3 x Commendations and 1 x Merit at Torquay & SW Festival

The Barbershop Evening section of the Torbay and the South West of England Festival was held at the Palace Theatre in Paignton on Friday, 11 May.

The Rivertones entered the full chorus in the Male Barbershop Class and three other entries – two Ensembles plus an Octet – in the Ensembles class.

The Rivertones, with their entry songs of Take Me Home Country Roads and Once Upon A Time, came second to the Kingsmen from Plymouth – who are in a higher division of the British Association of Barbershop Singers (BABS) – so not altogether surprising or too disappointing.

The adjudicator’s comments on the performance included ‘you had a fine idea of the mood …and your commitment to the shape of the performance was enviable’.

The runner up spot was also the result in the Ensembles section too . . . for all three of the entries! . . . there was only one point between the winners and the other four entries, it was that close!

Songs performed by the Rivertones in this class were: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Blue Velvet, Can You Feel The Love Tonight, Love Me, Goodnight Sweetheart and With A song In My Heart.

The adjudicator’s comments on these performances included ‘a good variety of tone and quality’, always pleasant and rhythmic’, ‘clear words and a good energy in the performance’.

The Rivertones Chorus performance

The Semitones Octet performance

The Rivertones Ensemble performance

The Semitones Ensemble performance