Pub Choir Explained

Origin:Brisbane, Australia
Years Active:2017-present
Genre:Choral Music, Popular Music
Website:www.pubchoir.com.au

Pub Choir is a musical act founded in Brisbane, Australia, directed by Astrid Jorgensen.[1] [2] [3]

At each Pub Choir event Jorgensen arranges a popular song and teaches it to the audience in three-part harmony, concluding with a performance which is filmed and shared on social media.[4] There is no formal recurring membership and participants purchase tickets to attend each show, which is usually held at a licensed venue.

Background

The first Pub Choir event was held in West End, Brisbane at venue The Bearded Lady in March 2017. At the inaugural event 80 attendees learned Jorgensen's arrangement of "Slice of Heaven" by Dave Dobbyn. Jorgensen founded Pub Choir "to help regular people reclaim music in their lives, free of pressure or judgement".

In November 2017 Pub Choir's rendition of Zombie by The Cranberries went viral on the internet,[5] and was shared by the band themselves shortly after the death of lead singer, Dolores O’Riordan.[6] Other artists including Mariah Carey,[7] Radiohead,[8] Sir Barry Gibb,[9] The Killers[10] and Kiss[11] have also praised and shared Pub Choir's arrangements of their songs. In 2022, Pub Choir's video of "Running Up That Hill" garnered international media attention when Kate Bush shared a statement describing the performance as "utterly, utterly wonderful!".[12] [13]

Pub Choir has held events widely around Australia,[14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] as well as in New Zealand,[21] the United States[22] and England. On 5 April 2018 Pub Choir performed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[23] On 20 July 2019 Pub Choir performed at Splendour In The Grass.[24]

Jorgensen created a form of musical notation incorporating colour-coded contoured text and comedic visual cues to teach at Pub Choir, so that musical literacy is not required for audience participation.[25]

The term Pub Choir was coined by Jorgensen, and is trademarked.[26] [27]

Special guests

Pub Choir has featured guest appearances by several notable musicians and celebrities. The first guest appearance in March 2018 by John Collins of Powderfinger for a performance of "My Happiness" received significant media attention, with a three-page feature in The Australian by journalist Andrew McMillen and a long-form radio piece on ABC's Radio National Breakfast program, hosted by Fran Kelly.[28]

In 2018 other notable musical guests included:

In 2019 musical guests included:

In 2020 musical guests included:

In 2022 guests included:

In 2018 Pub Choir was featured in Hit Network's national advertising campaign, with multiple presenters appearing at shows including Grant Denyer, Dave Hughes, Kate Langbroek, and Ed Kavalee.[29]

Philanthropy

Pub Choir has regularly partnered with local charities, often donating a portion of ticket sales and raising money at events.

In 2018 Pub Choir raised over $19,000 for the charity MND and Me in honour of Pub Choir regular attendee, John Hanley. Subsequently, John Hanley's involvement with Pub Choir caught the attention of ABC TV producers for the show "The Recording Studio",[30] in which Hanley was featured in the inaugural episode on 16 April 2019.[31]

On 20 December 2018 Pub Choir sold out a Christmas event at Brisbane City Hall for a performance of "How to Make Gravy" by Paul Kelly. Samuel Johnson (OAM) was the guest speaker, and the event raised over $108,000 for Samuel's charity, "Love Your Sister". In 2019, Pub Choir's Christmas event raised over $134,000 for Women's Legal Service Queensland. Pub Choir has continued to donate to Women's Legal Service Queensland, raising $135,000 in 2022 and $161,000 in 2023.[32]

On 14 June 2019 Jorgensen was awarded the Queensland Community Foundation Emerging Philanthropist of the Year as a result of her charitable work with Pub Choir.[33]

Couch Choir

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic a virtual choir named Couch Choir was created as an online equivalent of Pub Choir. In July 2020 it created a video including 1,534 contributions from people in 40 countries.[34] In 2020, Couch Choir's video performance of Close to You by The Carpenters was added to the collection of the Australian National Communications Museum.[35] Couch Choir's 2020 Christmas video of All I Want For Christmas Is You featured the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and was shared online by Mariah Carey,[36] raising over $31,000 for the charity GIVIT.[37] [38]

Australia's Biggest Singalong!

