Festivals Blogs

Keeping you in the loop ...

Festivals

March 8, 2023
The Kingsmen added to their trophy cabinet for the second time in as many months following a fantastic performance at the Torbay and South West of England Music Festival on 3 rd March 2023.
September 2, 2020
It was two years ago that the Kingsmen toured USA and were hosted by one of the top Barbershop Choruses in the States, the Westchester Chordsmen. The two Choruses first performed together 30 years ago and have maintained a strong friendship ever since. The USA tour concluded with a concert titled ‘Our Special Relationship’ at White Plains, 25 miles from New York City.
December 12, 2018
'Enigma' Quartet comprising Peter Goodliffe (tenor), Gary Rowe (lead), Barrington Sowden (bass) and Dave Griffiths (baritone) travelled to St Austell in Cornwall to perform in the annual music festival.
May 15, 2018
The Kingsmen entered the choir category and came first with a great score of 86% singing 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do' and 'We'll Meet Again'; they also entered the barbershop category singing 'May I Never Love Again' and 'Taking A Chance On Love' and came first again but with a score of 87% and a distinction. The adjudicator Penelope Rice Jones said this was a thoroughly enjoyable performance by an experienced choir. 
January 30, 2018
A small group (named K2) of twenty Kingsmen directed by Kingsmen Deputy Music Director Gary Rowe competed in the annual Saltash Music Festival and came away again with the trophy for the fourth year in succession with a distinction, a mark of 87% and glowing comments from the adjudicator Jeffrey Wynn Davies quote:
May 17, 2017
The Kingsmen Harmony Chorus entered the Torbay Music Festival male barbershop competition held in Paignton Festival Hall and came away as winners with a distinction and glowing comments from Bryan Husband who is an adjudicator for the British & International Federation of Festivals. His concluding comment was, quote: "An excellent performance both technically and artistically". The picture shows Music Director Roy Hann (holding the shield) and a few of the guys displaying the silverware at their very next rehearsal evening.

LATEST FROM THE BLOG

By Andrew Large July 28, 2026
Howdy....
By Andrew Large July 28, 2026
It's been Kingsbridge Fair Week recently and it was a joy to help kick things off to a great musical start. Dressed in our best and brightest Hawaiian shirts, the Kingsmen sang and entertained a lively audience from the Bandstand in the Town Square on an afternoon and evening of local entertainment, which ended with a firework display. If you were one of the men in the audience who enjoyed our performance and you like singing, then why not come along and visit us on a rehearsal night and join in the fun and camaraderie https://www.kingsmen.org.uk/become-a-member Kingsbridge is the hometown of the Kingsmen and we are celebrating our 35 anniversary this year. We like nothing better than supporting local events and charities; so keep an eye on the Upcoming Events link on our website to find out where we are singing and performing over the coming weeks and months. Hope to see you there! https://www.kingsmen.org.uk/ With thanks to Rebecca Rowe for taking these photos.
By Andrew Large July 27, 2026
The communities of the South Hams have long, deep rooted ties with those organisations that serve to protect and save not only the sailors and fishermen local to these communities but also those visitors who pass by our shores or are staying here on vacation and enjoying our beaches and watersport facilities. With this in mind Heather Spencer, 2026 Ladies' Captain at Thurlestone Golf Club, organised a charity evening of fun, food, friendship and fundraising in aid of her chosen charity for her year, the new RNLI Lifeboat at Salcombe. The Salcombe Larks and The Kingsmen Harmony Chorus brought together an eclectic mix of songs from their repertoires, including music from The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkle, Neil Diamond (and many more) and entertained the packed clubhouse either side of a splendid buffet supper prepared by the TGC catering team. If you were one of the men in the audience who enjoyed our performance and you like singing, then why not come along and visit us on a rehearsal night and join in the fun and camaraderie https://www.kingsmen.org.uk/become-a-member It was a particularly poignant event for the many of the performers. The Salcombe Larks originate from the town of Salcombe and the Kingsmen hail from Kingsbridge, both groups are closely associated with the South Hams RNLI. Some have immediate family connections too. Gary Rowe, the Kingsmen Musical Director, is the son of Raymond Rowe who was 2nd Cox at Salcombe for many years. Raymond won a bravery award for his role in a hazardous resume of a distressed vessel, the Janet C, off Start Point. He also appeared in the TV Series Lifeboat in the 90's. Ian Wooler, our Assistant MD, also has close family connections to the Eastbourne RNLI station. One of his Great Uncles, James (Jim) Hall was a member of the Eastbourne Lifeboat Crew for 45 years and received several awards for bravery and long service. Jim's Niece (Ian's Mum) raised money for the RNLI throughout her life. The event raised several hundred pounds in aid of the charity and both chorus groups were more than happy to perform free of charge to help.
By Kevin Hamer June 11, 2026
The Kingsmen Welcome New Recruit Rob Loader
By Kevin Hamer April 1, 2026
Congratulations to Chris Collins on passing his voice assessment

SEARCH BY TAG:

Anniversary

Awards

Charity

Christmas

Competitions

Festivals

Members

Quartets

Shows

Summer

Tours

Weddings