– News –
Our proud return to Latitude
We were over the moon to be invited back to Latitude’s 2019 Festival following our triumphant debut the previous year.
80 singers opened the 8000-capacity BBC Music Stage again on the Saturday (20th July), performing a unique set featuring Latitude acts and festival legends. The choir, under the expert guidance of choirmaster Yula Andrews, performed deceptively intricate arrangements, often in five-part harmony, of songs by artists from A-ha to The Verve.
The previous year’s performance was commended a highlight, with organisers describing them as “the audio equivalent of a morning vitamin shot to set you up for the day.”
We also opened Dermot O’Leary’s BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show live from the BBC Music Introducing Stage that morning in the forest with a specially-arranged rendition of Elbow’s “One Day Like This”. The show was packed full of guests including Ben Folds, Richard Curtis, Jason Manford, Simon Armitage, Konnie Huq and Helen Sharman.
Pop Chorus was founded in Framlingham in 2012 and has since grown to several hundred members. We hit the singles charts in 2017, performed at the Ipswich Regent last December, and collaborated with BBC 6 Music featured artist Mara Simpson and Scottish singing sensation Jack Robertson.
Director Yula Andrews said “To play Latitude once was a dream come true but to be invited back is a real privilege. We’re working really hard to build on last year’s performance to blow people away. We’re also beyond thrilled to be invited to open Dermot’s show on Radio 2. Many of us are regularly tuned into their station, and we sing so many of the songs they play. Dermot and I happen to share Elbow as our favourite band, so I hope he likes our harmonic take of their classic song”
Latitude Festival’s Ed Lilo said “Pop Chorus were a surprise highlight of last year’s Festival. We’re looking forward to welcoming them back, and squeezing even more singers onto the stage.”