The inaugural television special Australia's Biggest Singalong! was broadcast live on SBS from the Sydney Town Hall on 5 June 2021.[39] The two-hour special was co-created by Pub Choir in collaboration with Artemis Media and SBS and was hosted by Julia Zemiro and Miranda Tapsell.[40] [41] Throughout the interactive special, Jorgensen and Yasso taught the live audience and home viewers a vocal arrangement of "Throw Your Arms Around Me" by Hunters & Collectors in real-time, with guest performances by Dami Im and Mitch Tambo.[42] The show culminated in a final performance which was accompanied by Mark Seymour.[43]

Notes and References

  1. https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/how-pub-choir-became-a-phenomenon/9712432 "How Pub Choir became a phenomenon"
  2. https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6083650/just-add-beer-pub-choir-brings-singing-to-the-masses/ "Pub Choir brings singing to the masses"
  3. https://scenestr.com.au/music/pub-choir-is-for-everyone-no-matter-how-bad-your-singing-is-20190408 "Pub Choir is for everyone, no matter how bad your singing is"
  4. Book: Leigh. Andrew. Reconnected: A community builder's handbook. Terrell. Nick. La Trobe University Press. 2020. 9781760642617. Australia. 133–134.
  5. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/music/brisbanes-pub-choir-movement-marks-first-year/news-story/635a540b66e001f41673df4ec62c90bb "Brisbane's Pub Choir movement marks first year"
  6. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/pub-choir-brisbane-grassroots-event-where-everyones-urged-to-sing/news-story/c46d16c172efa64e8092523046165fd0 "Pub Choir: Brisbane grassroots event where everyone's urged to sing"
  7. Web site: Coast . 2,800 people from 50 countries sing stunning virtual choir cover of 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' . 2022-07-16 . Coast . en.
  8. Web site: Varvaris . Mary . Radiohead Shares Brisbane Pub Choir Version Of ‘Creep’ . 2024-07-22 . The Music . en.
  9. Web site: 2021-05-10 . Beer, bass notes and the Bee Gees' Barry Gibb: my night at Brisbane's revitalised Pub Choir . 2022-07-16 . the Guardian . en.
  10. Web site: The Music . 2022-07-16 . themusic.com.au . en.
  11. Web site: Dale . Jessica . 2 March 2020 . Even KISS Love Brisbane's Pub Choir After This Excellent 'I Was Made For Lovin' You' Cover . Themusic.com.au.
  12. News: Choir . Source: Pub . 2022-07-14 . Running Up That Hill: Watch Brisbane choir's rendition of Kate Bush classic – video . en-GB . The Guardian . 2022-07-16 . 0261-3077.
  13. Web site: 2022-07-14 . Kate Bush praises Brisbane choir's 'utterly wonderful' Running Up That Hill cover . 2022-07-16 . the Guardian . en.
  14. https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6083650/just-add-beer-pub-choir-brings-singing-to-the-masses/ "Pub Choir brings singing to the masses"
  15. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/let-that-inhibition-go-vocal-support-drives-pub-choir-s-success-20190130-p50un9.html "Let that inhibition go': Vocal support drives Pub Choir's success“
  16. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-05/pub-choir-maroochydore-hits-high-note-before-expanding/9507448 "'Pub Choir hits the right notes as movement steps out of Brisbane for first time"
  17. https://www.themercury.com.au/entertainment/events/pubs-in-harmony-as-singers-take-over-the-bar-for-festival-of-voices-pub-choir-events/news-story/cda50fef850f85fe1d4fe80857c3a299 "'Pubs in harmony as singers take over the bar for Festival of Voices Pub Choir Events"
  18. https://www.ntnews.com.au/entertainment/600-people-heading-to-darwin-ski-club-for-first-ever-nt-pub-choir-event-friday-night/news-story/8c490a962aeaf77c553ee2e266927add "'600 people heading to Darwin Ski Club for first ever NT Pub Choir event Friday night"
