dan Pate, representing Choirs for Good, Big Friendly Choir, and Riff Raff. With everyone’s voices gently awakened and the atmosphere buzzing with anticipation, the session unfolded beautifully. First to perform were the uplifting Choirs for Good.

When it was our turn to perform, we brought a well-crafted and emotionally rich set to the stage, featuring:

• “And So It Goes” – This Billy Joel classic moved many in the audience to tears, its emotional delivery resonating powerfully in the moment.
• “Feeling Good” – Full of confidence and flair, this rendition captured the strength and vibrancy of the chorus.
• “Anthem” – A powerful piece from Chess, performed with intensity and passion.
• “With a Little Help From My Friends” – A feel-good, friendship-filled closer that brought smiles all around.

Next on stage were the Bristol Phoenix Choir, with their elegant harmonies and then the deeply inspiring Rising Voices, a recovery choir whose performance resonated deeply with many in the audience. To close the session, Sophie Wilsdon from Rising Voices led everyone in a unifying group sing, teaching us all the beautiful and empowering “You Don’t Have to Carry It All” by Penny Stone—bringing singers and audience together in one heartfelt final moment.

The acoustics at St George’s were extraordinary, allowing every note to ring out with clarity and warmth. Performing in such a beautiful venue was a true highlight, and our harmonies were met with enthusiastic applause and heartfelt praise.

We were honoured to receive lovely feedback from Samir Savant, Chief Executive of St George’s, who complimented the quality and impact of our set. Fellow choir members and audience members alike praised our tight harmonies and emotional delivery—especially following “And So It Goes.”

A big shout-out goes to Lesley, who directed us seamlessly through the performance —“she remembered everything!”

Our ‘Sing Happy’ course earlier this year welcomed some wonderful new members into the group, and for many of them, Singing City marked their very first public performance – and they were absolutely fantastic!”

Also, special thanks to the friendly chap  from Choirs for Good, who kindly took photos of us while we were on stage, capturing the magic of the moment for us.

“Ladies Who Lunch” – Post-Performance Celebrations

After a morning of singing and enjoying all the performances, we treated ourselves to a well-earned ‘social’ and embraced our inner “ladies who lunch.” Our destination? The ever-delicious Moltobuono on Park Street, where we enjoyed a relaxed and sociable lunch—what better way to complete a fulfilling musical morning in the best way.

We were also delighted and grateful that Clair’s mum Anne had travelled to support us on her birthday and we serenaded her with a harmonious rendition of Happy Birthday!

Singing Together, Supporting Each Other

Singing City was a beautiful reminder of the power of music to bring people together. From shared warm-ups to communal songs and powerful individual performances, the atmosphere was one of support, inclusion, and joy.

We’re proud to have shared the stage with so many fantastic choirs and to have contributed to a morning full of harmony and heart.