Newcastle People’s Chorus - Auckland

Short details:

Auckland - 6pm, Friday 3rd Oct. Trades Hall, 147 Gt North Rd, Grey Lynn.

Full tour details follow.

Biography
The Newcastle People’s Chorus was formed by delegates and friends from Newcastle Trade Union Council in 1988.  It is one of ten Trade Union Choirs in Australia.  These choirs were formed by labour movement activists concerned that collectivism, unionism and progressive ideas were waning under the influence of the conservative mass media and individualism.  Members were moved by the threat of nuclear war, conventional wars underway, and the need to create a more just, caring and sharing society.

The Newcastle People’s Chorus upholds a spirit of betterment and helps to present the working class with a sense of history.  It proudly keeps alive the oral tradition of worker's choirs, singing songs of working life, struggle and social justice.

From Oct 2 – 12, the Newcastle People’s Chorus will tour New Zealand, performing in Auckland, Wellington, Westport, Greymouth and Christchurch.  The tour is called “Stand Together”, a reminder that we must continue to work together collectively for a more just and peaceful world.

Repertoire
25 members of the Newcastle People’s Chorus will tour New Zealand, singing “A Cappella”.  Influences include the Flying Pickets, Billy Bragg, and Pete Seeger. The repertoire includes:
• Historic Australian songs such as “Beneath the Southern Cross.”
• Traditional Union songs like "Bring out the Banners" and "Solidarity."
• Contemporary songs such as Bruce Springsteen’s "The Factory," and Jez Lowe’s "Coal Town Days."
• Songs of freedom & struggle including the Flying Pickets’ "Remember This".
• Political satire and Protest Songs.

Performances
The Newcastle People’s Chorus has given more than 300 performances from 1988 – 2008, and sings regularly at May Day marches, rallies, union functions, picket lines, folk festivals, clubs and pubs.  In July 2006 the People’s Chorus toured the UK & Ireland to great acclaim, performing in London, Durham, Newcastle on Tyne, & Dublin, as well as the Tolpuddle Festival in Dorset & St Albans Folk Festival.
A general video The People’s Chorus was released in 1990 and another "Life on the Picket: The Story of the Vickery Coal Strike", in 1997.  An audio tape "The People Sing Out" was released in 1995 and a second volume (on CD) was released in 2004. 

New Zealand Tour 2008 Dates
(Door charge applies)

Auckland
6pm, Friday 3rd October. Trades Hall, 147 Gt North Rd, Grey Lynn
Wellington
7.30pm, Saturday 4th October, Irish Society Rooms, Fyfeshire Ave, off Cambridge Tce.
Westport
7.30pm, Wednesday 8th October.  Buller REAP Hall, 11 Lyndhurst St, Westport.
Greymouth
7.30pm, Thursday 9th October. Trowbridge Room, Regent Theatre, Greymouth,
Christchurch
7pm, Saturday 11th Oct. Media Club (next door to Trade Union Centre), 199 Armagh Street, Christchurch