  19. https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/pub-choir-take-over-toowoomba-bar/3364794/ "'Pub Choir to take over Toowoomba bar"
  20. https://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/photos/pub-choir-in-warwick/74593/#/0 "'Pub Choir in Warwick"
  21. Web site: Pub Choir @ The Spiegeltent. Interactive (http://www.nvinteractive.co.nz). N. V.. Bread & Circus. en-nz. 2019-06-15.
  22. Web site: Griffith alumnus goes global with Pub Choir. Crossen. Louise. news.griffith.edu.au. en-EN. 2019-12-01.
  23. Web site: Pub Choir Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Gold Coast 2018. en. 2019-06-15.
  24. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/the-feed/from-singing-in-the-pub-to-splendour-in-the-grass "'From singing in the pub to Splendour in the Grass"
  25. Web site: Bachelard . Michael . 2024-04-12 . Meet Australia’s biggest performing artist you’ve probably never heard of . 2024-04-13 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
  26. Web site: PUB CHOIR Trademark of PC IP PTY LTD - Registration Number 6110717 - Serial Number 88449740 :: Justia Trademarks . 2023-12-09 . trademarks.justia.com . en.
  27. News: Whiting . Frances . 9 December 2023 . ‘Power of song’: How Astrid Jorgensen turned Pub Choir into a sell-out sensation . 8-10 . The Courier Mail QWeekend . 9 December 2023.
  28. https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/pub-choir-a-singing-community/9586278 "'Pub Choir': A singing community"
  29. Web site: 2DayFM is bringing Pub Choir to Sydney. 2018-06-22. Radio Today. en-US. 2019-06-15.
  30. https://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/uonsunday/dying-gift-husband-records-song-for-wife-before-its-too-late/news-story/d4a3950ba66017b33b2aa71e252c23f1 "'Dying man records Brown Eyed Girl on ABC show for wife"
  31. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/middle-eight-the-recording-studio/news-story/bfe3863e913ec2204ad122027d4a77cd "'Middle Eight: The Recording Studio"
  32. Web site: Lynch . Jessie . Pub Choir Raises $161k For Charity In Epic Brisbane Riverstage Singalong . 2024-04-13 . The Music . en.
  33. Web site: QCF 2019 Philanthropist of the Year Awards. Downes. Kirsten. QCF. en-US. 2019-06-15.
  34. News: Wallace . Jess . Forty countries, 1500 people: Watch this killer Couch Choir in action . 25 July 2020 . The Canberra Times . 15 July 2020 . en.
  35. Web site: Part Two - Building virtual communities. 2021-01-09. National Communications Museum. en-AU.
  36. Web site: 2021-06-04. Time to hold a tune. 2021-07-12. The West Australian. en.
  37. Web site: 2020-12-16. Couch Choir Helps the Isolated Find Their Voice. 2021-01-09. 96five Family Radio.
  38. Web site: Coast. 2,800 people from 50 countries sing stunning virtual choir cover of 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'. 2021-01-09. Coast. en.
  39. Web site: Great Australian voices join Julia Zemiro and Miranda Tapsell for 'Australia's Biggest Singalong!'. 2021-07-12. Guide. en.
  40. Web site: McManus. Bridget. 2021-05-22. Need a hit of euphoria? Julia Zemiro has just the ticket. 2021-07-12. The Sydney Morning Herald. en.
  41. Web site: 2021-05-10. Beer, bass notes and the Bee Gees' Barry Gibb: my night at Brisbane's revitalised Pub Choir. 2021-07-12. the Guardian. en.
  42. Web site: /. 2021-07-12. The Music. en.
  43. Web site: Pobjie. Ben. 2021-05-30. TV will give Mark Seymour's 'mysterious' chorus a rousing rendition. 2021-07-12. The Sydney Morning Herald. en.

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