KAC Singalong!

Most of us can only sit at home and dream of having the talent to sing on a show like The Voice but everyone, regardless of ability, has the chance to sing at Kenilworth. The Kenilworth and district Singalong! happens every Friday morning in the Kenilworth Arts Council building behind the town library.

The group is the ideal outlet for anyone who has the urge to sing but not necessarily the confidence, talent or experience to let their voice be heard anywhere beyond the shower.

Patricia Coles said anyone who wanted to sing, or anyone who played an instrument, was welcome to join in.

“We have made it clear that it’s not a choir. It’s informal. We walk in and we sing some songs. There’s a number of people who are very good singers who have got repertoires. However, we break it up to show off the learners as well,” she said.

The group began in January 2021 after some tapping of the glass by the Kenilworth Arts Council.

“The Arts Council had been talking about starting something like it for some time because people had been asking for it for a couple of years,” Patricia said.

The emergence of the COVID pandemic in 2020 made it difficult to get a new group activity such as Singalong! off the ground but the idea finally came to fruition.

“I said the only way to do it was to keep it simple, so there’s no big admin. We put notices around Kenilworth to say we were starting the group,” Patricia said.

“I think there would have been 15-20 at the beginning and most of those have remained. There are others who come and there are some who have left town, as some people do.”

Friday's Singalong! group with Patricia Coles on guitar.

Kenilworth Arts Council, Queensland 4574

Patricia said about eight to 10 members of a core group usually fronted while others floated in and out depending upon their availability.

“Some of them have never done anything musical before. We have a couple of good singers and some of us might play an instrument. It’s a mixture of people. It’s a good social atmosphere, as well as the singing. It’s a good, friendly group. Sometimes we sound absolutely horrible – off key, out of time, out of pitch – and other times it comes together really well.”

Patricia said the aim of the group was to provide an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the fellowship of singing together.

She said members all got a turn at choosing what to sing and suggestions were welcome. She hunts up the music and lyrics and screens them for everyone to see using an overhead projector.

“There’s about 420 songs that I’ve got on the overhead projector at this stage,” she said.

Many of the members are of retirement age or above so there is a leaning in song choice towards hits of the ‘60s and ‘70s but also older classics.

Edelweiss, Bye Bye Blackbird, the Beach Boys’ Sloop John B, Neil Young, Powderfinger plus songs of the Beatles, the Bee Gees, Neil Diamond and John Denver are also on the list.

Patricia plays guitar but members of the Hot Curri ukulele group and other musicians also join in sometimes.

“You might get there and meet up with people you know or people you don’t know. It’s a social occasion. People are brought together by singing and become better singers,” Patricia said.

Annie Ryan, 61, of Conondale, did not know anyone in Kenilworth when she went along to Singalong! last year after seeing a notice about it on social media.

“I love singing. I used to be in a choir when I was at school and now that I’m retired, I thought it would be a really fun thing to do. Singing is good for the soul,” she said.

Annie said that the gold coin entry was affordable for everyone and it was hard to beat the value as a social outing.

“I didn’t know anyone and now I’ve met all these lovely people in Kenilworth,” she said. “It’s just really friendly and nice, and sometimes a few of us go for lunch at Nana McGinn’s afterwards.”

Annie was even invited to learn ukulele through the group and can now accompany the singers.

Brian Browning, 72, a regular at Singalong! for about a year, said “I used to be in the Buderim Male Choir but it stopped and I couldn’t see myself going back anyway. I’ve always had an interest in singing so I got involved. It’s really for enjoyment. It’s just the singing and the conversation, just getting out there and sharing stories.”

Anyone interested in Singalong! or playing an instrument there, is welcome to turn up on the morning or call 0408 686 800.

By Janine Hill, MVV journalist.

years written by the community for the community.

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